Cloud Storage
Object Storage
api google object storage
Beyond Google's Object Storage API: A Sovereign S3-Compatible Alternative for 2025
Searching for a powerful object storage API often leads to non-EU providers, creating risks in cost, compliance, and data control. A European S3-compatible alternative offers a direct path to digital sovereignty without rewriting a single line of code.
Key Takeawys
True digital sovereignty requires a European cloud provider governed by EU law to eliminate risks from foreign legislation like the CLOUD Act.
A predictable cost model with zero egress fees and zero API call costs is essential for eliminating vendor lock-in and enabling stable margins for MSPs.
Full S3 API compatibility combined with an "Always-Hot" architecture ensures that all existing applications work without modification while providing immediate, resilient access to 100% of your data.
When IT leaders evaluate options like the API for Google object storage, they seek performance and robust S3 compatibility for their existing tools. However, true enterprise readiness in 2025 demands more. Storing data with non-EU providers introduces significant risks, from unpredictable egress fees that penalize data movement to exposure under foreign laws like the CLOUD Act. A majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for their critical infrastructure. This guide details how a sovereign, S3-compatible object storage platform built exclusively in European data centers delivers performance parity, regulatory compliance, and 100% predictable costs.
Expect More Than Basic S3 API Compatibility
Full S3 compatibility is the baseline for modern object storage, ensuring your investment in applications and scripts is protected. True compatibility supports not just basic operations but also advanced capabilities like versioning and lifecycle management across every tool. This allows your development pipelines to keep running on day one without risky code rewrites. Out-of-the-box integrations with dozens of leading backup tools are a direct result of this deep compatibility. This approach minimizes migration friction by at least 50% compared to platforms with partial API support. Moving forward requires a platform that respects your existing technology stack.
Secure True EU Data Sovereignty by Design
Storing data within EU borders is a primary concern for over 70 percent of German companies seeking digital autonomy. While many providers offer EU data centers, sovereignty is only guaranteed when the provider is also governed by EU law, avoiding CLOUD Act exposure. Our platform operates exclusively in certified European data centers with country-level geofencing to meet stringent GDPR data residency requirements. This ensures your data remains under EU legal jurisdiction, a critical factor for 100% of regulated industries. This commitment to sovereignty provides the legal certainty that non-EU providers cannot match.
Eliminate Unpredictable Costs with Zero Egress Fees
Unpredictable costs are a major pain point for IT leaders, with egress fees being a primary cause of vendor lock-in. Some hyperscalers charge markups of over 8000% on data transit, creating massive, unplanned expenses when you need to move your own data. We eliminate 100% of these punitive charges with a transparent economic model. There are zero egress fees, zero API call costs, and no minimum storage durations. This predictable-by-design approach allows Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to build services with stable, defensible margins of 30% or more. This financial clarity is the foundation for a healthier cloud strategy.
Build Resilient Operations with an Always-Hot Architecture
Complex storage tiering introduces operational risk, restore delays, and hidden fees that can disrupt critical workflows. Our “Always-Hot” object storage model ensures 100% of your data is immediately accessible, eliminating tier-restore delays that can last hours. This architecture simplifies operations and guarantees predictable low latencies for mixed workloads, from millions of small files to large archives. For disaster recovery, immediate access to every file can reduce recovery time objectives (RTOs) by up to 90%. This resilient design keeps your third-party tools and backup applications running predictably.
Strengthen Ransomware Defenses with Immutable Storage
Ransomware attacks target backup data in over 94% of incidents, making immutable storage a critical last line of defense. We provide S3 Object Lock, which renders backup data unchangeable and undeletable for a defined period, creating a virtual air gap against malicious encryption. This feature is a core component of a modern 3-2-1 or 4-2-2 backup strategy. Restoring from an immutable copy ensures you can recover from an attack in minutes, not days, without paying a ransom. This capability is your insurance policy against the most prevalent cyber threats.
Meet 2025 EU Regulations Proactively
Two major EU regulations coming into force in 2025 redefine data governance and security, and our platform is built to meet them. Here is how we align with these new standards:
EU Data Act (September 2025): This regulation mandates data portability and interoperability to prevent vendor lock-in. Our S3-compatible architecture and zero-egress-fee model ensure you can move your data, including all metadata and versions, at any time, providing a proven exit path.
NIS-2 Directive (by March 2025 in Germany): This directive requires robust supply-chain security and incident reporting for over 29,000 German companies. As a European provider, our operations are designed around these continuous security processes, helping you meet your own supply-chain assurance duties.
This proactive alignment reduces your compliance burden for the next decade.
Empower MSPs with a Partner-Ready Platform
Implement a Sovereign Storage Strategy in 3 Steps
Transitioning to a sovereign cloud object storage solution is a straightforward process that protects your past investments. A typical migration can be completed in just a few weeks with zero downtime. Follow these three key steps for a successful implementation:
Assess Your Data Landscape: Identify all datasets subject to GDPR and other EU regulations, paying close attention to backup archives and unstructured data repositories that often contain sensitive information.
Configure Your Tools: Update the endpoint in your existing S3-compatible applications and backup software to point to your new European storage region. No code changes are needed for over 99% of S3-native tools.
Migrate and Test: Use your preferred S3 migration tool to move data efficiently. Perform a test restore from an immutable backup to validate your disaster recovery plan and confirm 100% data integrity.
Taking these practical steps ensures your organization gains the full benefits of S3-compatible object storage while achieving digital sovereignty.
More Links
The German Data Protection Conference (DSK) presents its certification criteria (version 2.0) for data protection, offering insights into compliance standards.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides statistical tables detailing cloud computing usage by enterprises across Germany.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action offers an article on the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for Cloud Infrastructure and Services (CIS).
Bitkom, Germany's digital association, publishes a study on the critical topic of digital sovereignty.
Eurostat provides comprehensive statistics on cloud computing adoption and usage by enterprises throughout the European Union.
PwC Germany offers valuable information and perspectives on cloud governance practices within Germany.
Deloitte shares its insights on empowering Europe's digital future through sovereign cloud solutions, in collaboration with AWS.
Bitkom provides a presentation from its press conference, detailing findings from the Cloud Report 2025.
FAQ
What is sovereign cloud object storage?
Sovereign cloud object storage is a service that not only stores your data within a specific legal jurisdiction (like the EU) but is also owned and operated by a company based in that same jurisdiction. This ensures your data is fully protected by local laws, like GDPR, and is not subject to foreign laws such as the U.S. CLOUD Act.
How does your S3 API compatibility differ from others?
We provide full S3 API compatibility, covering not just basic read/write operations but also advanced features like Object Lock, versioning, access control lists, and lifecycle management. This ensures that your existing applications, from backup software to custom scripts, work seamlessly without modification.
Can I really switch providers without any costs for data transfer?
Yes. Our pricing model is designed for predictability and freedom. We charge zero fees for data egress and zero fees for API calls, so you can access or move your data whenever you need to without facing punitive charges or financial penalties.
How does the 'Always-Hot' model improve my disaster recovery plan?
Our 'Always-Hot' architecture means every piece of your data is instantly available for recovery. Unlike tiered models that can take hours to restore archived data, our approach eliminates restore delays, significantly improving your Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and ensuring business continuity.
Is this service suitable for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)?
Absolutely. The platform is partner-ready with a multi-tenant console, full automation via API/CLI, and predictable pricing (no egress/API fees) that allows MSPs to build profitable and defensible margins for their Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) and archive offerings.
How do you ensure compliance with upcoming EU regulations like NIS-2?
As a European company, our entire operation is designed to align with EU regulations. We meet NIS-2's stringent requirements for supply chain security and operational resilience by design, helping our customers simplify their own compliance obligations.
