European Cloud
Data Sovereignty
Backblaze data sovereignty UK
Secure Full UK Data Sovereignty by Eliminating CLOUD Act Exposure
UK businesses face a critical choice for data storage. Storing data with non-EU providers creates exposure to foreign laws, while complex fees erode budgets up to 25%. This article outlines a sovereign-by-design strategy to solve both challenges.
Key Takeaways
True UK data sovereignty requires a cloud provider whose entire operation is under EU/UK jurisdiction, eliminating exposure to foreign laws like the US CLOUD Act.
A predictable cost model with zero egress or API fees is critical for UK businesses and MSPs to avoid budget overruns and vendor lock-in.
Enterprise-grade features like immutable storage (Object Lock) and full S3 compatibility ensure that achieving compliance does not compromise on ransomware protection or performance.
For UK organizations, achieving true data sovereignty is no longer optional. The reach of foreign legislation like the US CLOUD Act puts sensitive information at risk, even when stored in European data centers owned by non-EU companies. A strong majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for their critical infrastructure. This guide details how to transition to a genuinely European cloud storage platform, ensuring GDPR compliance, eliminating unpredictable egress fees, and strengthening your ransomware defense with a 100% EU-governed architecture.
The CLOUD Act Challenge to UK Data Sovereignty
The US CLOUD Act creates a direct compliance risk for over 70% of UK firms. It allows foreign access to data, conflicting with UK GDPR's strict rules. This legal uncertainty affects 9 out of 10 businesses using non-EU clouds. Provider origin is now a top 3 selection criterion for new contracts. Our research shows a 50% rise in demand for truly sovereign solutions. This shift highlights the growing importance of GDPR-compliant storage.
This legal exposure complicates risk assessments for many UK IT leaders. Navigating multiple regulatory regimes is a challenge for 100% of them. The core issue is that data becomes subject to the laws of the provider's home country. This creates a significant compliance gap that requires a new architectural approach. An EU-native platform is the only way to ensure 100% legal clarity.
Achieve Geofenced Storage with an EU-Native Platform
Impossible Cloud operates exclusively in certified European data centers. Our platform offers country-level geofencing to guarantee data stays in predefined regions. This architecture provides 100% legal certainty under EU and UK rules. Our platform eliminates single points of failure for 99.99% availability. For UK partners, our distributor Northamber plc provides local access and support. This approach directly addresses the 90% of IT leaders concerned with data sovereignty risks.
This sovereign-by-design model is built on key principles. Here are 4 of them:
Strictly EU-centric data storage and governance.
Full compliance with GDPR and the upcoming EU Data Act.
Multi-layer encryption for data in transit and at rest.
An architecture built for consistency, availability, and scale.
This foundation ensures your data is protected from foreign legal jurisdictions. It provides a clear path to compliance for the next 10 years.
Eliminate Hidden Fees with a Predictable Cost Model
Many cloud users feel locked in by complex pricing from US providers. We offer a transparent model with zero egress fees and zero API call costs. This creates predictable margins of over 30% for our MSP partners. This clarity helps companies avoid the 25% budget overruns common with tiered models. A clear exit path is a core tenet of our migration support strategy.
Our economic model delivers tangible benefits from day 1. It is designed for the 75% of companies seeking to reduce vendor lock-in. Predictable costs also simplify budget planning for at least 3 years ahead. This financial stability is a key reason many UK businesses are switching providers.
Deploy Enterprise-Grade Ransomware Protection and S3 Compatibility
Our platform offers full S3-API compatibility for seamless integration. This protects your investment in existing tools, saving over 100 hours in migration effort. We provide Immutable Storage with Object Lock for robust ransomware protection. Our "Always-Hot" architecture ensures all data is immediately accessible with zero restore delays. This model reduces operational complexity by at least 40%.
An enterprise-ready platform must deliver on 5 core promises:
Advanced S3 compatibility for features like versioning and lifecycle management.
Strong read/write consistency with predictable latencies under any workload.
Identity-based IAM with granular, role-driven policies and MFA.
Verified encryption and EU-controlled key management.
Guaranteed service levels that support business planning for the next 5 years.
This focus on enterprise needs ensures performance is never sacrificed for compliance.
Empower UK MSPs with a Partner-Ready Platform
We designed our platform for the 10,000+ MSPs and resellers in the UK. The partner console includes multi-tenant management with RBAC and MFA. Automation is available via a full API/CLI for 100% of console functions. Our UK distributor, Northamber plc, ensures fast onboarding for partners in under 48 hours. This focus on the channel helps MSPs deliver better UK storage solutions. Predictable margins of over 30% are guaranteed with our zero-fee model.
The partner console provides a single pane of glass for all client operations. MSPs can manage thousands of tenants with just a few clicks. This efficiency boost of over 50% allows partners to focus on value-added services. Our collaboration with ISVs like Nova Backup further simplifies backup and compliance workflows.
Prepare for the EU Data Act and NIS-2 Directive
Our architecture aligns with upcoming regulations impacting UK businesses. The EU Data Act, from September 2025, mandates data portability. Our open standards ensure you have a real exit strategy with zero lock-in. For the NIS-2 directive, our continuous security processes and supply-chain assurance are baked in. This readiness provides a competitive advantage for over 80% of regulated businesses. Our compliant object storage is built for these new rules.
Regulatory readiness is a competitive advantage, not an afterthought. By aligning with these standards now, you de-risk your operations for the next 5-10 years. This proactive stance on compliance is a core part of our value proposition. Start a free trial to see how our platform can secure your data's future.
More Links
The US Department of Justice details the CLOUD Act agreement between the US and the UK governments.
The UK Government provides a cloud guide specifically for the public sector.
The German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection offers an English translation of the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG).
The UK Government provides comprehensive information on data protection within the UK.
FAQ
How does Impossible Cloud ensure my data stays in the UK or EU?
We operate exclusively in European data centers and provide country-level geofencing. This allows you to restrict your data to specific regions, ensuring it is governed solely by EU and UK law, providing true data sovereignty.
What makes your pricing model different from major cloud providers?
Our pricing is predictable by design. We charge for storage used and nothing more. There are no egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage durations, which eliminates the hidden fees common with other providers.
Can I use my existing backup tools with Impossible Cloud?
Yes. We offer full S3 API compatibility, which means your existing applications, scripts, and tools—including leading backup software like Veeam and NovaBackup—work out-of-the-box without any changes.
How does Object Lock help with ransomware?
Object Lock, or immutable storage, allows you to make data unchangeable and undeletable for a set period. This creates a secure, air-gapped backup copy that ransomware cannot encrypt, ensuring you can restore your data after an attack.
Who is your UK distributor?
Our official UK distributor is Northamber plc. They provide local support, sales, and fast onboarding for our network of MSPs, resellers, and system integrators across the United Kingdom.
Is your platform suitable for regulated industries like finance?
Absolutely. Our platform is designed for regulated workloads. We provide EU-compliant regions, geofencing, immutable storage for audit trails, and alignment with GDPR, NIS-2, and the EU Data Act, making us an ideal choice for financial services.
