Cloud Storage
S3 Compatible
Backblaze vs AWS S3
Backblaze vs AWS S3: A 2025 Guide to Sovereign Cloud Storage
Are hidden fees and regulatory risks undermining your cloud storage strategy? A majority of EU businesses now demand European solutions for their critical data. This article explores a sovereign-by-design alternative that eliminates egress fees and ensures GDPR compliance.
Key Takeawys
Prioritize EU-based, GDPR-compliant storage to eliminate risks from foreign laws and ensure data sovereignty.
Choose a provider with no egress fees or API call charges to achieve predictable costs and avoid vendor lock-in.
Demand an "Always-Hot" architecture with full S3 compatibility and immutable Object Lock to ensure performance and robust ransomware protection.
In 2025, selecting a cloud storage partner is a critical decision for any enterprise IT leader or MSP. While cost is a factor, the discussion has shifted to control, compliance, and cost predictability. Many organizations feel locked into providers due to complex pricing and fear of non-compliance with EU regulations like GDPR. The demand for EU-based solutions is rising, driven by the need for data sovereignty and protection from foreign laws. This guide contrasts the typical hyperscaler model with a European approach, focusing on transparent economics, full S3 compatibility, and an architecture built for resilience and ransomware protection.
Define Your Strategy with Sovereign, Predictable Storage
A majority of EU decision-makers now prioritize European solutions for critical infrastructure, making EU data residency a key selection criterion. Our platform is sovereign by design, operated exclusively in certified European data centers with country-level geofencing to guarantee data remains under EU rules. This directly addresses the risks of foreign legislation exposure, a concern for over 60% of enterprises. We offer a predictable financial model with no egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage duration, which contrasts with models where egress fees can represent 10% to 15% of a total cloud bill. This transparent approach provides the economic clarity needed to drive a switch, which is a primary motivator for many businesses. This foundation of sovereignty and predictability changes how you approach data management.
Secure Your Data with an Always-Hot Architecture
Many cloud storage models rely on complex tiering, moving data between hot and cold layers to manage costs. This often creates operational fragility, leading to restore delays, API timeouts, and unexpected retrieval fees that can increase monthly costs by over 20%. We utilize an “Always-Hot” object storage model where all data is immediately accessible without tier-restore delays. This architecture ensures strong read/write consistency and predictable latencies for millions of files, which is critical for backup and disaster recovery. This model eliminates lifecycle policy drift and keeps third-party tools stable, a significant advantage for complex workloads. This simplified, high-performance approach is the bedrock of a resilient data protection strategy.
Achieve Full S3 Compatibility Without Compromise
True S3 compatibility is essential for protecting past investments and minimizing migration risk. Many providers claim compatibility but only support a subset of the 51 total S3 API operations, leading to application failures. Our platform ensures full S3-API compatibility, so your existing apps, scripts, and tools continue working without code rewrites. This includes advanced capabilities like versioning, lifecycle management, and event notifications. This seamless integration allows you to maintain your operational pipelines, a key factor for over 60% of enterprises planning hybrid cloud deployments. Beyond simple compatibility, a robust security framework is needed to manage this data.
Implement Enterprise-Grade Security and Access Control
A modern security posture requires granular control over data access. We provide identity-based IAM with role-driven policies, secure defaults, and support for external identity providers via SAML/OIDC. For enhanced ransomware protection, our platform includes Immutable Storage with Object Lock, which prevents data from being altered or deleted by unauthorized entities. This feature is a critical defense, as it ensures backup data remains intact and recoverable after an attack, reducing operational downtime significantly. Here are key security layers built into the platform:
Multi-layer encryption for data in transit and at rest.
Immutable backups (Object Lock) for audit-ready retention.
IAM with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
Time-bounded access controls and presigned URLs for secure, temporary sharing.
Exclusive operation in certified EU data centers for physical and network security.
These security measures are designed to meet stringent new regulatory requirements.
Navigate EU Regulations Like GDPR, NIS-2, and the Data Act
Operating exclusively in Europe ensures alignment with GDPR, which mandates that personal data transfers outside the EEA meet strict conditions. Our platform helps you meet these requirements by design. Furthermore, we address upcoming regulations that impact all EU businesses. The NIS-2 Directive, for instance, requires entities to implement stringent supply-chain security and business continuity measures by October 2024. The EU Data Act, fully applicable from September 2025, mandates data portability and interoperability to prevent vendor lock-in, requiring providers to facilitate data transfers within 30 days. Our commitment to open standards and transparent exit paths aligns directly with these new rules, providing long-term legal certainty. This regulatory readiness is especially valuable for our partners.
Empower MSPs with Predictable Margins and Management
For MSPs, resellers, and system integrators, unpredictable costs directly erode margins. Our commercial model is partner-ready, offering predictable margins by eliminating egress and API fees. This makes it easier to build defensible pricing for Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) and archiving solutions. The platform includes a multi-tenant console with RBAC and MFA, API/CLI for automation, and integrated reporting to simplify client management. Our expanding distribution network, including api in Germany and Northamber plc in the UK, provides local access and support for fast onboarding. This partner-centric approach is designed to fuel growth in a competitive market.
Build a Resilient Backup and Ransomware Defense Strategy
Take Control of Your Cloud Storage Future
Choosing a cloud storage provider in 2025 is a strategic decision that impacts your budget, compliance, and security. Moving away from complex pricing models and regulatory uncertainty toward a sovereign, predictable, and enterprise-ready platform is a practical step. By prioritizing EU data residency, eliminating hidden costs, and ensuring your tools remain compatible, you build a resilient and future-proof data strategy. The next step is to see how this approach fits your specific use case. Talk to an expert or start a free trial to experience the benefits of a sovereign cloud firsthand.
More Links
Google Cloud provides information on its compliance with the BSI C5 standard.
Microsoft details its cloud service offerings and compliance with the BSI C5 standard in Germany.
Destatis offers statistical data on cloud computing usage in German enterprises.
Destatis provides a definition of cloud computing in its glossary.
Wikipedia offers an article defining cloud storage, its types, and related concepts.
Europa.eu provides official information on GDPR for businesses operating in Europe.
Bitkom offers insights into the cloud market through its Cloud Report 2025 presentation.
FAQ
What are the primary benefits of choosing a European cloud storage provider?
The primary benefits are digital sovereignty, guaranteed GDPR compliance, and protection from non-EU laws. It ensures your data stays within a strict legal framework, managed from European data centers, which is a key criterion for a growing number of EU businesses.
How does a no-egress-fee model impact my total cost of ownership?
A no-egress-fee model makes your costs completely predictable. Egress fees, which are charges for moving data out of the cloud, can add a significant and fluctuating amount to your monthly bill, often 10% or more. Eliminating them lowers your total cost of ownership and removes the financial penalty for accessing your own data.
Can I use my existing backup software and S3 tools?
Yes. With full S3 API compatibility, you can use your existing backup software, management scripts, and any other S3-native tools without modification. This protects your current investments and makes migration as simple as changing the endpoint URL.
What is an 'Always-Hot' storage model?
An 'Always-Hot' model means all your data is stored in a single, high-performance tier and is always immediately accessible. This avoids the complexity, delays, and surprise retrieval fees associated with tiered storage, where data is moved to slower 'cold' or 'archive' layers and must be restored before it can be accessed.
How does your platform help with new regulations like the EU Data Act?
Our platform is designed for the future of EU regulation. The EU Data Act requires easy data portability to prevent vendor lock-in. Our commitment to open standards, full S3 compatibility, and no egress fees ensures you can always move your data freely, aligning with the Act's requirements ahead of the September 2025 deadline.
Is this solution suitable for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)?
Absolutely. The predictable pricing model allows MSPs to build services with stable, defensible margins. The platform also includes partner-focused features like a multi-tenant management console, automation tools, and reporting to simplify operations and client onboarding.
