European Cloud
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EU Data Act storage compliance
Achieve EU Data Act Storage Compliance by September 2025
The EU Data Act becomes fully applicable on September 12, 2025, mandating data portability and making vendor lock-in a critical compliance risk. This article outlines a clear strategy for meeting these new storage requirements.
Key Takeaways
The EU Data Act, applicable from September 12, 2025, mandates that cloud storage providers must remove all barriers to switching services, empowering customers with data portability.
A core requirement of the Act is the phasing out of switching charges, with all data egress fees to be completely prohibited by January 12, 2027.
Achieving compliance requires an S3-compatible, sovereign storage solution with zero egress fees, country-level geofencing, and immutable backups to ensure a seamless and secure exit strategy.
With the EU Data Act's 2025 deadline, businesses face new rules designed to end unfair data practices. The regulation empowers users with the right to easily move their data between cloud providers, effectively dismantling technical and commercial lock-in strategies. This shift requires a storage architecture built for interoperability, portability, and sovereignty. For UK and EU IT leaders, this is a moment to reassess provider dependencies, especially those involving non-EU entities. An EU-native, S3-compatible object storage platform with a predictable cost model offers a direct path to compliance and digital control.
Understand the Data Act’s Core Mandates
The EU Data Act introduces a legal framework to ensure fair data access and use, with most rules applying from September 12, 2025. Its primary goal is to give businesses and consumers control over the data generated by their connected devices and services. For cloud storage, Chapter VI of the regulation is transformative, targeting the vendor lock-in that has defined the market for over a decade. The Act requires providers to remove all commercial, technical, and contractual obstacles that prevent customers from switching to a new service.
This legislation grants customers the right to migrate their data and digital assets to another provider or on-premises infrastructure with a maximum notice period of just two months. Providers must actively assist in the switching process, ensuring data is exported in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. This focus on S3-compatible object storage is a core tenet of the regulation. These changes create a more competitive and innovative digital market across the EU.
Eliminate Switching Fees and Commercial Barriers
A central provision of the EU Data Act is the gradual elimination of switching charges, including the data egress fees many providers charge. While providers can charge fees covering their direct costs for an interim period, all switching charges will be completely prohibited from January 12, 2027. This change directly impacts the business models of providers who rely on high exit fees to retain customers. For businesses, this means the freedom to choose the best service without facing financial penalties for leaving an incumbent provider. This makes cost transparency a key criterion for future-proof compliance.
Choosing a storage provider with a transparent economic model is now a strategic decision. Impossible Cloud is predictable by design, with a policy of zero egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage duration. This model aligns perfectly with the Data Act's intent, offering a clear exit path and removing the financial friction of migration. This approach not only ensures full compliance but also protects against the risk of CLOUD Act exposure by keeping data within EU jurisdiction.
Build a Compliant Architecture with S3 and Object Lock
Achieving EU Data Act storage compliance requires an architecture designed for interoperability and data integrity. The Act’s emphasis on machine-readable formats and open standards makes the S3 API the de facto choice for seamless data exchange. An S3-compatible platform ensures that existing applications, scripts, and backup tools continue to work without code rewrites, protecting investments and simplifying migration. This compatibility is the foundation of a true exit strategy.
Impossible Cloud offers more than just basic S3 compatibility. It provides an enterprise-ready feature set for a resilient and compliant storage foundation. Here is what that includes:
Immutable Storage: Using Object Lock ensures that data, including metadata and versions, cannot be altered or deleted during its retention period, safeguarding it during migration.
Always-Hot Access: All data is immediately accessible without restore delays or tiering complexity, ensuring the integrity of third-party tools and backup processes.
Multi-Layer Encryption: Data is secured both in transit and at rest, with key management remaining under strict EU control.
Country-Level Geofencing: Data can be restricted to specific EU countries, providing the highest level of data sovereignty and control.
This architecture provides the technical assurances needed to meet the Data Act's requirements for a secure and efficient switching process.
Meet Broader EU Regulations Like NIS-2 and GDPR
EU Data Act storage compliance does not exist in a vacuum; it is part of a wider regulatory landscape that includes NIS-2 and GDPR. A sovereign storage strategy provides benefits across all three. For instance, the NIS-2 Directive demands robust supply-chain security and incident reporting, which is simplified by using an EU-based provider governed by the same rules. Storing data exclusively in certified European data centers helps meet these stringent NIS-2 cloud storage requirements.
Similarly, GDPR compliance is strengthened by keeping data within the EU, avoiding the complexities of international data transfer mechanisms and the reach of foreign laws like the CLOUD Act. By using geofenced storage, organizations can guarantee that personal data remains within a predefined region, simplifying data residency obligations under GDPR. This unified approach to compliance reduces risk and operational overhead, turning regulatory readiness into a competitive advantage.
Enable MSPs with a Partner-Ready, Compliant Platform
For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), the EU Data Act creates both a challenge and an opportunity. Clients will expect their partners to deliver compliant backup and archiving solutions. Impossible Cloud is partner-ready, offering a platform that allows MSPs to build profitable, compliant services. The predictable pricing model, with zero egress or API fees, ensures stable and defensible margins for Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings. This predictability is a key enabler for channel partners.
The platform provides the tools MSPs need to operate efficiently and securely. Key features for partners include:
Multi-Tenant Management: A dedicated partner console with role-based access control (RBAC) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) simplifies managing multiple clients.
Full Automation: A comprehensive API and CLI enable automation of provisioning, reporting, and management tasks.
Fast Onboarding: Out-of-the-box integrations with leading backup tools like NovaBackup accelerate service deployment.
Growing Distribution: Expanded access through distributors like api in Germany and Northamber plc in the UK makes it easier for local resellers to get started.
This partner-centric approach helps MSPs capitalize on the demand for sovereign and compliant cloud solutions.
Take Practical Steps Toward Data Act Readiness
With the September 2025 deadline approaching, now is the time to act. Waiting until the last minute introduces unnecessary risk. A proactive approach to EU Data Act storage compliance involves assessing your current storage providers and identifying any potential lock-in risks. Review your contracts for clauses related to data portability, exit procedures, and associated costs. A strong majority of EU decision-makers already prefer European solutions for their critical infrastructure.
Migrating to a compliant platform is straightforward with the right partner. An S3-compatible service allows you to simply update the endpoint in your existing backup software or scripts to begin moving data. Test restores and policy configurations can be validated quickly, minimizing disruption. To start your journey toward digital sovereignty and full compliance with EU regulations, talk to an expert at Impossible Cloud. Get a demo to see how our platform can de-risk your storage strategy and prepare you for the future of data regulation.
More Links
EUR-Lex provides the official text of the EU Data Act as published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
European Commission offers its dedicated webpage on the Data Act, detailing its objectives and key elements.
Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr (BMDV) provides the German version of the EU Data Act.
Orrick presents an FAQ discussing updates to the EU Data Act.
Deloitte shares its perspective on the EU Data Act, focusing on action planning and opportunities (in German).
Latham & Watkins offers an analysis of the EU Data Act, specifically on new switching requirements for data processing services.
Gaia-X explores the impact of the EU Data Act on data spaces.
Norton Rose Fulbright provides a publication on the Data Act.
FAQ
What is EU Data Act storage compliance?
EU Data Act storage compliance refers to meeting the requirements set out in Chapter VI of the regulation. This primarily involves ensuring your cloud storage provider allows you to easily switch to another service, provides your data in an interoperable format, and does not impose unfair commercial barriers like high egress fees.
How does Impossible Cloud ensure my data stays in the EU?
Impossible Cloud is a European company that operates exclusively in certified European data centers. We offer country-level geofencing, allowing you to restrict your data to specific EU regions to guarantee data sovereignty and compliance with regulations like GDPR and the Data Act.
What makes Impossible Cloud 'predictable by design'?
Our pricing model is transparent and simple. We charge only for the storage you use, with no egress fees, no charges for API calls, and no minimum storage durations. This eliminates surprise costs and aligns with the EU Data Act's goal of removing commercial barriers to switching providers.
Can I migrate my existing backups to Impossible Cloud?
Yes. Our platform is fully S3-compatible, which means it integrates seamlessly with all major backup and recovery tools. You can migrate your existing backups by simply changing the storage endpoint in your current software configuration, with no need for complex data transformation.
What is Immutable Storage and why is it important for compliance?
Immutable Storage, or Object Lock, is a feature that prevents data from being deleted or modified for a specified period. This is critical for ransomware protection and for meeting regulatory retention requirements. It also ensures data integrity during a migration process, as mandated by the Data Act.
How can my MSP business partner with Impossible Cloud?
We offer a partner-ready platform with a multi-tenant console, full automation via API/CLI, and predictable pricing for stable margins. With distribution in Germany (api) and the UK (Northamber plc), it's easy to get started. Contact us to learn more about our partner program.
