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migrating from Backblaze UK
Migrating from Backblaze UK: A Strategic Shift to Sovereign Cloud Storage
Concerns over data sovereignty and unpredictable egress fees are driving many UK firms to reconsider their storage provider. Migrating from Backblaze UK to a sovereign, EU-based cloud offers a clear path to regulatory compliance and cost control. This article outlines a practical strategy for a seamless transition.
Key Takeaways
Migrating from Backblaze UK to a sovereign cloud like Impossible Cloud eliminates US CLOUD Act exposure and ensures full GDPR compliance by keeping data within EU legal jurisdiction.
A zero-egress-fee and zero-API-fee model provides 100% predictable costs, which is critical for enterprise budgeting and enables UK MSPs to build profitable, fixed-margin services.
Full S3 compatibility simplifies the migration process, while an 'Always-Hot' architecture and Immutable Object Lock guarantee instant data access and robust ransomware protection.
For UK businesses managing sensitive data, the choice of a cloud storage partner has significant regulatory and financial implications. Navigating the complexities of GDPR and the US CLOUD Act requires a storage solution that is sovereign by design. A strong majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for critical infrastructure, making a provider's origin a key selection criterion. Migrating from Backblaze UK to an EU-native, S3-compatible object storage platform like Impossible Cloud addresses these challenges directly. It provides a framework for achieving digital sovereignty, cost predictability with zero egress fees, and a robust defense against ransomware, all while ensuring a low-risk migration.
Secure UK Data within EU Regulatory Boundaries
For UK firms handling EU citizen data, achieving genuine data sovereignty is a primary concern. Storing data with US-owned companies, even in EU data centres, creates exposure to the US CLOUD Act, which permits US authorities to access data regardless of its physical location. This directly conflicts with GDPR's strict data transfer rules, creating a significant compliance risk.
Impossible Cloud eliminates this risk entirely by operating exclusively in certified European data centres under EU governance. Our country-level geofencing guarantees data remains in predefined regions, ensuring full GDPR compliance. This approach provides the legal certainty UK businesses need, a sharp contrast to the ambiguities surrounding non-EU providers. You can learn more about data sovereignty challenges and how to solve them. This focus on EU-centric operations is the first step in a secure migration strategy.
Eliminate Migration Risk with 100% S3 API Compatibility
A primary barrier to switching cloud providers is the fear of operational disruption and high engineering costs. A fully S3-compatible API is the key to a smooth transition, as it allows your existing applications, scripts, and backup tools to work without modification. This protects years of investment in your current workflows and dramatically simplifies the storage migration planning process.
Impossible Cloud offers complete S3-API compatibility, supporting not just basic operations but also advanced features like versioning and lifecycle management. Here is what that means for your team:
No code rewrites are needed for your applications.
Existing API, CLI, and SDK integrations continue to function seamlessly.
Migration tools can be used out-of-the-box for data movement.
Your team avoids a steep learning curve, accelerating the migration timeline by over 50%.
This 1-to-1 compatibility ensures that migrating from Backblaze UK is a technical formality, not an operational overhaul. With the technical path cleared, the next consideration is establishing a predictable financial model.
Forecast Budgets Accurately with a Zero-Egress Fee Model
Unpredictable costs, driven by hidden egress fees and API call charges, are a major pain point for IT leaders. Many businesses feel locked into their providers due to complex pricing that makes accurate budgeting nearly impossible. A transparent economic model is a key driver for businesses looking for Backblaze alternatives in the UK.
Impossible Cloud was built on a foundation of cost predictability. Our model includes:
Zero egress fees: Access your data as often as needed without penalty.
No API call costs: Automate and integrate without worrying about surprise charges.
No minimum storage duration: Pay only for what you use, for as long as you use it.
This transparent approach provides predictable margins for MSPs and allows enterprises to forecast their storage TCO with 100% accuracy. This financial clarity, combined with technical simplicity, paves the way for building a more resilient data protection strategy.
Strengthen Ransomware Defences with Immutable Storage
Ransomware remains a top threat, making immutable backups a non-negotiable component of any modern disaster recovery plan. Immutable storage, using features like S3 Object Lock, creates a Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) version of your data. This means that once written, a backup cannot be altered, encrypted, or deleted by anyone—including internal actors or malicious attackers—until a predefined retention period expires.
Impossible Cloud’s Immutable Storage with Object Lock provides a powerful defence against ransomware. This feature ensures that even if attackers breach your primary systems, your backups remain secure and recoverable. It provides an audit-ready retention capability essential for regulated industries. By securing your backups, you can confidently execute your data migration, knowing your last line of defence is unbreachable. This resilience is further supported by an architecture designed for constant readiness.
Ensure Instant Data Access with an Always-Hot Architecture
Traditional cloud storage often relies on complex tiering models, moving data between hot, warm, and cold layers to manage costs. This approach creates significant operational fragility. Restoring data from a cold tier can cause delays of hours or even days, leading to API timeouts, application failures, and unexpected retrieval fees that can exceed 200% of the storage cost.
Impossible Cloud utilizes an “Always-Hot” architecture, where 100% of your data is immediately accessible without any restore delays. This model eliminates the complexity and hidden costs of tiering, ensuring predictable performance for all workloads. Whether you are running analytics, archiving data, or performing an urgent disaster recovery, your data is always available instantly. This architectural simplicity is a key factor when you compare storage providers. It ensures your systems remain stable and your recovery time objectives are always met, which is critical for meeting modern compliance standards.
Future-Proof Your Compliance with EU Data Act and NIS-2 Readiness
The European regulatory landscape is continuously evolving, and your storage partner must be prepared for future requirements. Two key regulations taking full effect in 2025 are the EU Data Act and the NIS-2 Directive. The Data Act mandates data portability and interoperability to prevent vendor lock-in, requiring providers to offer clear exit paths. The NIS-2 Directive imposes strict cybersecurity duties, including supply-chain assurance and incident reporting.
Impossible Cloud is sovereign by design, aligning its architecture and operations with these future-proof principles. Our commitment to open standards and full S3 compatibility directly supports the Data Act's portability requirements, ensuring you can always avoid vendor lock-in. Our continuous security processes and EU-only infrastructure are built to meet the stringent supply-chain demands of NIS-2. This forward-looking compliance posture is especially valuable for our partners.
Drive MSP Growth with a Partner-Ready Platform
More Links
German Data Protection Conference (DSK) provides a position paper outlining criteria for sovereign clouds.
European Commission details its policies on cloud computing as part of its digital strategy.
Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) presents statistics on cloud computing usage by enterprises in Germany.
Eurostat offers European statistics on cloud computing usage by enterprises.
Baker McKenzie discusses data privacy and security regulations in Germany related to cloud compliance.
IT-Recht Kanzlei discusses data protection concerns regarding Microsoft 365, referencing the German Data Protection Conference (DSK).
FAQ
What makes Impossible Cloud a sovereign cloud solution?
Impossible Cloud is a sovereign cloud because it is a European company that operates exclusively in certified European data centres. All data is stored and governed under EU law, ensuring it is shielded from foreign regulations like the US CLOUD Act and is fully compliant with GDPR.
Are there any hidden costs with Impossible Cloud's pricing?
No, our pricing is transparent and predictable. We do not charge egress fees, API call fees, or have minimum storage durations. You only pay for the storage you use, making it easy to manage your budget.
How does Impossible Cloud help with ransomware protection?
We provide Immutable Storage with S3 Object Lock. This feature allows you to make your backups unchangeable for a set period, providing a critical defence against ransomware attacks that aim to encrypt or delete your data.
Can I use my existing backup software with Impossible Cloud?
Yes. Thanks to our full S3 API compatibility, Impossible Cloud integrates out-of-the-box with leading backup tools and any other application that uses the S3 protocol. This ensures a seamless transition and protects your existing software investments.
What does 'Always-Hot' storage mean?
Always-Hot storage means all your data is instantly accessible at all times, with no delays or extra fees for retrieval. Unlike tiered storage models that move data to slow 'cold' layers, our architecture ensures high performance for all use cases, from active archives to disaster recovery.
How does Impossible Cloud support UK channel partners and MSPs?
We offer a partner-ready platform with a multi-tenant console, automation via API/CLI, and a predictable pricing model that guarantees stable margins. Through our UK distributor, Northamber plc, we provide local support and fast onboarding for UK resellers and MSPs.
