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OVH cloud storage alternatives
Evaluating OVH Cloud Storage Alternatives for Enhanced UK Data Sovereignty
Are unpredictable costs and data sovereignty concerns with your current cloud storage provider creating risk? A strong majority of EU decision-makers are now seeking European solutions for their critical infrastructure. Discover a practical, enterprise-ready EU alternative that eliminates egress fees and strengthens your regulatory posture.
Key Takeaways
True OVH cloud storage alternatives must be 'sovereign by design,' operating exclusively in EU data centers to ensure GDPR compliance and eliminate CLOUD Act exposure.
A predictable cost model with zero egress fees, no API call charges, and no minimum storage duration is critical for eliminating billing surprises and enabling predictable margins for MSPs.
Enterprise-ready solutions require full S3 compatibility, an 'Always-Hot' architecture for instant data access, and Immutable Storage with Object Lock for robust ransomware protection.
For UK IT leaders, selecting a cloud storage partner involves balancing performance, cost, and an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. While many organizations rely on established providers, concerns over data sovereignty, exposure to foreign laws like the CLOUD Act, and unpredictable billing models are driving a search for better OVH cloud storage alternatives. The ideal solution must offer more than just storage; it requires a foundation of European data residency, transparent economics, and robust security. This article outlines a strategic approach to evaluating alternatives, focusing on achieving digital sovereignty, predictable costs, and enterprise-grade resilience without compromising on S3 compatibility or performance.
Prioritise Digital Sovereignty and EU Compliance
A primary driver for seeking OVH cloud storage alternatives is the need for true digital sovereignty. A recent study shows geopolitical risk is a growing concern for over 25% of European organisations. Storing data exclusively in certified European data centers ensures it remains under EU legal jurisdiction, fully compliant with GDPR and shielded from foreign government access requests.
This EU-centric approach provides essential legal certainty. Solutions offering country-level geofencing allow businesses to meet stringent data residency requirements for regulated workloads in sectors like finance and healthcare. Choosing a provider with a sovereign-by-design architecture eliminates CLOUD Act exposure entirely.
The demand for sovereign solutions is expanding rapidly, with the European market projected to grow at a CAGR of 22.6% through 2032. This momentum reflects a clear enterprise preference for European data control. This shift requires a deeper look into how a provider’s architecture supports these strict compliance mandates.
Demand Full S3 Compatibility Without Compromise
Effective OVH cloud storage alternatives must provide 100% S3 API compatibility to protect existing investments. Migrating applications, scripts, and backup tools should not require extensive code rewrites, a process that can delay projects by months. True compatibility extends beyond basic object operations to include advanced features.
Ensure any potential provider supports the following S3 capabilities out-of-the-box:
Versioning and lifecycle management policies.
Immutable Storage with Object Lock.
Granular Identity and Access Management (IAM) controls.
Seamless integration with leading backup tools like NovaBackup.
Full S3 compatibility reduces migration risk to near zero and keeps your established data pipelines running. A study found that organisations using S3 for backup reduced their recovery time by up to 50%. This level of integration is a critical factor when undergoing a storage vendor evaluation, as it directly impacts operational continuity.
Adopt a Predictable and Transparent Cost Model
A major pain point driving the search for OVH cloud storage alternatives is unpredictable pricing. Hidden charges like egress fees and API call costs can inflate cloud bills by 20-40%, making budget forecasting nearly impossible. A transparent economic model is essential for achieving a predictable total cost of ownership (TCO).
Look for providers who offer a clear pricing structure with zero hidden fees. Key features of a predictable model include:
No egress fees for data retrieval.
Zero charges for API calls (GET, PUT, LIST).
No minimum storage duration requirements.
This approach provides predictable margins, which is especially valuable for MSPs offering Backup-as-a-Service. The upcoming EU Data Act, fully applicable from September 2025, will mandate easier switching and the gradual elimination of exit fees, making transparent pricing a competitive advantage. By choosing a provider already aligned with these principles, you can avoid vendor lock-in and future-proof your investment.
Ensure an Architecture Built for Resilience and Scale
Enterprise workloads demand an architecture that guarantees consistency, availability, and performance at scale. When evaluating OVH cloud storage alternatives, scrutinise the underlying infrastructure for resilience against single points of failure. Multi-AZ replication is a baseline requirement for data integrity under mixed workloads, from millions of small files to large archives.
An “Always-Hot” object storage model offers a significant advantage over complex tiering policies. With an always-hot architecture, 100% of your data is immediately accessible without restore delays or retrieval fees. This simplifies operations, strengthens recovery auditability, and prevents the API timeouts often caused by fragile lifecycle policies.
This architectural choice directly supports critical use cases like disaster recovery and ransomware protection. Immutable backups stored in an always-hot model ensure that recovery point objectives (RPOs) can be met without waiting hours or days for data to be rehydrated from a cold tier. This focus on resilient architecture is a key part of understanding cloud storage limitations and finding a superior alternative.
Strengthen Ransomware Defense with Immutable Storage
With ransomware attacks continuing to rise, robust data protection is non-negotiable. A critical feature for any modern cloud storage solution is Immutable Storage via S3 Object Lock. This technology prevents data from being altered or deleted by anyone—including administrators—for a defined retention period.
Implementing Object Lock creates a WORM (Write-Once-Read-Many) model, which is a powerful defense against ransomware that aims to encrypt your backups. Even if an attacker gains administrative credentials, they cannot modify or encrypt the immutable backup files. This capability is a cornerstone of a modern 3-2-1 or 4-2-2 backup strategy for 100% resilience.
Beyond ransomware protection, immutability helps meet compliance requirements for audit-ready data retention. When combined with multi-layer encryption and EU-controlled key management, it provides a formidable security posture. This makes it a vital consideration for any EU-based object storage solution.
Leverage a Partner-Ready Platform for Growth
For MSPs, resellers, and system integrators, the right cloud storage partner does more than store data; it enables business growth. When considering OVH cloud storage alternatives, look for a platform that is “partner-ready by design.” This means providing the tools and economic model necessary to build profitable services.
A true partner platform should deliver:
A multi-tenant console with role-based access control (RBAC) and MFA.
Full automation capabilities via API and CLI for streamlined management.
Predictable margins guaranteed by a zero-egress-fee model.
Fast onboarding and dedicated support for partners.
Momentum in the channel is also a strong indicator of a healthy ecosystem. For instance, new distribution agreements with partners like api in Germany and Northamber plc in the UK expand local access and support for hundreds of resellers. This focus on the channel simplifies compliance and operations, making it easier to deliver value to end customers. This is a key step in any OVH migration plan.
Prepare for Evolving EU Regulations
More Links
The German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) presents statistical data and tables related to the use of cloud computing in businesses within the ICT sector in Germany.
The German Data Protection Conference (DSK) provides a position paper outlining criteria for sovereign clouds.
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) offers information for the public regarding cloud computing.
Bitkom provides a presentation from its press conference on the Cloud Report 2025.
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) reports on its privacy recommendations for the use of cloud services by the public sector.
The UK government offers a comprehensive cloud guide specifically for the public sector.
FAQ
What makes Impossible Cloud a strong OVH cloud storage alternative?
Impossible Cloud is a strong alternative because it is 'sovereign by design,' operating exclusively in European data centers for full GDPR compliance. It offers a predictable cost model with no egress or API fees, full S3 compatibility, and enterprise-grade features like Immutable Storage for ransomware protection.
Is it difficult to migrate from another S3-compatible provider to Impossible Cloud?
No, migration is straightforward. Because Impossible Cloud offers full S3 API compatibility, your existing applications, scripts, and tools will continue to work without code rewrites. This minimizes migration risk and protects your past technology investments.
How does Impossible Cloud's pricing model benefit MSPs?
The pricing model is 'predictable by design.' With no egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage durations, MSPs can build services like BaaS and archiving with stable, defensible margins. The multi-tenant console and automation tools further simplify management and operations.
What is an 'Always-Hot' storage model?
An 'Always-Hot' model means all data is immediately accessible without any delays or extra fees for retrieval. Unlike tiered storage that moves data to 'cold' archives, this model simplifies operations, makes restores predictable, and ensures third-party tools that access the data remain stable.
How does Impossible Cloud align with new EU regulations like NIS-2 and the Data Act?
Impossible Cloud's architecture and business model are already aligned with the principles of these regulations. Our commitment to data portability and no egress fees supports the EU Data Act's goal of preventing lock-in. Our continuous security processes and supply-chain assurance are designed to meet the stringent requirements of NIS-2.
Can I geofence my data to a specific country?
Yes. Impossible Cloud offers country-level geofencing, allowing you to keep data in predefined regions to meet specific regulatory or business requirements under EU rules. This provides an extra layer of control for sensitive workloads.
