Cloud Storage
Enterprise Storage
research data storage UK
Secure UK Research Data Storage with Sovereign Cloud Solutions
UK research institutions face growing pressure to ensure data sovereignty while managing unpredictable cloud costs. A European-based, S3-compatible object storage solution offers a practical path to compliance and budget control.
Key Takeaways
Prioritise digital sovereignty by choosing research data storage located exclusively in European data centers to ensure GDPR compliance and avoid CLOUD Act exposure.
Eliminate budget uncertainty with a transparent pricing model that includes zero fees for egress or API calls and no minimum storage durations.
Protect critical research data from ransomware by implementing immutable backups using S3 Object Lock, a standard feature for audit-ready retention.
For organizations handling sensitive research data in the UK, the demand for secure, compliant, and cost-effective storage has never been greater. Navigating the complexities of data protection regulations, avoiding exposure to foreign laws like the CLOUD Act, and controlling spiraling cloud expenditures are primary challenges. This article outlines a strategic approach to research data storage UK, focusing on a sovereign-by-design platform. It delivers full S3 compatibility, robust ransomware protection, and a transparent economic model without egress fees, providing a resilient foundation for critical data.
Establish Digital Sovereignty for UK Research Data
A majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for critical infrastructure. Storing data within strictly European data centers provides essential legal certainty for UK organizations. This approach avoids CLOUD Act exposure, a key criterion for over 70% of firms. Our geofenced storage keeps data in predefined regions under EU rules. This ensures your data sovereignty strategy aligns with modern compliance needs.
This EU-centric governance model is a direct response to market demands for greater control. Adopting EU-only options for research data storage UK is no longer a niche requirement. It has become a core pillar of responsible data management and regulatory alignment. This strategy prepares your organization for the future of data regulation.
Eliminate Hidden Fees with a Predictable Cost Model
Many UK firms feel locked into cloud providers due to complex pricing. Outages and cost surprises directly impact revenue for nearly 60% of businesses. Impossible Cloud provides a transparent economic model that eliminates these variables entirely. We offer a clear path to budget stability for your research projects.
Our pricing is predictable by design, with three key guarantees:
Zero egress fees, ever.
Zero costs for API calls.
No minimum storage duration penalties.
This model gives Managed Service Providers (MSPs) predictable margins of over 25%. It also allows enterprise IT leaders to forecast their storage expenses with 100% accuracy. This financial clarity transforms UK research data management from a cost center into a predictable operational expense.
Deploy Immutable Backups for Advanced Ransomware Protection
Ransomware remains a persistent threat to valuable research data across the UK. Our platform includes Immutable Storage using S3 Object Lock as a standard feature. This function makes files unchangeable for a set period, creating a powerful defense. It ensures a clean, uncorrupted copy of your data is always available for recovery.
This feature is a core component of a modern 3-2-1 backup strategy. Multi-layer encryption protects data both in transit and at rest, with all keys under EU control. This provides an audit-ready retention solution that meets stringent GDPR-compliant storage requirements. This robust security posture is essential for protecting irreplaceable intellectual property.
Maintain Operational Continuity with Advanced S3 Compatibility
Migrating to a new storage platform often introduces risk and requires costly code rewrites. Our platform is built with full S3-API compatibility to eliminate this friction entirely. This protects your past investments in tools, scripts, and applications with zero required changes. Your existing data pipelines continue to run without interruption.
Our S3 compatibility goes beyond basic operations to include these advanced capabilities:
Full support for object versioning.
Automated lifecycle management policies.
IAM integration with MFA and RBAC.
Support for event notifications.
Seamless use with existing API, CLI, and SDK tools.
This comprehensive support minimizes migration risk for 100% of your workflows. It ensures that your teams can leverage a sovereign enterprise data lake without sacrificing the tools they already use. This focus on continuity accelerates adoption and reduces operational overhead.
Improve Accessibility with an 'Always-Hot' Storage Architecture
Complex storage tiering often leads to restore delays and unexpected fees. An estimated 40% of tiering policies drift from their intended purpose over time. Our 'Always-Hot' object storage model makes all data immediately accessible without any restore delays. This architecture simplifies operations and ensures predictable performance for every workload.
This model eliminates the fragility of tiering, which can cause API timeouts. It provides strong read/write consistency and predictable latencies for millions of files. For storing large data amounts, this approach guarantees that your research data is always ready for analysis. This design choice directly supports uptime and auditability.
Future-Proof Your Compliance for EU and UK Regulations
The regulatory landscape for data is constantly evolving. The EU Data Act, effective from September 2025, mandates data portability and interoperability by design. Our platform was built on these principles, ensuring you have a real exit path. This commitment to open standards protects your long-term freedom of action.
Additionally, the NIS-2 directive requires continuous security processes and supply-chain assurance. Our operations have baked in these requirements from day one. This proactive stance on compliance turns regulatory readiness into a competitive advantage for your public sector cloud projects. We help you stay ahead of the curve.
Accelerate UK Channel Growth with a Partner-Ready Platform
More Links
UKRI offers guidance and best practices for managing research data.
techUK discusses sovereign cloud solutions and the regulatory landscape in the UK.
UK Government provides guidance on multi-region cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS) considerations for government.
Destatis provides the privacy policy and data protection declaration of the German Federal Statistical Office.
UK Data Service offers guidance on storing research data.
Health Research Authority provides GDPR guidance regarding data protection and information governance in research.
FAQ
Is your research data storage solution GDPR compliant?
Yes. Our platform is sovereign by design, operating exclusively in certified European data centers. With country-level geofencing and EU-centric governance, we provide a fully GDPR-compliant storage solution to meet strict regulatory requirements for UK and EU organizations.
What are the primary use cases for your object storage?
Our core use cases are Backup & Disaster Recovery, tape-to-cloud migration, long-term archiving, and robust ransomware protection. The 'Always-Hot' architecture also makes it ideal for active archives and data lakes where immediate accessibility is required.
How do you ensure data security?
We provide multi-layer security, including in-transit and at-rest encryption, Immutable Storage with Object Lock for ransomware defense, and granular Identity and Access Management (IAM) with MFA and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
Can I use my existing backup software?
Absolutely. Our full S3-API compatibility ensures out-of-the-box integration with leading backup tools and software, including collaborations with vendors like NovaBackup. Your existing workflows will continue to operate without any changes.
What makes your pricing model different?
Our pricing model is designed for predictability and transparency. We charge for storage used with no hidden fees. This means no egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage duration penalties, allowing for precise and stable budget forecasting.
How do you support MSPs and channel partners in the UK?
We provide a partner-ready platform with a multi-tenant console, automation via API/CLI, and clear reporting. Our predictable cost model ensures stable margins. In the UK, we partner with the distributor Northamber plc to provide local access and support for resellers and MSPs.
