Cloud Storage
Object Storage
securely save files to object storage
Securely Save Files to Object Storage: A 2025 Blueprint for EU Data Sovereignty and Resilience
Storing enterprise data securely in the cloud presents a growing challenge, with 50% of EU decision-makers demanding European solutions. This article outlines a blueprint to securely save files to object storage while ensuring compliance and cost predictability. Discover a strategy that aligns with GDPR, NIS-2, and the 2025 EU Data Act.
Key Takeawys
Adopt EU-based object storage with geofencing to ensure GDPR compliance and avoid exposure to non-EU laws like the US CLOUD Act.
Eliminate unpredictable cloud costs by choosing a provider with zero egress fees and no API call charges, aligning with the EU Data Act's goals.
Use S3 Object Lock for immutable backups to create a robust, unchangeable defense against ransomware attacks and ensure rapid data recovery.
For UK and European enterprises, the need to securely save files to object storage is now inseparable from digital sovereignty. A strong majority of IT leaders now prioritize EU data residency, driven by regulations like GDPR and concerns over non-EU laws like the CLOUD Act. Yet, many feel locked into complex pricing models with unpredictable egress fees that stifle flexibility. This guide provides a strategic approach to adopting EU-centric, S3-compatible object storage. It focuses on achieving compliance, strengthening ransomware defenses with features like immutable storage, and creating a predictable economic model that empowers, rather than restricts, your data strategy.
Achieve Digital Sovereignty with EU-Based Storage
For over 70% of European businesses, data sovereignty is a primary concern, directly impacting cloud provider selection. Storing data within the EU is the most certain way to ensure it is not subject to foreign government inspection requests under legislation like the US CLOUD Act. This approach simplifies adherence to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which governs the data of 510 million EU residents.
An EU-only storage strategy guarantees data residency, a foundational requirement for many regulated industries. Impossible Cloud operates exclusively in certified European data centers, offering country-level geofencing to keep data within predefined regions. This ensures 100% of your data remains under the protection of EU law.
Adopting a sovereign-by-design platform provides several key advantages for compliance. It offers a direct solution to complex cross-border data transfer rules that often require extensive legal assessments. Key benefits include:
Verified GDPR Compliance: Storing data exclusively in Germany or other EU locations meets strict regulatory requirements for data processing and residency.
CLOUD Act Avoidance: Keeping data within EU jurisdiction removes exposure to non-EU legal frameworks that could compel data disclosure.
Simplified Audits: Demonstrating compliance is streamlined when data never leaves the EU, reducing administrative overhead by at least 15%.
Enhanced Customer Trust: Guaranteeing EU data residency builds confidence among partners and customers, with over 60% viewing it as a critical trust factor.
This foundation of sovereignty ensures your data's legal framework is as secure as its physical location. This legal certainty is the first step toward building a truly resilient data infrastructure.
Eliminate Unpredictable Costs with a Transparent Economic Model
Unpredictable costs remain a primary source of friction in cloud adoption, with egress fees creating significant vendor lock-in. Some market leaders charge profit margins estimated at nearly 8000% on data transfers, creating a major obstacle for businesses wanting to switch providers or adopt multi-cloud strategies. A transparent economic model is essential for financial planning and operational freedom.
Impossible Cloud removes these barriers with a clear pricing structure that includes zero egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage duration. This model provides up to 80% cost savings compared to traditional hyperscalers. Predictability allows Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to build services like Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) with defensible, stable margins for their clients.
The upcoming EU Data Act, fully applicable from September 2025, will mandate the reduction and eventual elimination of switching fees, reinforcing the market shift toward fairer practices. By choosing a provider that already operates on a zero-egress model, your organization is already 100% aligned with these future requirements. This proactive stance on cost transparency provides a significant competitive advantage and de-risks your long-term storage strategy.
Fortify Ransomware Defenses with Immutable Storage
Ransomware attacks continue to grow in sophistication, making immutable backups a critical defense layer for every organization. Object storage offers powerful, native features to protect data integrity and ensure rapid recovery. The core of this defense is S3 Object Lock, a feature that makes data immutable for a defined retention period, preventing it from being altered or deleted by any user.
This WORM (Write-Once-Read-Many) capability is a primary defense against malware that attempts to encrypt backup files. Impossible Cloud integrates Object Lock and versioning, ensuring a clean, uninfected version of your data is always available for restoration. This aligns with the NIS-2 directive's emphasis on business continuity and robust risk management for essential entities across the EU.
A multi-layered security approach is essential for comprehensive protection. Key security measures include:
Immutable Backups: Use S3 Object Lock to make critical backup data unchangeable for its entire retention period.
Multi-Layer Encryption: All data is protected with robust encryption both in transit and at rest, with keys managed under strict EU control.
Granular Access Control: Implement Identity and Access Management (IAM) with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce least-privilege access.
Air-Gapped Protection: Isolate backup data from the primary network to prevent malware from spreading to your recovery copies.
Continuous Monitoring: Employ tools to monitor for suspicious activity, as native object storage platforms often lack these security monitoring features.
Implementing these measures transforms your backup repository from a potential target into a secure fortress. This robust security posture is essential for maintaining operational resilience in a heightened threat landscape.
Ensure Seamless Integration with Full S3 API Compatibility
Switching storage providers should not require rewriting applications or reconfiguring complex data pipelines. Full S3 API compatibility is the key to a seamless migration and continued operational stability, protecting years of investment in existing tools and scripts. Many European companies now offer S3-compatible services, making it a de facto industry standard.
Impossible Cloud provides 100% S3 API compatibility, ensuring your existing applications, SDKs, and command-line interface (CLI) tools work without modification. This includes out-of-the-box integrations with leading backup software like Veeam and NovaBackup, allowing you to modernize your backup strategy without disruption. This compatibility extends beyond basic operations to include advanced capabilities like versioning, lifecycle management, and event notifications.
Furthermore, our architecture is built on an “Always-Hot” object storage model, where all data is immediately accessible without any retrieval delays or tier-restore fees. This eliminates the complexity and hidden costs of tiered storage, where lifecycle policy drift can lead to API timeouts and failed restores. With an always-hot model, you achieve consistent, predictable performance for every single one of your files, simplifying operations and strengthening your recovery posture.
Future-Proof Your Strategy with an Enterprise-Ready Platform
An enterprise-ready platform must address governance, usability, and regulatory preparedness. The upcoming EU Data Act, effective from 12 September 2025, mandates data portability by design, requiring cloud providers to facilitate easy switching without technical lock-in. This includes the transfer of metadata and access information, a requirement that demands a forward-thinking architecture.
Impossible Cloud is built to meet these modern enterprise demands. Our platform provides robust identity and access governance, including support for external Identity Providers via SAML/OIDC. The intuitive console UX allows teams to manage buckets, assign roles, and configure lifecycle rules with just a few clicks, reducing the need for deep API expertise. This focus on usability accelerates adoption and reduces operational overhead by over 20%.
A truly enterprise-ready object storage solution includes a comprehensive feature set. Look for these critical capabilities:
Advanced IAM: Support for granular, role-driven policies, MFA, and integration with external IdPs like SAML/OIDC.
Full S3 API Support: Compatibility that covers versioning, lifecycle management, and object tagging to protect existing investments.
Intuitive Console UX: A user-friendly interface for managing buckets, permissions, and monitoring without deep API knowledge.
Immutable Storage: Native S3 Object Lock for ransomware protection and regulatory compliance.
Verified EU Compliance: Operations exclusively within certified EU data centers to guarantee GDPR alignment and data sovereignty.
Transparent Economics: A clear cost model with no egress fees or hidden API charges to ensure budget predictability.
This comprehensive approach ensures your storage strategy is not only compliant today but also prepared for the next wave of EU regulations. This readiness provides a clear path for partners and resellers to build compliant and profitable services.
Empower Channel Partners with a Predictable and Scalable Model
For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), resellers, and system integrators, profitability depends on predictable margins and operational efficiency. The Impossible Cloud partner program is predictable by design, built on a zero-egress-fee model that allows partners to offer competitive BaaS and archiving services with stable, defensible margins. This removes the risk of surprise costs that erode profitability, a common issue with over 40% of hyperscaler users.
Our platform is partner-ready, featuring a multi-tenant console with robust RBAC and MFA for secure client management. Partners can automate provisioning and reporting via a comprehensive API and CLI, enabling fast onboarding and streamlined operations. This focus on automation can reduce manual management tasks by up to 30%, freeing up valuable engineering resources.
We are expanding our reach across Europe to provide local support for our partners. In 2025, we established key distribution channels with api in Germany and our first UK distributor, Northamber plc. This growing ecosystem makes it easier than ever for MSPs to deliver sovereign, high-performance, and cost-effective cloud storage solutions to their clients. Talk to an expert today to learn how our partner program can help you grow your business.
More Links
Datenschutzkonferenz offers guidance on cloud computing from a data protection perspective.
German Federal Statistical Office presents statistical data on the use of cloud computing in enterprises in Germany.
European Commission outlines the European Data Strategy, a key initiative for a digital Europe, focusing on data sovereignty and innovation.
Bitkom provides a report on cloud computing, potentially covering market trends, adoption rates, and related topics.
German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action describes Gaia-X, a project aiming to create a secure and sovereign data infrastructure for Europe.
ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity) offers a report on cloud computing, likely covering security risks, best practices, and recommendations.
