Cloud Storage
Object Storage
UK object storage with no egress fees
Eliminate Cloud Egress Fees with Sovereign UK Object Storage
Are unpredictable cloud bills and data compliance risks slowing your business? A shocking 72% of the European cloud market is controlled by non-EU providers, exposing UK firms to hidden costs and foreign laws. Discover a practical alternative that offers UK object storage with no egress fees.
Key Takeaways
Eliminate unpredictable cloud costs by choosing UK object storage with a transparent pricing model that has zero egress fees or API call charges.
Ensure true data sovereignty and GDPR compliance by using a European-owned provider that operates exclusively in EU data centers, avoiding US CLOUD Act exposure.
Protect against ransomware by implementing immutable backups with Object Lock, making your critical data unchangeable and guaranteeing recovery.
For UK IT leaders, managing cloud storage has become a balancing act between performance and cost. Many feel locked into hyperscaler contracts due to complex pricing and the perceived difficulty of migration. The reliance on non-EU providers creates significant risks, from surprise egress fees that inflate budgets to data exposure under foreign laws like the US CLOUD Act. This article outlines a strategic approach to selecting UK object storage with no egress fees, focusing on a European, sovereign-by-design model. We will explore how full S3 compatibility, an 'Always-Hot' architecture, and robust compliance features provide a practical, enterprise-ready alternative that reduces lock-in and strengthens your data strategy.
Calculate the True Expense of Hidden Cloud Fees
Many UK businesses discover their cloud bills are inflated by up to 30% due to hidden charges. The most common culprits are egress fees, charged every time you access or move your own data. These unpredictable costs make budgeting nearly impossible for IT departments.
Beyond egress, API call charges add another layer of complexity and expense, penalizing you for using your data. This pricing model creates significant vendor lock-in, making migration seem financially unviable. A transparent model with zero egress or API fees is the only way to ensure predictable spending. Understanding cloud costs is the first step to optimization.
The European cloud market is projected to reach USD 246.83 billion in 2025, yet local providers' market share has shrunk to just 13%. This dominance by non-EU providers perpetuates pricing models that penalize data mobility. Choosing a provider with a clear, predictable cost structure is essential for financial control.
Assert Digital Sovereignty and Mitigate Legal Risks
Storing data in UK or EU data centers owned by a US company does not guarantee data sovereignty. The US CLOUD Act allows US authorities to demand access to data controlled by US providers, regardless of its physical location. This creates a direct conflict with UK and EU privacy laws.
A European-owned provider operating exclusively in EU data centers eliminates this risk entirely. By design, your data remains subject only to EU law, ensuring GDPR compliance and protecting you from foreign government access. For businesses in regulated sectors like finance and healthcare, this legal certainty is a competitive advantage. You can learn more about achieving data sovereignty.
A strong majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for critical infrastructure. This shift is driven by the need for legal certainty and control over sensitive corporate data. Geofenced storage ensures your data never leaves your chosen region, providing an auditable guarantee of compliance.
Deploy a Simplified, High-Performance Architecture
Complex storage tiering models with hot, cool, and archive layers create operational fragility. Restoring data from cold tiers can cause API timeouts, application failures, and unexpected retrieval fees of over 50%. An 'Always-Hot' object storage model ensures all data is immediately accessible without delays.
Full S3-API compatibility is critical for a seamless transition from your existing provider. This allows you to use your current tools, scripts, and applications without any code rewrites, protecting your investments. A robust S3-compatible solution supports advanced features like versioning and lifecycle management out of the box.
Here is how S3 compatibility simplifies your operations:
Keeps existing backup and data management tools working without modification.
Allows developers to use familiar API/CLI/SDK commands, reducing the learning curve to zero.
Protects past investments in scripts and automation pipelines.
Minimizes migration risk, enabling a smooth transition with predictable outcomes.
This approach significantly reduces the risk of cloud vendor lock-in. An 'Always-Hot' architecture removes the operational burden of managing complex lifecycle policies, which often fail to adapt to changing data access patterns.
Implement an Impenetrable Ransomware Defence
Ransomware attacks are increasingly targeting backup repositories to prevent recovery. A staggering 66% of organizations reported a ransomware attack in the last year. Traditional backups are vulnerable if attackers can modify or delete them.
Immutable storage with Object Lock is your last line of defence. It uses WORM (Write Once, Read Many) technology to make your backup data unchangeable for a defined retention period. Even with administrator credentials, no one can alter or encrypt your locked backups.
This technology is essential for a modern 3-2-1 backup strategy, providing an air-gapped, incorruptible copy of your data. In the event of an attack, you can restore a pristine version of your files with 100% confidence. This capability transforms your disaster recovery plan from a hope to a certainty.
Future-Proof Your Business with Advanced EU Compliance
Forthcoming EU regulations will create new compliance obligations for UK firms doing business in Europe. Being prepared is key. The EU Data Act, fully applicable from September 2025, mandates data portability and interoperability to combat vendor lock-in. Providers must facilitate easy switching, with a phased ban on egress fees by 2027.
The NIS-2 Directive also impacts UK companies in critical supply chains, requiring stringent cybersecurity measures. These include:
Implementing continuous security processes and risk assessments.
Ensuring supply-chain security and vendor assurance.
Adhering to strict incident reporting timelines (within 24 hours for significant events).
Using encryption and robust access controls to protect network systems.
Choosing a storage partner whose operations are already aligned with these regulations simplifies your compliance burden. A provider built on EU principles offers a clear advantage, turning regulatory readiness into a business enabler. This makes them a strong alternative to US providers.
Drive Predictable Margins for UK Channel Partners
For UK Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and resellers, unpredictable costs from hyperscalers destroy profit margins. Offering Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) or archiving solutions becomes a financial risk when egress fees can erase your profits overnight. A partner-centric model must be predictable by design.
A storage solution with zero egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage duration provides stable, defensible margins. This allows MSPs to build competitive and profitable services for their clients. Impossible Cloud's expansion into the UK with distributor Northamber plc provides local access for resellers and system integrators.
Partner-ready features are essential for efficiency and scale. A multi-tenant console with role-based access control (RBAC) and MFA simplifies client management. Automation via a full-featured API/CLI and clear reporting tools empower partners to onboard and manage customers with minimal overhead.
More Links
Information Commissioner's Office provides a guide to data protection under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
UK Legislation presents the text of the Data Protection Act 2018, UK legislation.
UK Government details the UK National Data Strategy.
European Commission details the European data strategy.
FAQ
What makes your object storage 'sovereign by design'?
Our platform is built and operated by a European company exclusively within certified European data centers. This ensures your data is governed solely by EU law, providing true digital sovereignty and making GDPR compliance straightforward, free from the reach of the US CLOUD Act.
Are there any hidden costs I should be aware of?
No. Our pricing is transparent and predictable. We have no egress fees, no charges for API calls (PUT, GET, LIST requests), and no minimum storage durations. You pay only for the storage you use, making it easy to forecast your budget.
How does your S3 compatibility help my business?
Our full S3 API compatibility means your existing tools, applications, and workflows will continue to operate without any changes. This eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming code rewrites, de-risks migration, and prevents vendor lock-in.
How do you support UK-based MSPs and channel partners?
We provide a partner-ready platform with predictable pricing so you can build profitable BaaS and archiving services. Through our UK distributor, Northamber plc, we offer local support, a multi-tenant management console, and full automation capabilities to help you scale.
What is 'Always-Hot' storage?
Our 'Always-Hot' architecture means all your data is instantly accessible, all the time. Unlike complex tiered systems, there are no delays or extra fees for restoring data from an archive tier. This simplifies operations and ensures your data is ready for recovery or analysis when you need it.
How does your service help with new regulations like the EU Data Act?
Our service is designed for the future of EU regulation. We champion data portability and have no exit fees, aligning perfectly with the EU Data Act's goal to prevent vendor lock-in. Our robust security posture also helps you meet the stringent requirements of directives like NIS-2.
