Backup Solutions
Immutable Backups
Veeam backup immutable storage solutions
Fortify Veeam Backups with Sovereign Immutable Storage
Worried about ransomware and EU data compliance? Many IT leaders are discovering that standard backup strategies have critical gaps. This article details how to secure your Veeam backups with a sovereign, immutable storage solution that eliminates these risks.
Key Takeawys
Combine Veeam with sovereign, EU-based immutable storage to achieve compliance with GDPR and the NIS-2 Directive.
Utilize S3 Object Lock in 'Compliance Mode' to make Veeam backups 100% resistant to ransomware encryption or deletion.
Eliminate unpredictable cloud costs with a storage model that has zero egress fees or API call charges, aligning with the upcoming EU Data Act.
In 2025, EU enterprises face a dual threat: escalating ransomware attacks and complex data regulations like GDPR and NIS-2. A majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for critical data, making digital sovereignty a top priority. Standard backup solutions are no longer sufficient when attackers target the backups themselves. Integrating Veeam with a truly sovereign, S3-compatible immutable storage platform provides a modern defense. This approach not only creates unchangeable, undeletable backup copies to neutralize ransomware but also guarantees data residency within the EU, ensuring compliance and control.
Transition to a Sovereign-by-Design Backup Architecture
A strong majority of EU businesses now prioritize data residency to meet strict GDPR requirements. Our S3-compatible object storage is operated exclusively in certified European data centers, offering country-level geofencing. This design ensures your Veeam backup data remains under EU jurisdiction, avoiding CLOUD Act exposure entirely. We provide full S3-API compatibility, protecting your investment in existing tools with 100% integration.
Many companies feel locked into their cloud providers due to complex pricing, with 56% of European firms overspending on cloud storage. Our model is predictable by design, featuring zero egress fees and no API call costs. This transparency allows for precise budget forecasting, a significant advantage for any Veeam backup strategy. This approach directly addresses the market's demand for cost transparency and reduced dependency.
Implement True Ransomware Resilience with Immutability
Ransomware attacks are increasingly sophisticated, with attackers attempting to compromise backup systems in 96% of incidents. Veeam's integration with S3 Object Lock creates truly immutable backups. This feature makes your backup data unchangeable and undeletable for a set period, even by someone with administrative credentials. An immutable copy guarantees you have a clean recovery point after an attack.
To achieve this, your storage must be configured correctly. Follow these key steps for robust protection:
Utilize S3 Object Lock in "Compliance Mode" to ensure no user, including a root administrator, can alter or delete the locked data.
Employ the 3-2-1 backup rule, keeping at least one copy of your data on an immutable, off-site storage target.
Immediately copy new backups to immutable storage using Veeam's Scale-out Backup Repository (SOBR) in Copy mode.
Regularly test your recovery plan from the immutable storage tier to validate its integrity and performance.
This strategy transforms your backups from a target into your strongest line of defense against ransomware threats.
Leverage an Architecture Built for Performance and Simplicity
Complex storage tiering often introduces unexpected restore delays and hidden costs. Our architecture is built on an "Always-Hot" object storage model. This means 100% of your Veeam backup data is immediately accessible, eliminating restore surprises and API timeouts. This approach simplifies operations and ensures third-party tools remain stable.
While Veeam disables synthetic fulls on immutable object storage, requiring Active Fulls, our platform is built for consistency and scale. It delivers predictable latencies for both read and write operations, handling millions of small files or large backup sets with equal efficiency. This ensures your cloud backup operations are reliable and performant, avoiding the pitfalls of fragile tiering policies.
Meet Evolving EU Regulations Like NIS-2 and the Data Act
The regulatory landscape in Europe continues to evolve, demanding greater resilience and data control. The NIS-2 Directive, for instance, imposes stringent cybersecurity obligations, including supply-chain assurance and incident reporting. Using a geofenced, immutable storage solution for your Veeam backups is a foundational step toward NIS-2 compliance, ensuring data integrity and security.
Furthermore, the EU Data Act, applicable from September 2025, mandates data portability and the removal of barriers to switching cloud providers. Its rules will phase out data egress fees completely by January 2027. Our zero-egress-fee model already aligns with this future standard, proving a real exit path and preventing vendor lock-in. This positions your organization ahead of the curve for regulatory readiness.
Empower MSPs with a Partner-Ready Platform
For Managed Service Providers, predictable margins are essential for building profitable Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings. Our pricing model, with zero egress or API fees, is predictable by design. This allows MSPs to offer competitive Veeam solutions without risking surprise costs that erode profitability.
Our platform is built for our partners. Key features include:
A multi-tenant console with robust Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for secure client management.
Full automation capabilities via API and CLI, simplifying onboarding and daily operations for hundreds of tenants.
Comprehensive reporting tools integrated into the partner console for clear visibility.
Growing local access for resellers through our distributors, including api in Germany and Northamber plc in the UK.
This partner-centric approach ensures MSPs can scale their Veeam backup services efficiently and profitably.
Follow Practical Steps for a Seamless Implementation
Integrating Impossible Cloud as a Veeam backup immutable storage solution is a straightforward process. A successful deployment involves just a few key steps. This ensures your data is protected quickly and efficiently, with over 99% uptime guaranteed. Start by configuring your new S3-compatible storage repository within the Veeam console.
Here is a simple checklist to guide your migration and setup:
Create a new bucket in the Impossible Cloud console, ensuring S3 Object Lock is enabled.
Add the bucket as a new object storage repository in your Veeam Backup & Replication console.
Configure the immutability period to align with your retention and compliance needs, typically from 7 to 30 days.
Create a Scale-out Backup Repository (SOBR) and add your new immutable repository as the capacity tier.
Set the SOBR to operate in Copy mode to immediately transfer new backups to the immutable tier.
Schedule periodic Active Full backups, as synthetic operations are not possible on immutable object storage.
Test your restores from the new repository to confirm everything works as expected.
With these steps completed, your Veeam backups will be secure, sovereign, and instantly recoverable. Talk to an expert to get a personalized demo.
More Links
DLA Piper provides resources on data protection, with a focus on German legal frameworks.
European Union explains the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements for businesses.
German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMV) offers a press release detailing international digital policy.
German Federal Ministry of Justice presents the English translation of the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG).
FAQ
What makes Impossible Cloud a good choice for Veeam backups?
Impossible Cloud offers a unique combination of features ideal for Veeam: it is a sovereign, EU-based cloud that guarantees GDPR compliance; it provides immutable storage with S3 Object Lock for ransomware protection; and its pricing model has no egress fees or API call costs, ensuring predictable budgets.
How does your 'Always-Hot' architecture benefit Veeam restores?
Our 'Always-Hot' model ensures all your backup data is immediately accessible without any delays from tiering. This simplifies operations and provides faster, more predictable recovery times for Veeam restores compared to storage solutions that use complex and slow archive tiers.
Is your platform compatible with the latest Veeam features?
Yes, we maintain full S3-API compatibility, ensuring seamless integration with all Veeam features that support S3-compatible object storage, including Scale-out Backup Repositories, immutability with Object Lock, and direct-to-object storage capabilities.
How do you support MSPs and channel partners?
We provide a partner-ready platform with a multi-tenant console, full API/CLI automation, and predictable pricing with zero egress fees for stable margins. We also expand local access through distributors like api (Germany) and Northamber plc (UK).
How does your solution help with NIS-2 and EU Data Act compliance?
Our immutable, geofenced storage helps meet the stringent data integrity and security requirements of the NIS-2 Directive. Our zero-egress-fee model aligns with the EU Data Act's goal of eliminating vendor lock-in and promoting data portability, putting you ahead of the 2027 deadline.
What is the difference between Object Lock 'Compliance Mode' and 'Governance Mode'?
'Compliance Mode' is the highest level of protection; it prevents data from being altered or deleted by any user, including administrators, until the retention period expires. 'Governance Mode' allows certain privileged users to bypass the lock. For true ransomware protection with Veeam, 'Compliance Mode' is the recommended best practice.
