Magazine
S3 Compatible Storage
Big Data

Beyond Hyperscalers: A 1PB Storage Cost Comparison Framework

17.10.2025

8

Minutes
Christian Kaul
CEO Impossible Cloud
How to Eliminate 60-80% of Cloud Data Costs by Focusing on TCO, Not Just Price Per Gigabyte

Enterprises planning for petabyte-scale data face a critical challenge: unpredictable costs. Traditional cloud pricing models obscure the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with hidden charges for data egress and API calls, making budget forecasting nearly impossible. This analysis presents a framework for a realistic 1PB storage cost comparison against AWS and other providers, focusing on a transparent, S3-compatible alternative. This approach delivers up to 80% savings and puts IT leaders back in control of their data and their budgets.

Key Takeaways

  • A true 1PB storage cost comparison must include egress fees and API call costs, which can inflate bills by 3-5x.
  • An S3-compatible storage model with zero egress fees can reduce total cloud storage expenses by 60-80%.
  • Immutable Object Lock and SOC 2 compliance are non-negotiable for protecting petabyte-scale backup data from ransomware.

Uncover the 3-5x Hidden Costs in Your Storage Bill

Most enterprises find that egress fees and API charges create unpredictable costs. These expenses can exceed storage costs by 3-5x in data-intensive workloads. A simple 1PB storage cost comparison AWS vs others based on list price is therefore deeply misleading.

Vendor lock-in is cited as a top concern among many enterprise IT leaders. Data gravity and punitive egress fees make switching providers prohibitively expensive. Organizations report 60-80% cost savings when they finally eliminate egress fees from their workflows.

This cost unpredictability erodes budgets and makes ROI calculations impossible for petabyte-scale projects. The focus must shift from price-per-GB to a transparent TCO model.

Achieve 60-80% Savings with a Predictable Cost Model

A new model of S3-compatible object storage is designed for cost predictability. It eliminates 60-80% of typical cloud storage expenses by design. This is achieved through a transparent pricing structure with zero egress fees or API call costs.

This approach offers a true drop-in replacement for AWS S3 without the financial penalties. You can change the endpoint and keep your existing tools and scripts working instantly. This protects your past investments and minimizes migration risk, a key factor in any S3-compatible storage TCO analysis.

Here is how the economics change with a predictable model:

  • No charges for reading or moving your data.
  • Zero fees for application or script interactions.
  • No minimum storage duration penalties.
  • Budget planning becomes possible and accurate for the first time.

This transparent financial model provides the foundation for scalable, cost-efficient operations.

Boost Backup Performance by 20% with Always-Hot Architecture

Performance is a critical factor in any petabyte-scale storage decision. An "Always-Hot" object storage model ensures all data is immediately accessible. This simple approach avoids complex tier-restore delays and fees entirely.

This architecture delivers up to 20% faster backup performance compared to traditional cloud storage. Consistent low latency is critical for meeting tight recovery point objectives (RPOs). It also keeps third-party backup and recovery tools stable and performant.

Fragile tiering policies often lead to lifecycle policy drift and API timeouts. An always-hot model simplifies operations and strengthens your ability to conduct restores and audits without surprise delays, a crucial element of a true cloud storage cost comparison.

Secure Petabyte-Scale Data with Immutable, Compliant Storage

Ransomware attacks increasingly target backup infrastructure as their primary objective. Immutable Storage with Object Lock capabilities is therefore non-negotiable for business continuity. This feature makes your backup data unchangeable for a set period.

Enterprise-grade compliance certifications like SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are essential for regulated workloads. These certifications provide verifiable proof of security controls without vendor lock-in. You can meet strict regulatory requirements for financial services or healthcare data.

A comprehensive security posture includes these key elements:

  1. Multi-layer encryption for data in transit and at rest.
  2. Identity-based IAM with granular, role-driven policies.
  3. Support for external identity providers via SAML/OIDC.
  4. Customer-controlled key management and revocation procedures.

This security-first approach ensures your data remains protected, compliant, and under your control.

Build Predictable Margins for Your Backup-as-a-Service Offering

For MSPs, resellers, and system integrators, predictable margins are everything. A storage backend with zero egress or API fees allows you to quote with confidence. This financial stability is the foundation of a high-margin Backup as a Service (BaaS) offering.

The "Stop Reselling, Start Owning" model shifts the dynamic entirely. MSPs can launch their own branded cloud service with custom domains and UI. This builds a valuable asset instead of just reselling another vendor's product, a key differentiator in the enterprise storage market.

A partner-ready platform provides multi-tenant management, automation via API/CLI, and detailed reporting. This enables you to efficiently manage hundreds of customers while maintaining healthy margins on every contract.

Design Your Exit Strategy with S3 Compatibility and Zero Egress

An exit strategy is often an afterthought until it is too late. True data control means having the freedom to move your data without financial penalty. An S3-compatible alternative with no egress fees provides an exit strategy by design.

Full S3-API compatibility ensures your existing apps, scripts, and tools keep working. This allows you to migrate from a hyperscaler by simply changing the endpoint. This dramatically reduces the risk and cost associated with breaking free from vendor lock-in.

Data portability and interoperability are preserved through open standards. This preserves your negotiation power and long-term freedom of action, ensuring you control your data's destiny.

FAQ

What does "S3-compatible" mean for my existing tools?

S3 compatibility means your existing applications, backup software, and scripts that use the S3 API will work without code rewrites. You can simply change the service endpoint in your configuration to migrate your workflows, ensuring a seamless transition and protecting your technology investments.

How does an "Always-Hot" storage model reduce costs?

An "Always-Hot" model simplifies operations and eliminates costs associated with data tiering. You avoid retrieval fees, restore delays, and the complex lifecycle policies required by tiered storage. All your data is instantly accessible, which improves performance and predictability.

What is Immutable Storage and why is it important for ransomware protection?

Immutable Storage, or Object Lock, is a feature that makes data unchangeable and undeletable for a specified period. This is critical for ransomware protection because it ensures that even if attackers gain access to your systems, they cannot encrypt or delete your backup copies.

Can I build my own branded cloud service with this storage?

Yes, our platform is designed for MSPs and resellers. It includes whitelabel capabilities, allowing you to use a custom domain and UI to offer a branded storage service. This, combined with predictable costs, lets you build a high-margin BaaS business.

Would you like more information?

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