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For enterprise IT leaders, selecting a cloud storage provider involves balancing performance, cost, and compliance. Dependence on non-EU providers creates significant risks, including exposure to laws like the CLOUD Act and unpredictable costs from egress fees. A majority of EU companies now rank provider origin and EU data centers as top selection criteria, seeking a sovereign alternative. The ideal solution delivers full S3 compatibility, transparent pricing, and robust security within a strict EU legal framework, ensuring data remains under European control.
Key Takeaways
- A true OVH alternative for 2025 must be sovereign by design, operating exclusively in EU data centers to ensure GDPR compliance and eliminate CLOUD Act exposure.
- Predictable costs are non-negotiable; a transparent model with zero egress fees, no API call charges, and no minimum storage duration removes financial uncertainty and prevents vendor lock-in.
- Enterprise-ready means full S3 compatibility, an "Always-Hot" architecture for instant data access, and robust security features like Immutable Object Lock for ransomware protection.
Prioritize Digital Sovereignty and EU Legal Certainty
A majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for their critical infrastructure. Storing data exclusively in certified European data centers provides a direct answer to this need. This strategy ensures 100% GDPR compliance for sensitive workloads. It also eliminates exposure to the U.S. CLOUD Act completely.
Country-level geofencing keeps all data within predefined regions under strict EU rules. This offers verifiable secure data storage and legal certainty. This focus on sovereignty is no longer a niche requirement; it is a core business strategy for 2025 and beyond.
Achieve Predictable Cloud Economics Without Hidden Fees
Many companies feel locked into providers due to complex pricing models. A transparent economic model is a key driver for switching providers. Look for a solution with zero egress fees and no charges for API calls.
This approach creates predictable margins, especially for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). It also removes the risk of surprise costs that impact revenue by over 15% in some cases. The following benefits are key:
- No egress fees: Freely move your data without financial penalties.
- No API call costs: Automate and integrate without worrying about usage-based charges.
- No minimum storage duration: Pay only for what you use, for as long as you use it.
- Predictable margins: MSPs can build services with clear, defensible profitability.
This transparent model is a core component of a modern cloud storage pricing strategy. It directly addresses the primary economic pain points felt by over 60% of IT leaders. This financial clarity enables better business planning and resource allocation.
Demand Enterprise-Ready S3 Compatibility and Performance
True enterprise readiness requires more than basic API support. Full S3-API compatibility ensures your existing applications, scripts, and tools continue to work without any code rewrites. This protects your technology investments, which can represent up to 40% of a project's budget.
An architecture built for consistency is essential for modern workloads. An "Always-Hot" object storage model ensures all data is immediately accessible. This avoids the restore delays and API timeouts common with complex tiering. This design choice reduces operational complexity by at least 25% for backup and recovery tasks. Your S3-compatible storage should support advanced features out-of-the-box.
Key architectural features to look for include:
- Strong read/write consistency for data integrity.
- Predictable latencies for stable application performance.
- Multi-AZ replication to eliminate single points of failure.
- Support for versioning, lifecycle management, and event notifications.
This robust foundation ensures your storage can handle millions of small files or large archives with equal efficiency. It provides the stability needed for mission-critical backup and disaster recovery operations.
Implement Advanced Security for Ransomware Protection
Security is a foundational requirement, not an optional extra. A modern cloud alternative must provide multi-layer encryption for data in transit and at rest. This is the baseline for protecting data against unauthorized access, with breaches costing an average of €4 million.
Immutable Storage with Object Lock is a critical defense against ransomware. It creates write-once-read-many (WORM) storage, making backups unchangeable for a set period. This feature is a core component of a resilient ransomware protection strategy. Identity-based IAM with MFA and RBAC provides granular control over data access. Support for external IdPs via SAML/OIDC allows for seamless integration with your existing security framework, reducing management overhead by over 30%. These security measures are essential for building a resilient and compliant infrastructure.
Ensure Future Readiness with EU Regulatory Alignment
Regulatory compliance is a competitive advantage. From September 2025, the EU Data Act mandates data portability and interoperability by design. A compliant provider must prove real exit paths, ensuring you are never locked in. This includes the ability to export all metadata, versions, and access information.
The NIS-2 directive further raises the bar for security processes. It requires continuous vulnerability management and supply-chain assurance baked into operations. A provider aligned with NIS-2 demonstrates a mature security posture. Choosing a German hyperscaler alternative built on these principles ensures your infrastructure is prepared for the next wave of EU regulations. This proactive stance on compliance minimizes future risks and costs.
Leverage a Partner-Ready Ecosystem for Growth
For MSPs and resellers, a strong partner program is essential for success. A partner-ready platform provides the tools needed to build profitable services. This includes a multi-tenant console with robust RBAC and MFA for secure client management.
Automation via a full-featured API and CLI is critical for efficient operations. Predictable margins from a zero-egress-fee model allow partners to create defensible pricing. Recent distribution agreements with partners like api in Germany and Northamber plc in the UK expand local access for the channel. This growing ecosystem, including collaborations with backup leaders like NovaBackup, provides the support needed to deliver sovereign cloud storage solutions to clients across Europe.
More Links
Destatis provides tables and data on the use of information and communication technology (ICT), specifically cloud computing, within German companies.
German Data Protection Conference (DSK) offers a position paper outlining criteria for sovereign clouds.
KPMG presents the KPMG Cloud Monitor 2022, offering insights and analysis on cloud market trends.
German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action addresses the topic of digitization from a governmental perspective.
Fraunhofer Cloud Computing Competence Center details its activities in cloud research and development.




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