Establish a Foundation for Sovereign Data Control

Identity and access management (IAM) is a required compliance standard under GDPR for any company handling EU citizen data. Effective identity-based cloud access begins with treating identity verification as a primary security measure for all 600+ cloud apps an average EU enterprise uses. It ensures that every request to view or modify data is authenticated and authorized against strict, centrally managed policies. This model is the foundation of a modern zero-trust architecture. A robust IAM solution must track all access to personal data. This granular control is the first step toward building a truly sovereign and compliant cloud environment.

Map Granular Access Policies to Your Organization

Effective security requires mapping access controls directly to your organizational structure and roles. An identity-based cloud access system allows you to enforce the principle of least privilege with precision. This is achieved through a combination of technologies and policies. Support for external IdPs via SAML/OIDC is critical for modern enterprise integration. You can implement fine-grained, role-driven policies that reflect real-world responsibilities. Key features of a comprehensive IAM platform include:

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to assign permissions based on job functions.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add a critical layer of verification for all users.
• Support for external Identity Providers (IdPs) via SAML/OIDC for seamless integration.
• Time-bounded access and presigned URLs for secure, temporary data sharing.
• A first-class console user experience for managing permissions without deep API knowledge.

This framework ensures that users have exactly the access they need, for only as long as they need it.

Strengthen Ransomware Defense with Immutable Controls

Identity-based cloud access is not just about user permissions; it extends to programmatic data protection. Immutable Storage with Object Lock is a powerful identity-based control that prevents data deletion or modification, even by privileged accounts. This creates a secure, unchangeable copy of your data for a specified retention period, which is a core defense against ransomware. This feature provides an audit-ready retention model essential for regulated workloads. It works alongside multi-layer encryption, both in transit and at rest, to provide comprehensive protection. This ensures the ongoing confidentiality and integrity of all processed data. This approach transforms your backup and archive storage into a resilient, tamper-proof asset.

Meet NIS-2 and EU Data Act Compliance Mandates

Upcoming EU regulations place new demands on identity and access management. The NIS-2 Directive explicitly requires robust access control policies as part of its risk management measures. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 10 million euros or 2% of annual turnover. The EU Data Act, effective from September 2025, reinforces data portability, a right intrinsically linked to identity and access. To prepare for these regulations, organizations must:

1. Implement multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring across all systems.
2. Establish clear policies for identity governance, including requesting, approving, and reviewing access.
3. Ensure your cloud provider supports data portability by design, including metadata and access information.
4. Document all access controls and incident response plans to demonstrate provable compliance.

These steps ensure your identity management framework is ready for the next wave of EU regulations.

Enable MSPs with Secure Multi-Tenant Management

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), identity-based cloud access is crucial for managing multiple clients securely. A partner-ready platform must offer a multi-tenant console with robust RBAC and MFA. This allows MSPs to create distinct, isolated environments for each client while managing them from a single interface. Automation via a fully S3-compatible API and CLI is essential for scaling operations. This capability, combined with predictable margins from a zero-egress-fee model, creates a strong value proposition. Recent distribution agreements with partners like Northamber plc in the UK expand local access for resellers and MSPs. This ecosystem enables partners to deliver compliant and sovereign storage solutions efficiently.

Simplify Access with an Always-Hot Architecture

Complex storage tiering can undermine identity-based access controls by creating delays and API timeouts during data restores. An “Always-Hot” object storage model eliminates this problem entirely. All data remains immediately accessible, ensuring consistent policy application and predictable latencies. This architectural choice avoids fragile lifecycle policies that can clash with urgent restore needs or analytics workloads. By keeping every object ready for access, you simplify operations and strengthen your continuous verification posture. This model ensures that your identity and governance policies work as intended, without the operational friction of tiered systems.