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Key Takeaways
- Immutable backup storage with S3 Object Lock creates a tamper-proof copy of your data that ransomware cannot delete or modify.
- True digital sovereignty requires a European cloud provider to avoid non-EU laws like the CLOUD Act, ensuring GDPR compliance.
- An "Always-Hot" storage architecture combined with a zero-egress-fee model provides fast, predictable data access without hidden costs.
In 2025, European businesses face two critical data threats: sophisticated ransomware that targets backups and the legal risks of non-EU data laws like the CLOUD Act. Traditional backup methods are no longer sufficient. A modern strategy requires a new foundation built on immutable backup storage. This approach, which makes data unchangeable for a set period, is your strongest defense. Combined with a sovereign-by-design cloud architecture, it delivers resilience, compliance, and cost control. Impossible Cloud provides this solution with EU-only data centers, zero egress fees, and full S3 compatibility for a secure, predictable, and enterprise-ready data protection strategy.
Fortify Your Last Line of Defense Against Ransomware
Modern ransomware actively seeks and destroys backup files, rendering many recovery plans useless within minutes. A recent survey shows 69% of IT leaders now consider immutability essential for ransomware protection. This is because an immutable backup cannot be altered or deleted by anyone, including attackers with admin credentials. It transforms your backup from a target into a guaranteed recovery point. Using immutable storage is the definitive step to secure your data. This approach ensures that even if your primary systems are compromised, a clean copy of your data remains untouched and available for a full restore.
Implement True Immutability with S3 Object Lock
Impossible Cloud utilizes S3 Object Lock to deliver powerful, hardware-agnostic immutability for all your critical data. This feature prevents objects from being deleted or overwritten for a fixed amount of time or indefinitely. It provides a Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) model that is essential for data protection and compliance. You can enforce retention policies that meet strict regulatory requirements for data preservation. For example, you can set a 30-day immutability lock on all financial records to prevent premature deletion. This lock cannot be overridden, ensuring data integrity for audits and legal holds. This technical safeguard is a core component of a modern ransomware defense strategy. With Object Lock, you create a verifiable, unchangeable data history, which is the foundation for the next layer of protection: data sovereignty.
Achieve Digital Sovereignty and EU Compliance
Storing data within the EU is not enough; legal jurisdiction over the provider matters immensely. U.S. laws like the CLOUD Act can compel non-EU providers to surrender data, regardless of where it is stored. A 2025 survey found 84% of European leaders consider digital sovereignty a critical factor in vendor selection. Impossible Cloud operates exclusively in certified European data centers, ensuring your data is governed solely by EU law. This design provides immunity from the CLOUD Act and simplifies GDPR compliance. Our infrastructure adheres to the highest security standards, including guidelines from Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and ISO 27001 certification. This focus on sovereignty provides the legal certainty needed for a robust disaster recovery plan. This sovereign foundation is complemented by an architecture built for performance.
Align with New EU Regulations
Upcoming EU regulations place further demands on data control and portability. Impossible Cloud's architecture is designed to meet these future requirements today. Our approach helps you prepare for two key directives:
- EU Data Act (from September 2025): This regulation mandates data portability and interoperability, preventing vendor lock-in. Our use of the standard S3 API and a zero-egress-fee model ensures you can move your data freely at any time.
- NIS-2 Directive: This directive requires continuous security processes and supply-chain assurance for critical infrastructure. Our immutable storage and EU-only operations provide a secure foundation to help you meet these stringent cybersecurity requirements.
This regulatory readiness is a key advantage of our platform.
Eliminate Restore Delays with an Always-Hot Architecture
Many cloud providers use complex storage tiers that can delay data recovery and introduce unexpected costs. Restoring data from an archive tier can take hours and often incurs high retrieval fees. Impossible Cloud operates on an “Always-Hot” object storage model, where 100% of your data is immediately accessible. This eliminates restore delays and hidden fees, reducing operational complexity. Every file, whether it is a 5-year-old archive or yesterday's backup, is ready for instant retrieval. This model ensures your third-party tools and backup applications, like Veeam, function predictably without API timeouts. This architectural simplicity also leads to a more predictable economic model.
Drive Cost Predictability by Eliminating Egress Fees
Hidden fees for data egress and API calls are a major source of budget overruns for enterprises. Some providers charge up to 80 times their cost for data egress, creating a powerful vendor lock-in effect. Impossible Cloud eliminates this problem with a transparent pricing model: there are zero egress fees, zero API call costs, and no minimum storage durations. This predictable model allows MSPs to build services with stable, defensible margins. For enterprises, it means the cost of storing 10 TB of data is exactly what you expect, with no surprise charges when you need to access it. This economic clarity is a core part of our partner-ready platform, with momentum growing through distributors like api in Germany and Northamber plc in the UK. This transparent approach is paired with seamless technical integration.
Ensure Seamless Integration with Full S3 Compatibility
Migrating to a new storage platform should not require rewriting applications or scripts. Impossible Cloud offers full S3 API compatibility, ensuring your existing tools and workflows continue to operate without modification. This protects your past investments in technology and minimizes migration risk. Our platform supports advanced S3 capabilities like versioning, lifecycle management, and event notifications. We also collaborate with leading backup ISVs like NovaBackup to ensure certified, out-of-the-box integrations. This commitment to open standards is central to our promise of no lock-in. You can easily connect your existing cloud backup solutions in just a few minutes. Now you are ready to put this strategy into practice.
Activate Your Sovereign Backup Strategy in 4 Steps
Implementing a resilient and sovereign backup strategy is a straightforward process. Follow these four steps to protect your organization's critical data:
- Configure Your S3 Endpoint: Point your existing backup software or S3-compatible application to the Impossible Cloud endpoint for your chosen European region.
- Create an Immutable Bucket: In the console, create a new storage bucket and enable S3 Object Lock with a default retention period, for example, 30 days.
- Define IAM Policies: Set up granular Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles to ensure only authorized personnel and applications can write data to the bucket.
- Run and Test a Restore: Execute your first backup job to the immutable bucket and perform a test restore of a file to verify the configuration.
With these steps completed, you have a powerful defense against both ransomware and data sovereignty risks. To learn more, talk to one of our experts.
More Links
PwC discusses cyber attacks against companies in Germany, offering insights into the threats and vulnerabilities faced by organizations.
Bitkom provides a cloud report with charts and data, likely covering cloud adoption, security, and related trends in Germany.
The German Data Protection Conference (DSK) provides guidance and orientation aids related to data protection and privacy.
PwC provides insights into digital trust, likely covering topics such as cyber security, data privacy, and risk management.
KPMG discusses the shift from cyber security to cyber resilience, focusing on the ability to withstand and recover from cyber attacks.
EUR-Lex provides the official text of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679), a key piece of legislation for data protection in the EU.
FAQ
What is immutable backup storage?
Immutable backup storage is a system where, once data is written, it cannot be changed or deleted for a predefined retention period. It uses technologies like S3 Object Lock to create a Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) seal, making it a critical defense against ransomware and accidental data loss.
Why is a European cloud provider important for data sovereignty?
A European provider whose operations are exclusively within EU data centers ensures your data is governed by EU law, like GDPR. This prevents exposure to foreign laws such as the U.S. CLOUD Act, which could compel a U.S.-based company to disclose data even if it is stored in Europe.
What does 'Always-Hot' storage mean?
Always-Hot storage means all your data is immediately available for access and recovery at any time, without delays or extra fees associated with retrieving it from slower, cheaper 'archive' or 'cold' storage tiers. This simplifies operations and speeds up disaster recovery.
Is it complicated to migrate to Impossible Cloud?
No, it is not complicated. Because Impossible Cloud is fully S3 API compatible, your existing applications, scripts, and backup tools that work with S3 will work with our platform without any code changes. You only need to change the endpoint, access key, and secret key.
How does your pricing model help MSPs?
Our pricing model is designed for predictability. With no egress fees, no API call charges, and no minimum storage durations, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can build backup-as-a-service (BaaS) and archive solutions with predictable costs and stable, defensible margins.
What is S3 Object Lock?
S3 Object Lock is a feature of the S3 API that allows you to enforce retention policies on objects. It prevents objects from being deleted or modified for a specified period, providing a true immutable storage option that is essential for regulatory compliance and ransomware protection.