Strengthen Your 3-2-1 Backup Strategy with S3

A 3-2-1 backup rule requires three data copies on two different media, with one copy offsite. Using QNAP's Hybrid Backup Sync for an S3 integration fulfills the offsite requirement with over 99.9% reliability. This method provides a robust defense against local disasters like hardware failure or fire. The S3 API has become the de facto standard for cloud object storage, ensuring broad compatibility. Our S3-compatible storage guarantees your existing scripts and tools work without modification. This seamless integration protects your past investments and minimizes migration risks. Transitioning to a secure offsite target is the next logical step in maturing your data protection plan.

Achieve Digital Sovereignty and GDPR Compliance

Storing backup data within the EU is a direct requirement for GDPR compliance.  Our platform operates exclusively in certified European data centers, keeping your data safe from CLOUD Act exposure. We provide country-level geofencing to ensure data residency for even the most regulated workloads. A strong majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for their critical data infrastructure. This shift addresses the need for data security and regulatory certainty. Here are the core components of a sovereign backup solution:

• EU-Only Data Centers: All data is stored and processed exclusively within European borders under strict EU privacy laws.
• GDPR by Design: The service architecture is built from the ground up to meet GDPR's principles of integrity and confidentiality.
• Immunity from Foreign Laws: Avoids legal complexities and potential data access requests from non-EU governments.
• Transparent Data Processing: Clear agreements outline exactly how your data is handled, ensuring no ambiguity.

This focus on sovereignty provides the legal certainty needed for modern enterprise IT. It prepares your organization for upcoming regulations that will further shape data governance.

Implement Ransomware Protection with Immutable Backups

Ransomware attacks can bypass traditional backup defenses by encrypting or deleting backup files. A QNAP Hybrid Backup S3 integration using S3 Object Lock creates immutable, WORM (Write-Once-Read-Many) backups.  This feature prevents any modification or deletion of backup objects for a defined retention period. Immutable backups make data recovery a certainty, not a possibility, neutralizing the core threat of a ransomware attack. Even if an attacker gains access, they cannot alter the locked backup data, rendering their encryption efforts useless. This capability is essential for meeting strict data archiving regulations in finance and healthcare. Configuring immutability is a simple step that provides a powerful defense layer for your most critical assets.

Eliminate Hidden Costs with a Predictable Pricing Model

Many cloud providers impose high egress fees and API call charges, making large-scale restores unpredictably expensive. Our pricing model is designed for predictability, with zero egress fees, no API call costs, and no minimum storage durations. This transparency allows MSPs and IT departments to budget accurately, with savings often exceeding 30% on total storage costs. Predictable costs are a key driver for switching from hyperscale providers. A transparent model ensures you can access your data anytime without financial penalties. This approach is particularly valuable for MSPs who need to build resilient backup services with defensible margins. The financial benefits of this model become even more apparent as data volumes grow.

Configure Your QNAP Hybrid Backup S3 Integration

Setting up a secure, sovereign backup job from your QNAP device takes only a few minutes. The process leverages the native S3 compatibility built into the Hybrid Backup Sync application. This ensures a reliable connection and access to advanced features like Object Lock. Follow these six steps for a successful configuration:

1. Create a Bucket: Log into the Impossible Cloud console and create a new storage bucket in your desired EU region.
2. Generate API Keys: Create a new IAM user and generate an access key and secret key with permissions for the new bucket.
3. Configure HBS Storage Space: In QNAP's Hybrid Backup Sync, create a new storage space, select “S3 Compatible,” and enter your API credentials and the service endpoint URL.
4. Enable Immutability: When creating the bucket, ensure the Object Lock feature is enabled to support immutable backups.
5. Create the Backup Job: Create a new backup job, select your source folders on the QNAP, and choose the S3 bucket as the destination.
6. Schedule and Test: Define your backup schedule and retention policies, then run the first job and perform a test restore of a file to verify the entire process works correctly.

This straightforward process establishes a powerful, automated offsite backup for your critical data. It sets the stage for leveraging an architecture built for performance and scale.

Leverage an Enterprise-Ready, Always-Hot Architecture

Complex storage tiering often leads to restore delays and hidden fees when accessing archived data. Our “Always-Hot” object storage model ensures all data is immediately accessible with predictable, low latencies. This architecture eliminates the operational complexity of managing lifecycle policies and avoids API timeouts during urgent restores. An always-hot model simplifies operations and strengthens your recovery point objectives (RPOs). It provides strong read/write consistency, making it ideal for mixed workloads, including millions of small files. This performance is critical for meeting the requirements of the upcoming EU Data Act, which mandates data portability without lock-in.  This robust foundation also provides significant advantages for our partners.

Gain a Competitive Edge as an MSP or Reseller

Our partner program is built on a foundation of predictability and ease of use. The zero-egress-fee model allows MSPs to build Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings with stable, predictable margins. The multi-tenant console provides granular role-based access control (RBAC) and MFA for securely managing multiple client accounts. Automation via a full-featured API and CLI helps partners scale their operations efficiently. We are expanding our channel presence, with new distribution agreements through partners like api in Germany and Northamber plc in the UK. This momentum provides local access and support for resellers and system integrators across Europe. Our partner-ready platform is designed to help you deliver sovereign and resilient data protection services.

Prepare for NIS-2 and the EU Data Act

Forthcoming EU regulations place new demands on data management and security. The NIS-2 Directive, expected to be implemented in Germany by early 2025, requires robust supply-chain assurance and continuous security processes.  Our platform's security measures, including multi-layer encryption and IAM, are designed to help you meet these stringent requirements. The EU Data Act, applicable from September 2025, mandates data portability to prevent vendor lock-in.  Our use of open standards and the S3 API ensures you can always move your data freely. By choosing a sovereign cloud provider, you are not just buying storage; you are investing in a future-proof compliance strategy.