S3 scalable object storage
Object Storage S3-compatible, immutable in Italy, and without egress fees
Create one or more S3-compatible buckets with scalable object storage, included transfers, no hidden fees, and Ceph technology.
Simple and reliable data storage in Italy
Scalable Object Storage is provided by the MI1 infrastructure in Milan. Data never leaves Italian territory and is not transferred to non-EU cloud zones. For organizations subject to GDPR and sectoral compliance requirements, this means a clear and verifiable processing perimeter.
Compliance
Compliance and Security for your Cloud Data
We protect your data without compromise. We rely on certified data centers, and we ourselves hold certifications that confirm our ongoing commitment to data security.
ISO/IEC 27001:2022
Information Security Management
Information Security Management
ISO/IEC 27017:2015
Specific security controls for cloud services
Specific security controls for cloud services
ISO/IEC 27018:2019
Personal data protection in public cloud
Personal data protection in public cloud
UNI EN ISO 9001:2015
Quality Management System
Quality Management System
Zero egress fee, predictable costs, and included transfers
Scalable Object Storage is billed per TB of space used. Egress transfers are included, allowing you to read, move, and replicate data without additional charges for bandwidth or API operations.
A comparison with leading storage providers
Scalable object storage
AWS S3
Azure Blob Storage
Data localization
Italy (MI1, Milan)
Multi-region EU
Multi-region EU
Egress fee
Included
Extra
Extra
S3 Compatibility
Native (Ceph RGW)
Native
Partial
Object Lock / WORM
Supported
Supported
Supported
ISO 27018
Supported
Supported
Supported
Technical support
Personal, direct
Ticket per tier
Ticket per tier
Pricing
Pay per allocated
GB + egress + API call
GB + egress + operations
GDPR Data Subject
Italian (CloudFire Srl)
American (Amazon)
American (Microsoft)
Technical architecture: Optimized Ceph BlueStore, 3x replication
Scalable Object Storage is based on Ceph, an open-source software-defined storage stack. CloudFire has fully adopted BlueStore, Ceph's modern implementation which eliminates the double pass over FileStore's XFS filesystem, and has thoroughly optimized RocksDB for enterprise workloads.
Technical specifications
Availability
99.9%
Durability
99.999999%
Replica
3x on physical nodes
Additional protection
Erasure Coding
Backend storage
Optimized Ceph Bluestore
Disk Types
SSD NVMe, SSD, HDD
Outgoing Bandwidth
Up to 100 Gb/s
Supported Clients
Any S3-compatible client
Localization
MI1 Milan (Data4)
Object Lock
Supported
When is scalable object storage useful?
Immutable backup with Veeam Object Lock
For those managing Veeam environments, Scalable Object Storage is the S3 repository where Object Lock can be enabled in WORM (Write Once Read Many) mode. Once written, the backup cannot be modified or deleted for the configured retention period, even if credentials are compromised or a ransomware attack occurs.
Relevant technical notes for implementers:
- Object Lock requires Veeam Enterprise license or higher (Scale-Out Repository is necessary);
- The bucket must be created with versioning and locking enabled before integration with Veeam;
- Veeam manages file-by-file retention; do not set a fixed expiration date on the bucket, or data will become permanently immutable
Technical notes for implementers:
Object Lock requires a Veeam Enterprise license or higher (Scale-Out Repository is required);
The bucket must be created with versioning and locking enabled before integration with Veeam;
Veeam handles file-level retention, so do not set a fixed expiration date on the bucket or the data will become permanently immutable
Off-site Repository for MSPs and System Integrators
MSPs can allocate separate buckets for each end customer, with complete logical isolation and granular access control via S3-compatible IAM policies. Pay-per-GB pricing allows you to pass on costs to the customer with a predictable margin, without having to overprovision in advance.
LinkStorage for cloud-native applications and microservices
For software companies developing on Kubernetes or serverless architectures, Scalable Object Storage exposes S3-standard APIs, requiring no code changes if your application already uses AWS SDKs (boto3, aws-sdk-js, s3cmd). Automatic horizontal scaling, without upfront capacity planning.
Big Data Storage, AI/ML, media assets
Training datasets, aggregated logs, heavy media assets: bandwidth up to 100 Gb/s and latency optimized by Ceph BlueStore make direct S3 API access suitable even for AI/ML pipelines that require high throughput and predictable costs.
Resources
Cloud privacy isn't enough without access control. Discover how digital sovereignty ensures you maintain real control over your data.
OpenStack as a Service
Manage and deploy cloud resources in Italy independently with an as-a-Service model.
S3-compatible data storage
Store data in S3-compatible object storage, located in an Italian datacenter, with data transfers already included.
FAQ
Do data transfers (egress) cost extra with CloudFire Scalable Object Storage?
No. Transfers are fully included in the price. You only pay for the space your data takes up. No egress fees, no charges for read or write API operations.
Does Scalable Object Storage data physically stay in Italy?
Yes. Scalable Object Storage is delivered from the MI1 datacenter in Milan (Data4). Your data never leaves Italian territory and is not replicated to infrastructure outside the EU.
Is CloudFire Scalable Object Storage GDPR compliant?
Yes. CloudFire is ISO 27001, 27017, and 27018 certified. Keeping data in Italy simplifies GDPR processing mapping and, where applicable, appointing CloudFire as Data Processor.
Can I use Scalable Object Storage as a Veeam repository with Object Lock enabled?
Yes. Scalable Object Storage supports Veeam Object Lock in WORM mode. Veeam Enterprise licenses or higher are required for the Scale-Out Repository. The bucket must be configured with versioning and locking enabled before integrating with Veeam.
Which tools and SDKs are compatible with Scalable Object Storage?
Any client that supports the Amazon S3 API: Veeam Backup & Replication, Acronis Cyber Protect, rclone, s3cmd, boto3, AWS SDK for all languages, Cyberduck, MinIO Client. No changes needed if your application already uses an S3-compatible SDK.
What is the difference between Object Storage and Block Storage?
Object Storage organizes data as objects with associated metadata: ideal for large volumes of unstructured data (backups, media, logs, AI/ML datasets). Block Storage splits data into numbered blocks: suited to operating systems, databases, and applications that need low-latency access to structured data.
What technology is CloudFire Scalable Object Storage based on?
On Ceph BlueStore, with RocksDB configuration optimized by CloudFire for enterprise workloads. Every object is replicated 3 times across separate physical nodes. Our internal benchmark on 4K writes shows performance close to the disk's theoretical limit, versus the 30% typical of a Ceph cluster with default configuration.
Is there a maximum capacity limit for Scalable Object Storage?
There is no predefined limit. The Ceph architecture is scale-out: capacity grows by adding nodes with no service interruption. For very large volumes or specific throughput requirements, you can request a dedicated technical assessment.