Text: Marlies Maljaars, Field Marketing Manager Benelux & Nordics, Object First
Traditional storage methods such as file and block storage have been sufficient for a long time, but are beginning to struggle with these challenges. Cybercriminals know that backups are often the Achilles' heel, and if they succeed in breaking in, the consequences are often severe for finances and reputation. This is not a theoretical scenario. According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), there were 121 registered ransomware incidents in the Netherlands in 2024. Recent research from Enterprise Strategy Group shows that 96 percent of ransomware attacks target backup data. Moreover, 81 percent of IT professionals indicate that immutable backup storage is crucial for effective protection against ransomware. Therefore, more and more experts point to an alternative that eliminates this vulnerability: object storage.
What is object storage?
Instead of storing files in hierarchical folder structures (file storage) or in blocks on a hard drive (block storage), object storage keeps data as separate 'objects'. Each object contains three components: the data itself, extensive metadata, and a unique identifier. This makes the system more organized, easier to search, and more flexible to use.
An important advantage is that object storage works with a flat structure. There are no complex folders needed, but each object is directly accessible via an API (for example, S3 or REST). This makes the system scalable and easy to integrate into modern IT environments. For example, think of a library of millions of photos or emails that can be found with a simple search, without having to endlessly browse through folders.
Backups: an attractive target
The rise of ransomware shows how vulnerable traditional backups are. According to the Veeam 2024 Ransomware Trends report, an average of 41% of data is affected by an attack. Because files in traditional storage can easily be overwritten or deleted once an attacker gains access, backups lose their reliability. Object storage breaks that pattern with immutable storage for guaranteed protection and availability of data.
The power of object storage
The added value of object storage is particularly evident in backup and recovery. A number of advantages stand out:
- Immutable: with write once, read many (WORM), data cannot be modified or deleted within a set period. This makes it virtually impossible for ransomware to corrupt backups.
- Scalability: object storage easily grows with the amount of data, without performance loss or complex migrations.
- Simplicity and reliability: With APIs, such as the S3 protocol, data transfer is more efficient and reliable than with older protocols like SMB or NFS.
- Availability: object storage supports best practices like the 3-2-1 backup rule, three copies of data, on two different media, one of which is offsite. This ensures that data remains accessible at all times.
These characteristics make object storage a logical choice for organizations looking to strengthen their backup strategy against modern threats.
Clear and manageable
Object storage is not a replacement for all existing systems. Block storage remains important for applications that require extremely fast access to data, such as databases or financial transactions. File storage remains useful for smaller environments and for users accustomed to a traditional folder structure.
But when it comes to large amounts of unstructured data, such as emails, videos, IoT logs, and backups, object storage is more effective. The strength lies in the combination of flexibility, scalability, and security. While file and block systems become increasingly complex and costly as data volumes grow, object storage remains clear and manageable.
From niche to foundation
Object storage is no longer a niche technology that is only available in the cloud. More and more solutions are making it easily deployable on-premises as well. This lowers the barrier for organizations that want the benefits but prefer to keep their data in-house. One example is Ootbi (Out-of-the-Box Immutability), the backup storage solution from Object First. This system is very easy to install and manage and is specifically designed for use with Veeam. This appliance demonstrates how the market responds to the growing global need for simple, secure, and ransomware-resistant backup storage.
The urgency to take action is clear: the amount of data continues to grow unabated, and so does the danger of ransomware. Organizations that continue to rely on traditional storage risk losing their last line of defense. Object storage offers a concrete alternative that is already available today. The need for reliable backup solutions is also present in the Netherlands, where organizations are under pressure from both legislation and customer expectations regarding data security. The role of object storage in the modern data landscape is therefore becoming increasingly relevant. It forms the foundation of a backup strategy that withstands the risks of today and tomorrow.
