We are excited to announce the launch of our new Object Storage service in Canada!
With the exponential growth in data that we continue to see in today’s world, Object Storage answers the need for reliable storage solutions. Leaseweb Object Storage ensures secure, efficient, and cost-effective management of your valuable data assets.
What is Object Storage?
Object storage is a data storage architecture that manages data as discrete units called objects, each containing the data itself, metadata, and a unique identifier. Unlike traditional file systems that organize data hierarchically, object storage uses a flat structure, enabling scalability and efficient management of large amounts of unstructured data. It is ideal for applications such as SaaS, big archives, backups, and data analytics due to its ability to handle vast quantities of data with high durability and accessibility for thousands of users.
Object Storage vs File Storage vs Block Storage
Choosing the right type of storage is critical for managing your data effectively. The three main types of storage are Object, File, and Block, each having its own strengths and weaknesses. We have outlined the key differences in the table below, but for more information on comparing these storage solutions you can read our comparative guide blog.
In general, Object Storage can be a more cost-effective, scalable, and secure solution compared to File Storage and Block Storage, as demonstrated below. It allows you to efficiently store and manage large volumes of unstructured data with exceptional durability and availability.
| Feature | File Storage | Block Storage | Object Storage |
| Structure | Hierarchical (files and folders) | Fixed-size data blocks | Distinct objects with metadata |
| Access Method | File system protocols (e.g., SMB, NFS) | Direct access to data blocks | API-based (e.g., S3) |
| Performance | Moderate, suitable for file-based data | High performance, low latency | Higher latency |
| Scalability | Limited | Moderate | Extreme |
| Cost | Moderate | Higher | Cost-effective for large volumes |
| Ideal Use Cases | Document management, shared access, data archiving | Databases, VMs, enterprise apps, logs | AI/ML, SaaS, media distribution, backups and archives, disaster recovery |
| Data Type | Structured data | Structured and transactional data | Unstructured data |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly, familiar interface, high compatbility | Requires more management | Easy API integration |
| Data Integrity | Centralized management, supports file locking | Ensures data consistency | Replication across multiple zones |
| Update Method | In-place updates | In-place updates at block level | Entire object must be replaced |
Benefits of Leaseweb Object Storage in Canada
Leaseweb Object Storage is ideal for customers in Canada who are concerned with data residency, data sovereignty, compatibility, and more.
Data Sovereignty in Canada
Data residency and data sovereignty are increasingly important as each country decides how it will regulate data differently. Leaseweb Object Storage ensures that Canadian data is secure and protected under Canadian law, providing peace of mind for factors such as those listed below:
National Security
By ensuring that data is governed by local laws, Canada can better protect sensitive information from foreign surveillance and cyber threats. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of national infrastructure.
Data Privacy and Protection
Data sovereignty helps in enforcing local data protection laws. This ensures that personal data is handled according to Canada’s privacy standards, protecting citizens’ rights.
Economic Control
By keeping data within national borders, Canada can stimulate its local economies. This includes fostering the growth of local tech industries and creating jobs related to data management and cybersecurity.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Different countries have unique regulations regarding data storage and processing. Data sovereignty ensures organizations comply with Canadia’s local laws, avoiding legal complications and potential fines.
Control and Governance
Data sovereignty allows countries to maintain control over their citizens’ data, ensuring that it is governed by local laws and regulations. This helps in building trust amongst citizens and businesses.
S3 API Compatibility
You can seamlessly integrate Leaseweb Object Storage with your existing applications, as it is S3 API compatible. In other words, no headaches.
Cost-effective
Leaseweb Object Storage is a pay-per-use solution meaning the pricing scales with your actual usage. In other words, you’ll only be charged for the storage and traffic that you use — without unnecessary monthly fees. Object Storage is also generally more affordable than traditional storage options due to its efficient use of resources and reduced need for expensive hardware.
High Availability
Redundant connections and multiple availability zones ensure your data is accessible from anywhere via HTTP-based APIs. This makes Leaseweb Object Storage perfect for cloud-based applications, remote access, archives, big data analytics and content distribution.
Flexible and Scalable
Quickly scale storage and bandwidth to meet your demands and pay as you go. Leaseweb Object Storage offers unlimited scalability. Our Volumes can reach the order of exabytes and supports file sizes up to 5 terabytes allowing your business to expand, no matter the magnitude of data you need to handle.
Durability
With Leaseweb Object Storage, your data is divided into chunks and distributed over multiple geographical locations called ‘Availability Zones’. This provides extreme durability, granting access to your data even after the complete failure of an entire Availability Zone. Built-in redundancy and data replication ensure 99.99% availability and 99.999999999% durability.
Simplified Management
Metadata and flat structure simplify data organization and retrieval, reducing administrative overhead.
Object Storage Use Cases and Industries
Object Storage has a wide range of potential use cases, but we will highlight some of the main ones:
Technology & Cloud Services: For scalable storage solutions, backup, and disaster recovery.
Media & Entertainment: For storing large volumes of video, audio, and multimedia content.
Healthcare: For secure storage of patient records, medical imaging, and research data.
Finance: For handling vast amounts of transactional data and secure archival.
Education & Research: For storing academic resources, research data, and collaborative projects.
E-commerce: For managing product images, transaction records, and customer data.
Telecommunications: For storing call records, customer data, and large-scale analytics.
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: For managing large datasets required for training models and analytics.
To learn more about Leaseweb Object Storage, visit our product page.