Choosing the right object storage for backup and ransomware protection is not just about capacity — it’s about immutability, compliance, operational simplicity, and cost predictability.
Here’s a clear comparison of three common approaches when using Veeam Backup & Replication:
✅ Veeam Vault (AWS/Azure)
Designed as a managed STaaS offering, Veeam Vault delivers always‑on immutability, built‑in encryption, and a logical air‑gap by design. It integrates natively with SOBR and Capacity Tier, offers predictable per‑TB pricing, and removes infrastructure management overhead from the customer.
✅ Native AWS S3 / Azure Blob
Provides strong integration and scalability, including Object Lock / immutable containers and support for compliance mode. However, immutability and air‑gap depend heavily on correct configuration, IAM design, and governance. Pricing is consumption‑based, which can introduce cost variability (“bill shock”).
⚠️ OCI Object Storage (S3‑compatible)
While usable as an S3‑compatible repository, OCI lacks native support for the S3 Object Lock API required by Veeam, meaning no Veeam‑enforced immutability or compliance mode. Implementation and operations are more complex and typically require workarounds for security and ransomware resilience.
🔐 Key takeaway
If the goal is ransomware resilience, compliance, and operational simplicity, Veeam Vault provides the most turnkey and predictable approach. Native hyperscaler storage offers flexibility but demands strong design and governance. S3‑compatible alternatives may work for capacity, but fall short for immutable, compliance‑grade backups.
| Category | Veeam Vault (AWS/Azure) | AWS (S3) / Azure (Blob) Repository | OCI Repository (S3‑compatible) |
| Offering type | STaaS managed by Veeam (Vault) | Native hyperscaler Object Storage | OCI Object Storage consumed as S3‑compatible |
| Integration with Veeam Backup & Replication | ✅ Integrated as an Object Storage Repository and can be used with SOBR | ✅ Natively supported (S3 / Blob) | ✅ Can be added as an S3‑compatible repository |
| Immutability (Veeam‑native) | ✅ “Always immutable” + encryption + “logical air‑gap” | ✅ AWS: S3 Object Lock (Compliance mode) / ✅ Azure: immutable container + immutable vaults | ❌ Veeam requires the S3 Object Lock API; OCI does not provide a mechanism compatible with Veeam |
| “Compliance” mode (anti‑admin/root) | ✅ Yes (immutable and air‑gapped by design) | ✅ AWS: Veeam uses S3 Object Lock in compliance mode | ❌ Not via Veeam (no compatible Object Lock API) |
| Hyper‑Scale (SOBR + Capacity Tier) | ✅ Yes (Vault can be used as object storage in SOBR) | ✅ Yes (S3/Blob as capacity tier and/or direct‑to‑object backup) | ⚠️ SOBR can use object storage as a capacity tier, but without native immutability |
| Encryption (at rest and in transit) | ✅ Yes (described as “encrypted”) | ✅ Azure Vaults: AES‑256 at rest + TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit (in the vault context) | ⚠️ OCI provides service‑level encryption, but in Veeam the architecture depends on how it is configured |
| Logical air‑gap | ✅ Yes (explicitly described as “logically air‑gapped”) | ⚠️ Possible with IAM/account best practices; depends on implementation | ⚠️ Account/tenancy and IAM separation can be designed, but it is not a “Vault‑level air‑gap” |
| Predictable pricing (no “bill shock”) | ✅ Per‑TB pricing including API calls/restores/egress | ❌ Consumption‑based pricing (storage + requests + egress), varies by region/tier/usage | ❌ Consumption‑based pricing (storage + requests + egress) and design‑dependent |
| Infrastructure management (customer) | ✅ None/Low (managed by Veeam) | ⚠️ Medium/High (configure bucket/container, lock/immutability, policies, etc.) | ❌ High (bucket, credentials, lifecycle, monitoring, etc.) |
| Implementation complexity | ✅ Low (simple onboarding) | ⚠️ Medium (requires enabling the correct features: versioning + lock/immutability) | ⚠️ Medium/High (S3‑compatible + limitations; workarounds for immutability) |
