Cloud Vault
Object Storage

Secure, scalable, S3-compatible cloud object / archive storage for your business data – at a fraction of what the big cloud providers charge.

IronTree Cloud Vault gives you a safe, locally-hosted place to store large volumes of data – backups, archives, media, application data – without paying international cloud prices or dealing with unexpected ingress and egress fees. Priced in rands. Stored in South Africa. Scales as you grow.

Most businesses are storing data the expensive way - without realising it.

Not all data needs the same treatment. Active data – the files and systems your business uses every day – belongs in fast, high-performance backup (hot) storage. But most businesses keep everything there, including years of old records, completed project files, compliance archives, and historical backups that are rarely if ever touched.

Keeping inactive data in high-cost backup environments is the single most common reason South African businesses overspend on cloud storage. The fix is straightforward: move inactive data to object (cold / archive) storage, where it costs significantly less to keep.

Hot vs. cold storage — what's the difference?

HOT STORAGE - BACKUP STORAGE

For active data you use every day

Higher cost per GB – worth it for active data

COLD STORAGE - OBJECT ARCHIVE STORAGE

For inactive data you need to keep

Significantly lower cost – right tool for inactive data

A typical South African SME with 5TB of data

1TB of that is actively used. 4TB of that is rarely accessed.

WITHOUT Cloud Vault:

WITH Cloud Vault:

Best for: lower monthly costs, no loss of data integrity, and a storage strategy that scales without ballooning your bill.

What do businesses use Cloud Vault for?

S3-compatible object storage is flexible – it works for everything from long-term archives to inactive application data. Here are the most common uses.

Archive storage for retained data

Use Cloud Vault as a cost-effective offsite home for older, inactive backup data and long-term retention copies. Keep active backups in backup storage, while moving archival data to object storage when it no longer needs to be restored regularly.

Long-term archiving

Store compliance records, financial documents, and historical data you’re legally required to keep – without paying active-storage prices for data you rarely access.

Media and large file storage

Images, videos, and large files that don’t belong on your primary servers. Store them cheaply and retrieve them when you need them.

Application and log data

Developers and IT teams can use Cloud Vault as a storage layer for applications, system logs, and data pipelines – with full S3-compatible API support.

Disaster recovery target

Use Cloud Vault as an offsite repository for your DR copies. Integrates directly with IronTree’s Disaster Recovery service for a seamless local DR stack.

Data sharing and distribution

Share large datasets or files across teams, sites, or applications – without emailing attachments or paying egress fees every time data moves.

Straightforward pricing. No surprises.

International cloud providers charge for storage and then charge again every time you add or move your data. Those ingress and egress fees add up quickly and make your monthly bill unpredictable. With Cloud Vault, we don’t charge for ingress and egress – what you see is what you pay.

STARTING FROM

R0.30

per GB / per month

Built to be reliable, secure, and easy to manage

Scales without limits

Start small and grow as your data does. There’s no capacity ceiling – Cloud Vault scales automatically without you having to plan ahead or provision new storage.

Secure by default

Server-side encryption, access control policies, and multi-factor authentication keep your data protected. You control who can access what.

Easy web interface

Manage your storage through a clean, browser-based dashboard – no technical expertise required. Upload, organise, and retrieve files without touching a command line.

S3-compatible API

Integrates with any application or tool that supports the S3 standard – including most backup software, hosting platforms, and development frameworks.

Data lifecycle management

Set rules to automatically manage your data over time – move older files to cheaper storage tiers, set expiry dates, or archive based on usage patterns.

High availability

Your data is replicated across multiple availability zones, so even if one location has a problem, your data stays accessible. Built for the kind of uptime businesses depend on.

Trusted by South African Businesses

Part of your IronTree stack – or works standalone

Cloud Vault integrates directly with:

Cloud Backup

Set Cloud Vault as the storage destination for archive data

Disaster Recovery

Store DR copies offsite in Cloud Vault

Managed Hosting

Attach Cloud Vault storage to your hosted environment

Third-party tools

Any S3-compatible backup or application

Already an IronTree backup or hosting client? Adding Cloud Vault to your setup is straightforward – our team will help you connect the two. Or use it completely independently as a standalone storage solution.

Common questions about Cloud Vault

What's the difference between backup storage and object storage?

Backup storage is designed for speed and recovery – it keeps your active data instantly accessible at all times. Object storage is designed for large volumes of data you need to keep but don’t access regularly. It costs significantly less per GB, which makes it the right choice for archives, old records, and inactive files.

Can I still access my data once it's in object storage?

Yes – your data remains accessible at any time. Object storage is optimised for infrequent access rather than real-time recovery, but you can retrieve files whenever you need them through the web interface or API.

When should I move data out of backup storage and into S3?

A good rule of thumb: if you haven’t needed to restore it in 90 days and don’t need instant recovery speed, it’s a candidate for object storage. This typically includes historical backups, compliance archives, completed project files, and old records you’re legally required to keep.

What are egress fees, and why does it matter that IronTree doesn't charge them?

Egress fees are charges for moving data out of cloud storage. International providers like AWS and Azure charge every time you download or transfer data. With Cloud Vault, there are no ingress or egress fees – you pay only for the storage you use, making your monthly bill predictable.

Is Cloud Vault suitable for POPIA compliance?

Yes. Cloud Vault stores your data in South Africa, which supports your POPIA obligations around data residency. IronTree can provide documentation to support your compliance requirements.

Does it work with my existing backup software?

In most cases, yes. Cloud Vault is fully S3-compatible, which means it works with any application or tool that supports the S3 standard – including Acronis, Veeam, and most other enterprise backup platforms.

Need more storage without the international price tag? Let's talk.

Tell us roughly how much data you need to store and we’ll put together a quote. No obligation, no jargon – just a straightforward conversation about what makes sense for your business.

Get in touch

We're here when you need us

A real, human team in South Africa that knows your setup and picks up the phone. Call us or drop us a message and we’ll get back to you – usually the same day.

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