In the Scale-Out Backup Repository (SOBR) Veeam cleanly separates the Performance Tier (fast local blocks/ReFS/XFS for restores) from the Capacity Tier (object storage for the cheap, scalable long-term copy). intercolo i3 Object Storage is exactly that Capacity Tier: S3-compatible, strong read-after-write, reached via the endpoint https://de-fra.i3storage.com in region de-fra. You offload backup chains as objects off-site — no tape robot, no second data center, no hyperscaler egress surprises — at 99.999999% durability, with data that never leaves the Frankfurt facility.
In the Veeam Backup & Replication console: Backup Infrastructure → Backup Repositories → Add Repository → Object Storage. Pick NOT the native Amazon S3 entry but S3 Compatible — only that type lets you set a custom service point.
Service point: https://de-fra.i3storage.com · Region: de-fra. Keep TLS on (the certificate is valid — no need to tick 'connect using untrusted certificate'). Optionally keep the gateway server on the proxy that carries the offload load.
Add → Access key + Secret key from your intercolo API-key pair. Access runs exclusively through these SigV4 keys — no password login. For tenant isolation, use a dedicated key pair and bucket per customer.
Select the bucket from the list (or pre-create it via aws-cli/rclone) and set a folder for these backups. One folder = one SOBR capacity extent; several jobs can share a bucket as long as each extent has its own folder.
Open your SOBR → Capacity Tier tab → 'Extend scale-out backup repository capacity with object storage' and select the new repository. Choose Move or Copy mode plus the offload window — done. From now on the off-site copy lands automatically in Frankfurt.
Path-style: https://de-fra.i3storage.com/veeam-prod · Virtual-hosted: https://veeam-prod.de-fra.i3storage.com. Both work; Veeam uses virtual-hosted internally.
Set expectations correctly: i3 Object Storage provides NO storage-side immutability (no Object Lock/WORM, no versioning). So in the SOBR do NOT enable 'Make recent backups immutable' — leave that box unchecked. The security gain here is spatial separation: this is your off-site 2nd copy under 3-2-1 (3 copies, 2 media, 1 off-site). If you need true anti-ransomware immutability, pair this target with a local Hardened Linux Repository (XFS, immutable flag) as the Performance Tier — the hard copy stays local, the cheap distance copy sits here in Frankfurt. Veeam-side client encryption (below) adds a further layer on the objects.
The most expensive backup mistake is the untested restore. US hyperscalers penalise every retrieval test and every real recovery with egress fees — so admins test too rarely. Here 1 TB of egress is included per booked TB of storage. You run SureBackup jobs, pull individual VMs or files back from the Capacity Tier and validate your recovery chain without the next invoice exploding. Extra traffic is billed transparently at +€3.99/TB — predictable, not surprising. This isn't 'free', it's calculable: you know what a test costs before you run it.
The standard target for active backup chains offloaded from the local Performance Tier into object storage. Fully browsable, granular per-object restore, strong read-after-write — ideal for the daily off-site copy.
For very old, rarely needed restore points beyond your operational retention. As an S3-compatible target, i3 serves as a low-cost home for long-term GFS chains — one tier, one bill, no cold-retrieval surcharge.
Moves backup data from the Performance to the Capacity Tier once the operational window elapses and frees local storage. Only metadata stays local. Maximum savings on expensive primary storage.
Copies every new restore point to object storage immediately while keeping the local copy for fast restores. Exactly the 3-2-1 pattern: a fast local copy plus an off-site distance copy in Frankfurt.
| intercolo i3 | Wasabi | Backblaze B2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location / data residency | Frankfurt DC, 100% DE, GDPR/DPA | EU region selectable, US corporation | EU region selectable, US corporation |
| Endpoint | https://de-fra.i3storage.com (de-fra) | s3.eu-central-*.wasabisys.com | s3.eu-central-*.backblazeb2.com |
| Egress model | 1 TB incl./TB, then +€3.99/TB | 'free' up to storage limit, then throttled | 1 TB free/day, then per GB |
| Starting storage price | €2.49/TB | List price US$/TB | List price US$/TB |
| Storage immutability | No — 2nd copy in 3-2-1 | Object Lock available | Object Lock available |
| Support / contact | Direct, German, DC team | Ticket, EN | Ticket, EN |
| Power | 100% green power | varies | varies |
i3 does not encrypt at rest — which is precisely why you should keep control yourself: in the Veeam job under Storage → Advanced → Storage, enable backup encryption with your own password/key. Veeam then encrypts the blocks BEFORE upload; object storage holds only unreadable ciphertext and the key never leaves your infrastructure. That is the clean path for sensitive data: transport is secured by TLS, content by your key — no provider, us included, can read the backups. Store the password safely: no key, no restore.
For managed service providers clean tenant isolation is mandatory. Create a dedicated API key pair (access/secret) and a dedicated bucket per end customer and link each as a separate capacity repository in the relevant SOBR configuration or Cloud Connect tenant. Compromised or departing customers are rotated in isolation without touching other tenants. Every backup chain stays organisationally separated, billable per bucket and cleanly attributable — the foundation for auditable MSP processes at the organisational level.
Your long-term restore points come from the Veeam GFS policy (weekly, monthly, yearly full backups) — not from the storage. The Capacity/Archive Tier only stores these chains cheaply; how many points are kept and for how long is defined in Veeam.
The lifetime of every object follows your Veeam job and SOBR retention alone: Veeam writes new restore points and prunes expired ones. Since there is no storage-side lock, retention is exactly what you configure in Veeam — review those policies deliberately.
Split short-lived operational backups and long-lived GFS chains into their own buckets or capacity repositories, each with its own SigV4 key pair. That keeps retention classes cleanly isolated and the blast radius of a compromised key small.
Deneyimimiz kendini kanıtlamıştır: Birden fazla petabayt veri ve 500 milyonun üzerinde dosya içeren taşımaları başarıyla tamamladık.