Seven practical uses for S3-compatible object storage

The S3 API started as one cloud provider's storage interface and became an industry standard. Backup software, media tools, programming libraries and command-line utilities support it. An S3-compatible service lets you use all of them with storage you choose.

1. Media for websites and apps

Store product photos, user uploads and videos in a bucket instead of on the web server. Servers stay small and disposable, and adding a second server does not mean copying files.

2. Backups

Most modern backup tools can write directly to S3-compatible storage. Combined with versioning and retention rules, it gives you an off-server copy that is easy to manage.

3. Archives

Documents, records and old projects that must be kept but are rarely opened sit cheaply in object storage, with lifecycle rules to delete them when their retention period ends.

4. Logs

Ship application and server logs to a bucket for long-term retention. Keeping logs off the servers that produce them also protects them from tampering.

5. Static websites and assets

Front-end builds, documentation sites, downloads and software packages can be served from object storage, often through a CDN.

6. Data for analytics

Exports, data feeds and datasets for reporting tools can live in a bucket where several systems read them.

7. Moving data between systems

A bucket is a convenient handover point between teams, partners or applications, with access controlled by keys and permissions instead of shared passwords.

Good practice

• Create separate buckets per application or purpose, with separate access keys.
• Grant each key only the permissions it needs, such as write-only for backup jobs.
• Keep buckets private unless something truly must be public.
• Turn on versioning for data you cannot afford to lose.

How IDX helps

IDX Object Storage provides S3-compatible buckets that work with these tools, priced per GB with unlimited requests. Our team can help you move media or backups from server disks into buckets and set up access keys and retention for each use.