QuObjects

On-premises S3-compatible Object Storage on NAS

Object storage stores data as “objects” instead of folders and files, with metadata for easier management. It’s ideal for backups, archives, media assets, and AI datasets—and commonly used with S3.

S3 is one of the most common standards for object storage. “S3-compatible” means it works with standard S3 apps and the S3 API, so integrations are easier.

The main difference is how data is organized and accessed:

• Block storage: Stores data in fixed-size blocks; commonly used for databases, virtual machines, and low-latency workloads.
• File storage: Organizes data in folders and files; typically accessed via SMB/NFS for file sharing.
• Object storage: Stores data as objects with metadata; built for massive scale, long-term retention, and S3-based access—ideal for backups and archives.

Object storage is designed for large-scale data and long-term retention. As backups and media assets grow, it’s often easier to manage than file-based storage. Metadata improves organization and search, while S3 compatibility simplifies integration with backup software, cloud workflows, and developer tools.

Object storage is widely used for:

• Backup storage
• Long-term archiving and cold data retention
• Media libraries and production assets
• Centralized storage for unstructured data (images, documents, logs)
• S3 storage for websites and applications
• AI/ML dataset storage and sharing

Object Lock helps prevent objects from being deleted or modified during a defined retention period. It’s commonly used to implement WORM (Write Once, Read Many) protection. When combined with immutability, it helps protect backup integrity and reduce the risk of ransomware or accidental deletion.

Yes. Many organizations deploy private object storage to keep data in-house and control long-term costs. For example, with QNAP QuObjects, you can run S3-compatible object storage on a NAS and scale as your storage grows—without relying solely on the public cloud.

Public cloud object storage often includes more than just capacity charges. Over time, API request fees and egress (data transfer) fees can make costs harder to predict.
If you’re trying to avoid hidden costs like API request and egress fees, building object storage on your NAS—such as with QuObjects—can make expenses much easier to control.

Amazon S3 is a public cloud service that typically charges based on usage and may include API request fees and egress fees.
QuObjects runs on your QNAP NAS as an S3-compatible object storage platform, allowing you to build private S3 storage with greater data control and more predictable costs.

QuObjects can run on your NAS and scale as your data grows. You can increase capacity using JBOD expansion, so you can grow step by step without making a large upfront investment.

A quick way to decide is to compare cost over time, security, data control, and performance.
If you want predictable costs and tighter control, on-premises object storage (like running S3-compatible storage on your NAS) is often the better choice.
If you need fast setup and flexibility, public cloud works well—just keep an eye on API request and egress fees.