Buyer's guide
Choosing S3 storage?
Score it, then test it.
Brochures all look the same. A weighted scorecard and a two-week test with your own data will tell you more than any sales call, ours included.
Step 1
Build a weighted scorecard.
Change the weights to suit you. Score each provider from 1 to 5, and only give points for things they can show you in writing.
| Area | Example weight | Ask for | Red flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 compatibility | 20% | A test bucket; your vendors' compatibility notes | "It works with everything" and no test offered |
| Data location | 20% | Sites listed in the contract | Vague answers about replicas |
| Security | 20% | Certificates, security overview, DPA | Object Lock "on the roadmap" |
| Full price | 20% | A written quote listing every charge | Request or egress fees that only show up later |
| Support | 10% | Support hours and a named contact | Email-only support in another time zone |
| Exit | 10% | Export process and cost, in writing | No clear answer |
Step 2
Run a two-week test.
Use real data and the tools your team runs every day. Synthetic benchmarks hide the problems you care about.
- 01
Days 1 to 3: connect
Point your backup tool or app at the trial bucket. Upload a sample with a few very large files and a lot of small ones.
- 02
Days 4 to 7: lock it
Turn on versioning and Object Lock. Try to delete a locked object. It should refuse.
- 03
Days 8 to 11: restore
Restore a full machine and a single file. Time both from your own network.
- 04
Days 12 to 14: check the maths
Compare actual usage with the quote, and note how fast support answered your questions.
Going deeper
More on each area.
Our blog post S3-compatible storage in India: what to check before you choose covers each question in detail. For billing, see S3 storage pricing explained.
FAQ
Questions we get asked.
What matters most when choosing S3-compatible storage?
Six areas: how well the S3 API works with your tools, where data is stored, security features such as Object Lock, the full price, support, and how you would leave. Weight them by what your business cares about most.
How do I test S3 compatibility properly?
Run your real tools against a trial bucket for two weeks. Upload large and small files, test multipart upload, list big buckets, restore, and try to delete a locked object to prove Object Lock works.
Is there one right provider for Indian businesses?
No. If residency in India, rupee billing and local support matter to you, give them real weight in your scorecard and ask every provider for written answers.
Related
Read next.
Get in touch
Put us through the test.
We will set up a trial bucket and help your team run the checks on this page with your own tools.
Prefer to call? +91 91751 11820 · hello@stornox.com
