Storage Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Who this guide is for: IT Directors, Infrastructure Managers, CISOs, and enterprise architects responsible for data protection at scale.

What you will learn: How Storage by Firevault provides enterprise-grade offline storage infrastructure, what differentiates it from traditional backup, and how to evaluate whether it fits your architecture.

Key takeaway: Storage is the '0' in the 3-2-1-0 model. It is the offline, unreachable layer that ensures recovery even when everything else is compromised.

What is Storage?

Storage by Firevault is a scalable, offline storage system designed to keep enterprise workloads out of reach from breaches, ransomware, and credential theft.

Core characteristics:

• Enterprise capacity: Starting at 8TB, expandable in 8TB steps
• Offline by default: Physical disconnection, not software controls
• Full read/write access: Two-way data movement during authorised windows
• Your hardware: Dedicated infrastructure you legally own

What Storage is NOT

Storage is explicitly not:

• Not cloud backup or SaaS: No standing connectivity, no shared tenancy
• Not a data diode or write-only vault: Full two-way access when authorised
• Not always-online infrastructure: Offline is the default state
• Not software-only protection: Physical disconnection at the wire level

Who is Storage For?

Storage is designed for organisations that:

• Hold crown jewel data (IP, customer records, operational systems)
• Require proven offline backup for compliance or insurance
• Need recovery assurance independent of production systems
• Operate in sectors where ransomware is an existential threat

The Problem Storage Solves

Traditional backup fails when attackers have persistent access. Cloud backups can be encrypted alongside production data. Air-gapped tapes require physical logistics. Neither provides rapid, verified recovery.

Storage provides the missing layer: an offline copy that is physically unreachable until you need it, with controlled connectivity for recovery.

The 3-2-1-0 Model

Industry best practice recommends:

• 3 copies of data
• 2 different storage types
• 1 offsite copy
• 0 online exposure for recovery copy

Storage becomes that '0'. The offline layer that ensures recovery even when everything else is compromised.

How Storage Works

1. Data ingestion: Connect via API or SFTP during authorised windows
2. Verification: Data integrity checks confirm successful transfer
3. Disconnection: Physical isolation until next authorised session
4. Recovery: Controlled reconnection for data retrieval when needed

Deployment Options

• Firevault Bunkers: Hosted in our secure colocation facilities
• On-premise: Deployed in your own data centre
• Hybrid: Split deployment for geographic resilience

Connectivity Options

Storage supports multiple connectivity methods:

• REST API for programmatic access
• SFTP for file-based workflows
• Scheduled connection windows
• On-demand session requests

Security and Compliance

Storage supports compliance with:

• NIST CSF and NIST 800-53
• ISO/IEC 27001
• GDPR Article 32
• NIS2 resilience requirements
• Sector-specific regulations (FCA, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)

Ownership Model

With Storage, you own the hardware:

• Legal ownership of systems and data
• Legal Recovery Assignment documentation
• No third-party access (not even Firevault when offline)

Pricing

Storage pricing is based on capacity, deployment model, and service level. Enterprise pricing requires a discovery call to assess your specific requirements.

Getting Started

1. Architecture review: Assess your data protection requirements
2. Capacity planning: Determine storage requirements
3. Deployment design: Select location and connectivity
4. Provisioning: Hardware allocation and configuration
5. Integration: Connect to your backup workflows

Next Steps

If your organisation needs proven offline storage for crown jewel data, book a technical consultation to discuss your architecture.