What is the Impact of Enabling Versioning on Object Storage Pricing, and Are There Additional Storage Costs?

Object storage has become a cornerstone for businesses looking to store vast amounts of unstructured data due to its scalability, durability, and ease of access. One of the essential features of object storage is versioning, which allows multiple versions of an object to be stored in a single location. While versioning offers benefits in terms of data protection and disaster recovery, it also comes with important pricing considerations that businesses should be aware of.

In this article, we will explore the impact of enabling versioning on object storage pricing and whether there are additional storage costs involved. We will also discuss how businesses can optimize their storage management to avoid unexpected charges, particularly when using servers, colocation facilities, and hosting environments.

What is Object Storage Versioning?

Object storage versioning is a feature that enables the storage of multiple versions of an object. Each time an object is updated, a new version is created and stored alongside the previous versions. This functionality is beneficial for a variety of reasons, including:

Data Protection: Versioning allows users to revert to a previous version of an object in case of accidental deletion or corruption.

Audit Trails: It provides a way to track changes made to objects, which can be crucial for regulatory compliance or audit purposes.

Disaster Recovery: In the event of data loss, having multiple versions stored ensures that the most recent and previous versions can be retrieved.

While these benefits are significant, enabling versioning on object storage can have an impact on pricing, as it affects the way data is stored and managed.

How Does Versioning Affect Object Storage Pricing?

Increased Storage Usage

When versioning is enabled, every update or modification to an object results in the creation of a new version. As a result, multiple versions of the same object are stored, which directly impacts the amount of storage space required.

For example, if a file is modified multiple times, each modification will consume additional storage space, as each version is retained. This can lead to an increase in the total storage usage, which may significantly affect pricing, particularly for businesses with large volumes of data or frequent updates to objects.

Example Scenario: If you have a large database file that is updated daily and versioning is enabled, each day’s update will result in a new version of the file being stored. Over time, this can result in a significant accumulation of storage space for versions that are no longer needed.

This increase in storage usage can lead to higher costs, especially in environments where businesses rely on hosting solutions or colocation facilities that charge based on the amount of storage consumed.

Storage Costs for Versions

Storage costs are generally calculated based on the total amount of data being stored. With versioning enabled, businesses may need to pay for both the original and all subsequent versions of objects. Depending on the pricing model used by the storage provider, the cost for storing each version of an object can be similar to the cost of storing the original object, leading to higher storage fees.

Consideration for Long-Term Storage: In cases where objects are not frequently accessed but have many versions, businesses may incur higher storage costs for data that is rarely used. This is especially true in hosting environments or colocation setups where storage capacity may be priced by the gigabyte or terabyte.

Cost of Data Retrieval (API Requests)

Enabling versioning may also impact the costs associated with retrieving data. When accessing specific versions of an object, the retrieval request may require more time or additional steps to locate and retrieve the correct version. Some storage providers may charge separately for version retrievals, and this could lead to higher costs for businesses that need to access previous versions of data regularly.

This is particularly important for businesses that store large numbers of objects and may need to retrieve various versions for audits, backups, or regulatory compliance purposes. Each version request may come with an associated cost, which could add up over time.

Are There Additional Storage Costs for Versioning?

While enabling versioning can provide valuable data protection, it also leads to additional storage costs due to the creation of multiple object versions. These costs can vary depending on several factors:

Version Retention Policy: Some storage providers allow businesses to set a retention policy for object versions. A retention policy defines how long versions are kept before they are deleted or archived. Businesses that implement strict version retention policies can control storage costs by limiting the number of versions that are stored.

For example, you can configure your storage system to retain only the last 10 versions of an object while deleting older versions. This can help prevent unnecessary storage consumption, particularly in servers, colocation environments, or hosting solutions where cost efficiency is critical.

Archiving Older Versions: Some object storage solutions offer lower-cost storage classes for archived data. Businesses can use these lower-cost options to move older versions of objects to a more cost-effective storage class. This allows them to retain previous versions without incurring high storage costs.

For example, you might choose to archive older versions to an "archive" or "cold storage" class while keeping the most recent versions in a "standard" or "hot" storage class. This approach balances cost and accessibility, as older versions are not accessed as frequently.

Data Lifecycle Management: Implementing data lifecycle management (DLM) policies can help businesses automate the process of moving older object versions to less expensive storage options, thus reducing storage costs. DLM policies allow for the automatic transition of objects from one storage class to another based on specific criteria, such as age, access frequency, or size.

By integrating DLM with versioning, businesses can ensure that older versions of objects are automatically archived or deleted after a set period, reducing the overall storage footprint and associated costs.

How Can Businesses Optimize Costs?

To optimize costs related to versioning, businesses can take the following steps:

Review Version Retention Policies: Determine which versions are necessary to retain and delete versions that are no longer needed. This can help reduce unnecessary storage consumption.

Implement Data Lifecycle Policies: Use automated policies to move older versions to more cost-effective storage classes or delete them after a certain period.

Leverage Storage Classes: Consider using different storage classes for objects with versioning, such as moving infrequently accessed versions to lower-cost tiers.

Conclusion

Enabling versioning in object storage offers valuable data protection, disaster recovery, and audit trail capabilities. However, businesses must consider the impact on pricing, as versioning increases storage usage and may result in higher costs. By understanding how versioning affects storage and implementing strategies like retention policies, lifecycle management, and storage class optimization, businesses can manage costs effectively while still benefiting from the advantages of versioning.

For businesses relying on servers, colocation facilities, and hosting environments, it is important to carefully monitor storage usage and ensure that the versioning feature is used in a cost-efficient manner. With proper management, versioning can be a powerful tool without unnecessarily inflating storage costs.