---
canonical: https://enum.co/block-storage
locale: en
---

**Block Storage**

# enum Block Storage.

NVMe-backed, replicated block storage for Kubernetes Persistent Volumes and standalone disks. Low latency, flat per-GB pricing.

enum Block Storage is NVMe-backed, synchronously replicated block storage operated in Frankfurt, Germany. It attaches to enum Kubernetes Engine workloads as CSI PersistentVolumes and to standalone compute instances, with sub-millisecond read latency and a flat per-GB price. No burst credits, no per-operation fees.


### Why enum Block Storage?

Fast disks without the EBS pricing maze

- **NVMe Performance**: Sub-millisecond reads. Synchronous writes at ~1ms with 3x replication. Databases, queues, and stateful apps run without tuning around slow disks.
- **Synchronous Replication**: Every write is acknowledged after it lands on independent failure domains. A host failure does not cause data loss or downtime.
- **Kubernetes Native**: Provision through the CSI driver as PersistentVolumeClaims. Dynamic provisioning and online resizing work out of the box.
- **Flat Per-GB Pricing**: One price per GB per month. No burst credits, no per-operation charges. The bill scales with the volume, not the workload.

### Perfect for

- Databases (Postgres, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB) on Kubernetes
- Message queues and streaming (Kafka, RabbitMQ)
- Stateful workloads that need low-latency Persistent Volumes
- Standalone disks for compute instances
- Replacing EBS gp3 or io2 at a predictable price
- Workloads that need EU-only data residency

### Frequently Asked Questions


**What is block storage, and how is it different from object storage?**
Block storage gives you a raw disk that an operating system or Kubernetes Pod can format, mount, and read from at the block level. It is what databases, message queues, and other stateful workloads need. Object storage (like enum Object Storage or AWS S3) is accessed over an HTTP API and is built for files, backups, and unstructured data. enum runs both, and they are billed separately.

**How do I use block storage with enum Kubernetes Engine?**
Create a PersistentVolumeClaim in your cluster and the CSI driver provisions the volume automatically. No storage class to configure. Online resizing and dynamic provisioning work out of the box.

**Can I attach block storage to a compute instance without Kubernetes?**
Yes. Volumes can be attached to standalone compute instances as well as to Kubernetes Pods. The same NVMe-backed, replicated disks back both paths.

**How does pricing work?**
You pay a flat rate per GB per month for the volume size you provision. There are no throughput surcharges and no per-operation fees. Outgoing traffic is billed per GB at the standard enum rate. All prices in euros, excluding VAT.

**Is my data replicated and encrypted?**
Every write is replicated synchronously across independent failure domains, so a single host or disk failure does not cause data loss or downtime. All volumes are encrypted at rest with AES-256.

**Where is my data stored?**
All data is stored exclusively in our data center in Frankfurt, Germany. Your data never leaves the EU. We operate our own infrastructure, no US cloud providers in the supply chain.

### enum Block Storage vs. AWS EBS

What you get when you stop paying for hidden storage fees.

| Feature | enum | AWS EKS |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Flat per GB per month | gp3 baseline + throughput |
| Data Location | Germany, guaranteed EU data residency | US company, subject to CLOUD Act |
| Compliance | GDPR-native, NIS2-ready, DORA-suitable | Subject to US CLOUD Act |
| Support | Real engineers, no ticket queue | Ticket system, paid support tiers |

### Technical Specifications

NVMe hardware with software replication

- **Backing Media**: NVMe (All volumes on NVMe flash)
- **Replication**: 3x (Synchronous writes across failure domains)
- **Read Latency**: <1ms (Median 4K random read, 3x replicated volume)
- **Write Latency**: ~1ms (Median 4K random write with 3x replication)
- **Data Location**: Frankfurt, DE (German data center, EU-only)
- **Kubernetes Integration**: CSI (PersistentVolumeClaims via CSI driver)
- **Encryption at Rest**: AES-256 (All volumes encrypted)