Geoff Burke, a senior technology advisor at Object First, outlines the architecture of their "Out-of-the-Box Immutability" (OOTBI) solution. Built on Zero Trust principles, the system secures data by assuming breach at every level, from production data and backup software to the primary storage target. The Object First appliance is a hardened Linux-based on-premises storage target that uses the S3 protocol to ensure there is zero access to destructive actions. By eliminating access to the command line and BIOS and strictly enforcing S3 Object Lock in compliance mode, the system ensures that once data hits the disk, it becomes immediately immutable with zero time to immutability, leaving no window for ransomware to alter or delete backup files.

The core magic sauce of the performance and integration is the Smart Object Storage (SOS) API developed by Veeam. This API allows for deep integration between Veeam and the Object First cluster without the need for complex plugins, providing critical visibility into capacity and space that standard S3 protocols often lack. The SOS API enables smart entities, where Veeam breaks down backup jobs and intelligently allocates them to the best available node for load balancing and optimized throughput. This synergy allows the appliance to support a one-megabyte block size, specifically supercharging Veeam’s Instant Recovery feature, which allows businesses to run virtual machines directly from the backup storage at high speeds during a crisis.

Object First positions its appliance as a simple, powerful alternative to complex DIY or cloud-only storage. While cloud storage is a vital secondary resilience zone, Burke emphasizes that local, on-premises storage is essential for meeting recovery time objectives, as cloud egress and latency can extend recovery windows to unacceptable levels. The appliance is designed to be racked and stacked with minimal configuration, using only three IP addresses and multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of human error or tech debt. To further support overstretched IT teams, Object First includes a proactive telemetry service that monitors hardware health and storage capacity, ensuring that the last line of defense is always ready when a disaster strikes.

Presented by Geoff Burke, Senior Technology Advisor. Recorded live at Tech Field Day Extra at RSAC 2026 in San Francisco on March 23, 2026. Watch the entire presentation at https://techfieldday.com/appearance/object-first-presents-at-tech-field-day-extra-at-rsac-2026/ or visit https://techfieldday.com/event/rsac2026/ or https://ObjectFirst.com/ for more information.