What is STACKIT Block Storage?
STACKIT Block Storage is a block storage service that provides persistent volumes for virtual machines. The service offers 18 SSD-based Premium-Performance classes with different IOPS and throughput levels, selectable independently of volume size. Volumes can be sized from 1 GB to 16 TB. The documented performance classes refer to the EU01 region (Germany); data is encrypted with AES-256. A lower-cost HDD tier is announced as planned for the future per the documentation but not yet available.
Core Features
- 18 SSD-based Premium-Performance classes (perf0 to perf29, from 120 IOPS/25 MB/s up to 60,000 IOPS/1,500 MB/s throughput)
- Volume sizes from 1 GB to 16 TB
- Snapshots and full backups for volumes (incremental backups will be discontinued on October 31, 2026)
- AES-256 encryption at rest, transparent for all operations
- Self-service via portal or automation via the STACKIT IaaS API
- Available as Single AZ (fixed to one availability zone) or Metro AZ (synchronously mirrored across two availability zones) for every performance class
Typical Use Cases
Production databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MongoDB benefit from the Premium-Performance tiers with low latency.
SAP workloads: Higher performance tiers deliver the throughput needed for demanding database workloads.
Kubernetes Persistent Volumes: Container workloads on STACKIT Kubernetes Engine use Block Storage as the backend for persistent data.
Boot volumes: Foundation for the operating system disk of STACKIT Compute Engine instances.
Benefits
- Full GDPR compliance in German data centers
- Flexible choice among 18 graduated performance classes
- Volumes are persistent independent of the VM lifecycle
- Pay-as-you-go billing with no upfront investment
Integration with innFactory
As an official STACKIT partner, innFactory supports you with Block Storage: choosing the right performance class, architecture, migration, operations, and cost optimization.
Available Tiers & Options
Premium-Performance (SSD)
- 18 performance classes (perf0 to perf29, e.g. up to 60,000 IOPS, 1,500 MB/s)
- Low latency thanks to SSD media
- Suited for database workloads
- Higher cost depending on the chosen performance tier
Typical Use Cases
Technical Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I resize volumes without downtime?
A volume can be expanded as long as it is not attached to any instance. To expand it while in use, you therefore need to detach it first. Shrinking a volume is not supported.
What performance classes are available?
STACKIT currently offers 18 SSD-based Premium-Performance classes (perf0 to perf29) with different IOPS and throughput levels, selectable independently of volume size. The highest class (perf29) delivers up to 60,000 IOPS and 1,500 MB/s throughput. A lower-cost HDD tier is announced as planned for the future but not yet available.
Are volumes automatically backed up?
No. Use snapshots or STACKIT Backup Storage for regular full backups of your volumes. STACKIT moved the "Incremental Backups" feature into maintenance mode in April 2026; it will be permanently discontinued on October 31, 2026.
How is billing handled?
Billing is usage-based (pay-as-you-go) according to capacity used and the selected performance class, billed hourly.
How is the data encrypted?
All volumes are encrypted by default with AES-256 at rest, transparently, without requiring any application changes.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of STACKIT (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by STACKIT.
