GARR & Cubbit launch storage network for universities

GARR and Cubbit have launched a pilot geo-distributed storage network for Italian universities and research institutions. They describe it as the first operational federated network of its kind in Europe for the sector.

The network is designed to give universities and research bodies a shared storage system running on infrastructure located in Italy. GARR is operating the platform on on-premises infrastructure distributed across the country, with an initial capacity of 1 petabyte.

Institutions can join by contributing their own storage hardware to the federation. This allows participants to use existing assets while keeping control of their data and how it is stored.

The project combines Cubbit’s distributed object storage software with GARR’s national research and education network. It is designed to keep data available even if one or more sites fail or go offline.

The rollout begins across GARR data centres in Bologna, Rome and Bari. A later phase will extend the platform to all eight of GARR’s data centres in Italy.

Data Demands

The launch reflects rising demand for storage across universities and research institutions as scientific datasets grow in size and importance. Research organisations also face stricter requirements around security, service continuity and where data is physically located.

The storage network is aimed at data with scientific, strategic and social value that must remain accessible over time and be shared securely between research groups. It is also intended to support compliance with regional rules, including requirements linked to measures issued by Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency.

As part of the system, GARR is integrating DS3 Composer, Cubbit’s software-defined object storage, across its distributed data centres. The two organisations say this approach is meant to reduce dependence on external infrastructure providers and avoid technological lock-in.

Data on the platform is encrypted, fragmented and distributed across multiple geographic locations. This means no single site holds the complete dataset in exposed form, while users retain control over where their data resides.

Research uses

Planned uses include immutable backup repositories, disaster recovery, and long-term storage of partially processed datasets used for analysis and predictive reporting. Compatibility with the S3 standard is intended to let institutions add the system to existing workflows without changing the tools they already use.

The platform also allows institutions to set different service and protection tiers based on the type and value of data. Each participant can manage storage areas, access rights, projects and system configurations independently.

Although organisations share the same underlying infrastructure, each institution retains exclusive access to its own data. The system also allows selective access for specific datasets or projects, including for research groups outside the GARR network.

GARR plays a central role in Italy’s academic and research connectivity market. Its infrastructure spans about 24,000 kilometres of fibre, connects more than 1,000 sites and serves around 3 million users.

The network also supports the transfer and storage of large data volumes and the real-time monitoring of networks and services. That footprint gives GARR a base for adding storage services for universities and research bodies that want greater control over sensitive information.

For Cubbit, the project adds a high-profile research customer in Italy as it seeks wider adoption of its distributed storage software. Its technology is already used by more than 400 companies and partners, including Leonardo and Rai Way.

Massimo Carboni, chief technical officer at GARR, described the project as part of a broader effort to provide the research and education community with secure and sustainable digital infrastructure.

“For GARR, providing the research and education community with reliable, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure is a strategic priority. The adoption of distributed, geo-replicated object storage solutions is a fundamental step in responding to the exponential growth of scientific data and new requirements for resilience, security, and regulatory compliance. Working with Cubbit allows us to retain full control over data while advancing a distributed, on-premises model consistent with GARR’s principles of digital autonomy and support for research,” said Massimo Carboni, chief technical officer, GARR.

Alessandro Cillario, co-CEO and co-founder of Cubbit, said the project showed that a storage network can be operated entirely within national borders.

“We are proud to work with GARR, an organisation of major strategic importance for Italy and its scientific community. This is a strategic collaboration to give the research and higher education community full control over its own data – ensuring autonomy, sovereignty, and resilience for one of Italy’s most strategically important ecosystems. This project shows that it is now possible to create a next-generation storage network operated entirely within national borders, combining high performance, local data control, and freedom from lock-in. It is a unique model in Europe, created through the combination of natively geo-distributed technology and a national high-speed network, designed to respond to the practical needs of Italian research,” said Cillario.