Cubbit & HERABIT launch secure cloud storage across Italy
Cubbit and HERABIT have announced a strategic agreement to provide geo-distributed cloud storage services for business customers in Italy.
The partnership will see HERABIT, the digital arm of Hera Group, integrate Cubbit's distributed storage technology into its network of data centres in Imola, Siziano, and Santa Lucia di Piave. This agreement marks the first time Cubbit's distributed cloud storage architecture will be made widely available for all industrial sectors through a regional business alliance.
The service will offer Italian businesses access to cloud storage solutions that distribute encrypted and fragmented data across a network of local nodes. According to the companies, this architecture is designed to enhance security, support data sovereignty, maintain operational resilience, and deliver S3 compatibility for enterprises already utilising conventional object storage technologies.
HERABIT began using Cubbit's technology in 2023, and is now scaling the adoption by launching the DS3 Composer software in its own data centres. These centres form the backbone of HERABIT's infrastructure, which also includes an extensive fibre optic network spanning 321,000 km cumulatively across Italy. Under this agreement, HERABIT becomes Cubbit's "preferred infrastructure partner" in the Emilia-Romagna region. The companies plan to explore the possibility of replicating this model in other locations, both nationally and internationally.
The companies state that key use cases includes backup services, long-term data archiving, and the creation of data lakes for enterprises and artificial intelligence systems. HERABIT has committed an initial business customer capacity of 2 petabytes, with further expansions planned from 2026.
Data security and local control
The solution allows businesses to maintain stronger control and sovereignty over their data. All stored data will remain within Italy and inside HERABIT's infrastructure. The encrypted, fragmented storage model ensures improved security by guaranteeing that files are never stored in full on any single node, and remain accessible at all times.
Additional benefits highlighted by the companies include lower latency and high service continuity, delivered through the geographical proximity of storage nodes and proprietary network assets. The storage model is also intended to reduce both operational costs and environmental impact for business clients.
Statements from executives
Stefano Onofri, co-CEO and co-founder of Cubbit, said: "The collaboration with HERABIT shows how European service providers, thanks to Cubbit's technology, can reclaim a leading role in the global storage market by creating and delivering their own resilient, sovereign, and competitive cloud services. We are proud to see a customer such as HERABIT further expand the adoption of our solution, bringing benefits not only to the organisation itself but also to its end customers."
Alessandro Aiello, General Manager of HERABIT, commented: "The agreement with Cubbit marks a strategic step forward in the evolution of our cloud offering. Integrating their technology into our data centres allows us to deliver a cloud storage service that is secure, flexible, and highly competitive, addressing the concrete needs of businesses. It is a commitment that combines digital innovation and data sovereignty in support of regional economic development."
Background and technology
Cubbit's software enables service providers and enterprises to establish geo-distributed cloud storage systems configured for organisational needs and infrastructure strategies. The platform offers full control and sovereignty over data, while the use of distributed nodes supports simplified management and cost optimisation. Cubbit reports that its technology is now used by over 400 companies and partners, including Leonardo and Rai Way, and that it is supported by international technology partners such as HPE, Accenture, and Equinix.
HERABIT, formerly operating as Acantho, manages three data centres and extensive ultra-broadband fibre networks throughout Italy. The company provides tailored digital services for enterprises and institutions. In 2024, HERABIT reported revenues of EUR €92.9 million, attributing continued growth to ongoing investment in digital infrastructure and sustainability initiatives.
