An online magazine on a Scaleway VPS stores 180 GB of images in wp-content/uploads. Nightly backups exceed the maintenance window; the system disk would saturate at the next photo report. The reflex: "upgrade the VPS". Often the better reflex: move media off the web server.
Scaleway Object Storage solves a specific problem — not every site.
Media on the web server: when it holds — when it breaks
Stay local if:
- Brochure site < 5 GB media
- Moderate traffic, no large PDF/video
- File + DB backup fits under 30 minutes
Offload if:
- User uploads (marketplace, intranet)
- Media library > 50 GB
- Assets served from multiple fronts (web + mobile app)
- Selective file restore without full VPS replay
| Signal | Indicative threshold | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Upload disk | > 60% VPS | Object Storage + plugin |
| Backup duration | > NOC window | Externalise blobs |
| Bandwidth | image spikes | CDN + bucket |
| Compliance | FR residency | fr-par region |
Scaleway offers Object Storage in Paris — consistent if you already run there. See Scaleway S3 lifecycle.
The web server should run PHP and APIs — not become a public NAS.
Typical WordPress / CMS architecture
- Private bucket + public access via CDN or signed URLs for sensitive content.
- Offload plugin (Media Cloud, WP Offload Media) — test restore on staging.
- DB stays on VPS — only binaries move.
- Lifecycle rules — archive old media to cold tier if available.
- Backup — rclone or bucket snapshot + separate SQL dump.
Test restore: re-importing an accidentally deleted media file should take minutes, not overnight.
Common pitfalls
- Hardcoded URLs in DB after migration — search-replace scripts required.
- Missing CORS for SPA or mobile app.
- Public bucket by default — leak of unpublished files.
- No versioning — irreversible delete.
- Misconfigured CDN — stale cache after image update.
The crux: offload without CDN just moves the bottleneck
Decide and move forward without blind spots
Measure upload size, backup duration, monthly egress. Create a test fr-par bucket, migrate one subfolder, validate performance. See the Scaleway profile and comparator. Document restore procedure in your runbook.
Frequently asked questions
When to offload media?
From ~20–50 GB uploads, slow backups, or heavy static files without CDN.
S3-compatible?
Yes. WordPress plugins and rclone — check region and IAM.
Cost impact?
Affordable storage; watch egress and API requests. CDN recommended.
Media in France?
fr-par region; also verify CDN location.
Object Storage frees the web server — if you budget delivery, not just disk.