# Storage

ZCP provides block storage for virtual machines and S3-compatible object storage for data accessed through buckets and an API. Choose the storage type based on how your application reads and writes data.

## Choose a Storage Type

- Block storage: attach a volume to a virtual machine when an application needs a mounted disk. Use it for filesystems, databases, and application data that run on an instance.
- Object storage: store data in buckets when an application accesses objects through an S3-compatible API. Use it for uploads, backups, media, and shared application data.

Read [Storage Types and Resilience](https://docs.zcp.zsoftly.ca/public-cloud/storage/block-storage/storage-types) before you choose a block-storage tier.

## Protect Your Data

Plan snapshots and backups for data that needs recovery. A storage tier does not replace a backup plan. Review the recovery needs of each workload before you deploy it.

## Next Steps

- [Create a block volume](https://docs.zcp.zsoftly.ca/public-cloud/storage/block-storage/create-volume)
- [Create an object-storage bucket](https://docs.zcp.zsoftly.ca/public-cloud/storage/object-storage/create-bucket)
- [Create a volume snapshot](https://docs.zcp.zsoftly.ca/public-cloud/storage/block-storage/snapshots)
- [Manage object-storage access keys](https://docs.zcp.zsoftly.ca/public-cloud/storage/object-storage/access-keys)