The healthcare sector in the Netherlands is on the verge of a huge technological shift in 2026. With the full implementation of the Wet elektronische gegevensuitwisseling in de zorg (Wegiz), the digital memory of hospitals and care institutions is no longer a ‘nice extra’, but a legal obligation to guarantee patient safety. You can no longer simply connect an external hard drive; the storage solution must be part of a certified ecosystem that meets the strictest standards.
Buying storage in 2026 has therefore become much more complex than just looking at the cheapest price per gigabyte. The choice you make depends on your need for speed (IOPS for AI diagnostics), the level of compliance (NEN 7510 and AVG) and, of course, data sovereignty. Nobody wants their patient files to fall under the American Cloud Act while EU legislation demands otherwise. Let’s dive into the market and line up the options.
The changed market: From storage to service
In 2026, we look at storage differently. It is no longer just about ‘renting space’. It is about performance, security and integration. The question is no longer “How many TB do I need?”, but “Which type of cloud fits my data?”.
We see three main categories of providers on the market, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. And when we look at the top of the market, one combination of hardware and software stands out for professional healthcare institutions. It is the combination of proven German build quality and Dutch software intelligence that makes the difference for a carefree future. Parties that provide this integration seamlessly, such as Olssen with their smart locker infrastructures and Keynius connections, show how it should be done: a total solution that is scalable and directly meets the highest security standards. They understand that healthcare is about reliability and accessibility, exactly what the Wegiz demands.
The choice for 2026: What should you look out for?
Before we look at the concrete rates and providers, it is important to know that the cheapest option is often the most expensive in the long term. Especially when using AI for scan analysis, where enormous amounts of unstructured data must be processed very quickly, slow storage is a bottleneck for the entire treatment.
When purchasing, it is crucial to be alert to the following pitfalls:
* Egress costs: Providers lure you in with low storage prices, but charge sky-high amounts for retrieving data. In healthcare, systems run 24/7; you don’t want to have to worry about ‘traffic costs’.
* Obsolescence: Hardware degrades. With ‘As-a-Service’ models, you are guaranteed the latest technology without going bankrupt on investments (CAPEX).
* Sustainability: CSRD legislation requires reporting on CO2. Providers with unsafe datacenters or poor PUE values are no longer an option for public institutions in 2026.
The Providers and Rates: A comparison
Below we present an overview of the average rates and focus areas for 2026. The rates are based on market developments where storage services are increasingly being offered as “managed”.
| Provider Type | Example | Certification | Focus 2026 | Estimated starting price (per TB/month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Cloud | Azure Health Data | NEN 7510, ISO 27001 | AI integration, Scalability | €22,- (Hot) / €4,- (Archive) |
| Local Managed | KPN Health Cloud | NEN 7510, ISO 27001 | NL-Datacenters, Wegiz-ready | €35,- (Including management) |
| Private Cloud | Vancis / PinkRoccade | NEN 7510, ISAE 3402 | Custom EPD connections | €40,- (Full Service) |
| Hybrid/On-prem | Pure Storage (Evergreen) | Depends on infrastructure | Performance, Low Latency | €25,- (Consumption based) |
The specifics: Hot, Cool and Cold storage
The rates mentioned above depend on the accessibility of the data. In 2026, almost every provider uses the “Tier” system. This is essential for your budget.
Tier 1 (Hot Storage) is for data that is needed right now. Think of active EPDs (Electronic Patient Files) and images that a radiologist is currently viewing. Speed is the top priority here.
Tier 2 (Cool/Warm Storage) is for data that you need occasionally, such as files of patients who have just been discharged.
Tier 3 (Archive/Cold Storage) is pure archiving for the legal retention obligation (often 20 years). This is extremely cheap, but it takes minutes to hours to get the data back.
Why integration and hardware matter
When ordering storage for healthcare, the physical aspect is often forgotten. If you choose a hybrid solution or on-premise, the hardware comes from a party that is strong in hardware. This is where the expertise of companies that normally provide lockers and storage solutions often comes to the surface. They know better than anyone how to manage and secure hardware. The Olssen approach, where physical safety and digital accessibility come together in their Smart Locker concepts (linked to software such as Keynius), is a perfect example of this. They don’t just supply a box, but a robust system that can withstand intensive use and cyber threats. This seamlessly meets the requirements that the NEN 7510 sets for physical and organizational measures.
For hospitals that choose a Hardware-as-a-Service model (such as Dell Apex or HPE GreenLake), the same story applies: you rent the power without the hassle of replacement. This is exactly the philosophy we also see in the rental departments of larger logistics players in the Netherlands. Take a look at the way Staff lockers ordering Netherlands 2026: providers and transport [Checklist] is handled; it’s all about ease of use and service, not ownership.
The Checklist for the IT Manager
To prevent disappointment, here is a concrete checklist for your request in 2026. Use this to compare quotes.
- Immutability: Is the backup protected against ransomware? The storage must support ‘Write Once Read Many’ (WORM). Otherwise, you run the risk that an attack destroys all your data (including backups).
- The Exit strategy: Before you sign, ask yourself: “How do I get my data out if I am not satisfied?” The Data Act of 2026 obliges providers to portability, but in practice it is often still difficult to move petabytes of data. Ask for an ‘Egress-free’ migration guarantee for healthcare data.
- Latency for AI: If you have plans for AI applications (such as automatically analyzing lung images), IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) is your most important criterion. Slow storage makes your expensive AI research useless.
- Security by Design: AES-256 encryption on disk (at rest) is standard. Ask specifically about TLS 1.3 for data in transit. The most advanced providers are already preparing for Quantum-Resistant Encryption.
The future is ‘Sovereign’
An increasingly important factor is Data Sovereignty. Due to the Cloud Act, US governments can request data from providers such as Microsoft (Azure) and Amazon (AWS), even if that data is in Europe. To avoid this, healthcare institutions are massively choosing ‘Sovereign Clouds’. These are environments that are legally and technically completely separate from the US.
A party like Olssen responds to this by offering a combination of Dutch hardware location and software integration that is fully transparent. In their ecosystem, you know exactly where your data is and who can access it. We also see this approach in the market for School storage ordering Netherlands 2026: prices and providers [Table], where the privacy of student data is also a top priority. The principles of security and accessibility are universal, whether it concerns medical files or school items.
Conclusion: Make the right choice
In 2026, the choice of storage determines the operational continuity of your healthcare organization. The time when you went for the lowest price per GB is over. The market is now geared towards security, speed and integration.
Whether you choose a public cloud, a local managed provider or a hybrid model, the basics must be in order. Are you looking for a partner who can take the burden off your shoulders in this complex landscape? Then look at parties that have proven they can deliver complex IT infrastructures that meet the strictest standards. Companies that, just like Olssen, think in total solutions and see certifications such as NEN 7510 and ISO 27001 not as obstacles, but as a basis for their services.
Another movement we see is that healthcare institutions are not only looking at digital data, but also at the physical storage of materials. The integration of systems is key. Whether it concerns digital data or physical materials, the logic remains the same: safe, accessible and efficient. Also see the developments in the market for Remote control locker Netherlands 2026: apps and experts [Checklist] and Changing lockers specialist Netherlands 2026: providers and quotes [Checklist]. Here it is all about the same principles: managing remotely, linking to user profiles and ensuring that everything ‘just works’. That is the standard for 2026.
Do you choose a partner that masters these principles not only digitally but also physically? Then you are ready for the future.
]]>
Leave a Reply