Storage is the heart of every database. But which storage is the fastest? And which is best for your analytic application? This talk explores the trade-offs between the main storage types available in all major public clouds. We’ll start with basic performance metrics. Using ClickHouse as an example, we’ll show how databases access different storage types and how it translates to query speeds visible to your users. Spoiler: the fastest storage does not always give the best query performance. We’ll reveal standard tricks like caching, volume stacking, sorting, and compression that help you build fast analytic applications even on so-called “slow” storage.