Embodiments described herein are directed to the accessing remotely stored binary object data in a binary object store. In one embodiment, a computer system receives a request for a portion of binary object data, sends a query to a database server requesting access to the binary object data, and receives a binary object reference. The binary object reference includes binary object identification data and use characteristics specific to the binary object store. The computer system sends a binary object data access request based on the binary object reference to the binary object store using a binary object store interface, and receives the binary object data corresponding to the binary object data access request. The binary object data comprises a portion of data files. The computer system also sends the received binary object data to the user.