What is our primary use case?
My customers rely on Veeam Backup & Replication primarily to safeguard their systems, secure their workloads, and support hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments. It allows them to back up their data across various cloud platforms and perform cross-platform restoration. For instance, they can back up VMware and restore it on Azure, among other scenarios. In addition to this, they can efficiently back up mainstream applications such as VMware Internet workloads, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Microsoft applications, such as Active Directory, Exchange, and more.
The solution can be deployed on the cloud and on-premise.
What is most valuable?
One of the standout features of Veeam Backup & Replication is its exceptional restore capability, enabling users to recover their data seamlessly. Another valuable functionality is the automated verification of backup restorations, made possible through the Sure Backup feature. The software boasts numerous other noteworthy features that offer immense value, including the NAS backup feature.
What needs improvement?
There is room for improvement in the application backups, particularly for Oracle and SaaS systems. Veeam Backup & Replication offers a plugin specifically designed for Oracle and SAP HANA databases. In version twelve, they introduced enhancements that allow deploying the plugin from the backup server. However, manual configuration is still required on each server to schedule the backup and specify the backup repository. Additionally, transitioning from a Windows server to a Linux server requires converting the existing model. Previously, Veeam heavily relied on Windows and Microsoft SQL databases for their solution. Fortunately, in version twelve, they introduced an enhancement by offering the option to use a Postgres SQL database, which is an open-source alternative.
In a future version, it would be highly advantageous for the vendor to introduce a specific feature that addresses an important customer need. Many enterprise customers utilize deduplication appliances for storing their backups, particularly when compliance requirements demand data encryption during transit and at rest. While the current solution offers encryption during transit, there is a limitation when it comes to seamless integration with deduplication appliances. When encryption is enabled, backups are directed to a standard repository. Subsequently, enterprises are compelled to store encrypted backups on a staging repository before transferring them to the deduplication appliance. This approach affects deduplication ratios. Ideally, it would be beneficial for enterprises if there was a way to seamlessly encrypt backups on the staging repository and then move them to the deduplication appliance in their encrypted format without impacting deduplication ratios. Such an integration would greatly benefit enterprise customers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Veeam Backup & Replication for approximately five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
I rate the stability of Veeam Backup & Replication an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Veeam Backup & Replication demonstrates impressive scalability through its modular architecture. By utilizing multiple proxies and repositories, users can effectively distribute the workload and achieve load balancing. This scalability feature allows the solution to adapt and accommodate varying environments. Thus far, there haven't been any encountered scenarios where scaling became a significant challenge.
We are focusing on enterprise customers at this time.
I rate the scalability of Veeam Backup & Replication an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The support provided by Veeam Backup & Replication is truly exceptional and highly responsive. Whenever I encounter any issues on-site, I can confidently open a support case and reach out to their toll-free number. Their support team promptly connects with me and offers remote assistance almost instantly. While the quality of engineers may vary, Veeam has a commendable escalation process in place. If I encounter any difficulties with an engineer, I have the option to request a change or escalate the issue to a manager, who can assign a higher-tier engineer to provide the necessary support for the solution.
I rate the support from Veeam Backup & Replication a ten out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Veeam Backup & Replication is simple. However, the difficulty of integrating it with an environment comes down to the type of environment, it details that can take time.
The implementation process for Veeam Backup & Replication involves several essential steps. Firstly, you engage in planning activities such as sizing and designing the solution, ensuring that all three prerequisites are met. Once the planning is complete, you proceed to download the software and initiate the installation and integration process. This includes configuring firewall ports to be open and defining antivirus exclusions to optimize performance. Additionally, you need to manage permissions on the target machines that you intend to back up. These are just a few examples of the tasks involved in the implementation process.
I rate the initial setup of Veeam Backup & Replication an eight out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Compared to other enterprise solutions, Veeam Backup & Replication generally offers a competitive price point. However, there has been a noticeable and concerning increase in pricing, particularly in the year 2023. The rate of price hikes has been significant, with prices escalating three times during the first quarter of the year. This trend indicates a substantial shift in the pricing structure, which may have implications for customers and their budgeting considerations.
The pricing model of Veeam Backup & Replication differs from other vendors in the industry. While many backup vendors base their pricing on the amount of storage in terabytes, Veeam opts for a server-based pricing approach. This server-based pricing has traditionally been more appealing to end customers, offering a simpler and more straightforward cost structure. However, as Veeam continues to grow and expand, it is encountering challenges in managing costs with this pricing model. From our company's perspective, the terabyte-based pricing model is more convenient and preferable.
There are not any additional costs other than the standard licensing fees.
What other advice do I have?
Veeam Backup & Replication is an excellent choice for those seeking a generic backup solution. It caters to a wide range of requirements and fulfills approximately 80 percent of the market's needs. Customers running VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix workloads, and more can readily utilize Veeam Backup & Replication. However, for those with highly customized or specific workloads, a more tailored solution might be necessary. While Veeam Backup & Replication is versatile and widely applicable, certain niche requirements may call for a specialized backup solution beyond the generic features of Veeam Backup & Replication.
I rate Veeam Backup & Replication an eight out of ten.
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: