Top Backup Software

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The development of virtualization, cloud computing, containers, and high-performing workloads has required backup software vendors to keep up with enormous amounts of critical business data. 

Data protection demands that enterprises have multiple methods of keeping data safe and replicating it in case of disaster or loss.

This need has necessitated new and updated data backup tools for enterprises. See below how these top backup and recovery solutions help businesses better manage their data protection and provide additional security in case of a natural or technical disaster:

Choosing the right backup software

Top backup software

Cobalt Iron

Cobalt Iron logo.Cobalt Iron’s Compass solution deploys automation to improve the efficiency of managing data backup, one of the most pressing loads on enterprise IT infrastructure today. With the rapid increase in data from the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, and other emerging technologies, this kind of automated solution has become increasingly important.

Compass can back up edge devices, container environments, and virtual machines (VMs) as well as cloud computing environments and cloud apps. Compass supports public cloud providers IBM Cloud, AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Alibaba. 

To create an improved system for backup, Cobalt’s solutions include a single pane of glass: a single, multi-tool dashboard to oversee and monitor backup. This console can manage the many enterprise backup tasks at any level, including global policy administration, which is important for compliance. Furthermore, this sole console provides managers with the data they need to more easily troubleshoot problems in the infrastructure. 

Cobalt’s NAS Agent, a solution for backing up network-attached storage (NAS), replicates NAS data to cloud environments. Many older methods for backing up NAS are neither fast nor effective, so Cobalt is a good choice for businesses that still rely heavily on NAS arrays for large volumes of data.

Use cases for Cobalt Iron solutions include replacing complex backup, simplifying NAS backup, and replacing expensive data domain appliances. 

Key differentiators 

  • Support for five major public cloud providers
  • NAS Agent for backing up network-attached storage data 
  • Backup for edge and container environments 

HYCU

HYCU logo.HYCU is purpose-built backup and recovery software for Nutanix and VMWare. It is hypervisor-agnostic and supports AHV and ESX. It leverages Nutanix Storage-level snapshots for data restoration and can use a variety of backup targets using protocols like NFS, SMB, and iSCSI. It also supports cloud storage from AWS and Azure.

HYCU backup data can be transferred through Nutanix’s ABS storage protocol. Load balancing improves backup speed by handling traffic between Nutanix’s production system and target nodes. On the S3 front, HYCU has added support for Cloudian.The product also supports Oracle databases.

Through HYCU Protege, enterprises can back up their data to containers in a backup-as-a service (BaaS) environment. Protege for Kubernetes allows teams to automatically discover running application instances and protect applications based on policies. 

HYCU has added end-to-end software encryption for NFS, SMB, and iSCSI/ABS targets. When customers choose this encryption, the data will be encrypted all the way from source to target and for data at rest.

Businesses that use Nutanix or VMWare clusters will benefit from backup and recovery solutions designed for the two platforms.

Key differentiators

  • Focus on backing up Nutanix and VMware environments
  • Encryption for multiple communication protocols
  • Nutanix ABS protocol for transferring backed-up data

Acronis Cyber Protect

Acronis logo.Acronis Cyber Protect provides protection for on-premises, remote systems, private and public clouds, and mobile devices. Features include virtual server protection for VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer, Red Hat Virtualization, Linux KVM, and Oracle VM Server. Acronis can also back up Oracle databases with disk-imaging backup and bare-metal recovery.

Acronis has taken steps to improve backup security. It watches files for behaviors indicative of ransomware and stops attacks. Acronis restores damaged files, so the user sees reduced impact from an attack. Users receive real-time vulnerability alerts and can scan machines for vulnerabilities, looking for out-of-date systems. 

For businesses using Microsoft 365, Acronis offers a cloud backup and disaster recovery (DR) option specifically designed to back up Microsoft’s business software, including emails, team channels, and file folders.

Acronis was recognized as a Visionary in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for enterprise backup and recovery solutions. Consider Acronis for your enterprise if you want a comprehensive backup solution with additional cybersecurity features. 

Key differentiators 

  • Widespread virtualization protection
  • Focused monitoring for potential ransomware and restoring damaged files
  • Specific Microsoft 365 suite protection 

ArcserveUDP

Arcserve logo.As part of Arcserve’s flagship backup and availability solution suite, Arcserve Unified Data Protection (UDP), Arcserve UDP Cloud Direct is cloud-first backup and recovery for data and applications — virtual and physical, Windows, and Linux. This cloud backup service is a good choice for businesses that need a simple cloud on-ramp without on-premises hardware requirements. This includes branch or small offices where on-premises may not be desired or practical. It also provides benefits for enterprises that need to securely move large volumes of data over networks to data centers worldwide.

Arcserve has solutions for channel partners too. If you’re an enterprise partner looking for more than just backup, Arcserve offers business continuity solutions for managed service providers (MSPs) and disaster recovery for value-added resellers. 

Arcserve was recognized as a Challenger on Gartner’s 2022 Magic Quadrant for enterprise backup and recovery solutions. Consider Arcserve if your enterprise needs to protect a wide variety of environments. 

Key differentiators 

  • Integrated with Sophos for security 
  • Solutions for managed service providers and other channel partners
  • Good choice for cloud-focused businesses

BackupAssist

BackupAssist develops Windows Server backup and recovery software. It focuses on ease of use but includes more advanced features for the expert. With BackupAssist, users can encrypt long-term archive data backups.

Businesses that use entirely Windows hardware and Office 365 software will benefit from on-premises, cloud, and virtual server backups, restoration, and version histories. Consider BackupAssist if your business has limited backup needs and doesn’t require other operating systems (OSs) to be recovered. 

Additional features include disaster recovery, file restore, instant VM recovery, cloud and on-site backup. BackupAssist also encrypts data and sends alerts when it notices a potential security threat. Through BackupAssist, users can create data containers, which are pictured as a local disk on a computer. Data containers store backed up data for disk drives, external drives, and network locations. 

Key differentiators

  • Focused on Microsoft backup and recovery products
  • Security features like encryption and alerts 
  • Data containers for storing volumes of data on local computers

Veritas NetBackup

Veritas logo.Veritas NetBackup software provides unified data protection for multicloud, virtual, and physical environments that can be globally managed from a single console. It can store data on disk, tape, or the cloud. Veritas introduced deduplication technology known as Veritas NetBackup CloudCatalyst. This can be licensed as software or in the NetBackup Cloud Catalyst 5240 Appliance. CloudCatalyst allows enterprises to perform deduplication in their data centers and manage replicated snapshots. 

In recent years, NetBackup has also added features for Microsoft Azure archive storage, including longer data retention periods, which can help businesses that need to store long-term data to comply with regulations.

Another feature is NetBackup Parallel Streaming. It offers rapid data protection of in-demand, cloud-based, scale-out workloads and applications, such as NoSQL, Hadoop, and Cassandra. The idea is to streamline the lengthy process often associated with these applications. If your business needs to protect multiple databases, consider Veritas.

Key differentiators

  • Increased data retention periods for Azure archive storage
  • Deduplication technology for data centers
  • Parallel streaming to protect workloads and applications

Veeam

Veeam logo.Veeam Backup & Replication has support for different types of enterprise applications and data stores, across multiple backup product offerings in its portfolio. Veeam’s backup technology supports on-premises, virtual, and cloud-based data.

Veeam offers backup for multiple virtualization providers. Organizations that host on VMWare V-Sphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, or Nutanix AHV hypervisors will benefit from Veeam’s backup and recovery suite for virtual environments. Veeam also integrates with over 100 storage and cloud solutions, making it a flexible choice for enterprises with multiple clouds or storage systems that need to be backed up. 

Veeam also offers backup and recovery as services as well as backup-as-a-service for managed service providers. MSPs that want to offer their customers a flexible backup solution should consider Veeam.

Key differentiators 

  • Malware scans for backup data
  • Add-on disaster recovery package for the Backup & Replication solution
  • Integration with over 100 storage and cloud solutions 

Rubrik

Rubrik logo.Rubrik offers a suite of data protection and management solutions that include backup and recovery tools. It protects on-premises, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and multicloud environments. Features of Rubrik’s data resilience product include multi-factor authentication (MFA) and logically air-gapped backups, which are a zero-trust-segregated copy of data, applications, or environments. Users can set policies for snapshot frequency and retention, determining how many days or years snapshots should be kept.   

Rubrik’s data recovery products include mass recovery, which allows enterprises to recover hundreds of VMs or thousands of files at once, and identification of ransomware infection. Rubrik tracks which files have been compromised by ransomware, so IT teams can quarantine them and avoid the system being reinfected.   

Rubrik is a Leader in Gartner’s 2022 Magic Quadrant for enterprise backup and recovery software. Consider Rubrik if your large enterprise needs a comprehensive data protection suite, especially if you’re interested in additional security features or a zero-trust approach to your business’s data management. 

Key differentiators

  • Logical air-gapped backups and zero-trust features
  • Mass data recovery
  • Ransomware infection tracking

Learn more about multi-factor authentication: MFA Advantages and Weaknesses | eSecurity Planet 

Features of backup software

  • Replication: Copying data to a geographically disparate location makes it available if the initial copy is damaged or destroyed. 
  • Multiple storage locations: Often, backup providers allow enterprise customers to back up their data in multiple places, geographically and digitally, such as cloud environments, data center servers, or on-premises. 
  • Scheduling: IT teams can set a backup schedule in advance to meet enterprise requirements and know exactly when copies of data were made. 
  • Disaster recovery features: Many major enterprise backup providers also offer DR, sometimes as part of their backup solution, for recovering data from unexpected disasters. 

Learn more about backup: What is a 3-2-1 Backup Strategy? | CIO Insight

Benefits of backup software

  • Maintaining computer systems and applications: Backup and recovery play a critical role in maintaining digital operations when outages occur. The more quickly businesses can reboot their systems or restore applications, the better service they can provide to their customers.
  • Surviving cyberattacks: Many malware attacks, including less advanced ransomware attacks, rely on stealing enterprises’ data. Having accurate backups on hand reduces the opportunity for threat actors to profit from attacks and helps enterprises protect data and remain compliant with industry standards.
  • Protecting a variety of systems and platforms: If your business chooses the right backup software, it’ll be prepared to recover data from all major enterprise applications and systems.  

Backup is important, but so is restoration. Learn why data restoration is critical: The Importance of Data Restoration | ServerWatch

Backup software use cases

“Native integration with Nutanix allows you to backup and restore your VMs in minutes. Extensive automation means you don’t need to constantly worry about the state of your backups. On the rare occasion we encountered a problem, HYCU support identified the issue almost instantly and had us back up and running in no time at all.” –Systems engineer in an infrastructure and operations role, HYCU review at Gartner Peer Insights

“I’ve used many of the major backup applications and none have been even close to HYCU for ease of management and reliability of backups. The simplicity of management has allowed us to train our server team to support backups with a short training session. Everything about this product works, and it reduced our overall cost of backups significantly. If you have Nutanix in your environment, you need to look at this product. … Reports are easy to set up and customize.” –Technical architect for storage and backups, HYCU review at Gartner Peer Insights 

“We are using the on-premise solution of this product. The product has capability of doing bare-metal recovery, which is one of the best features for disaster recovery. The backups can be scheduled through batches. Additionally, email backups can also be taken if you have on-premise MS Exchange Server.” –IT assistant manager, Arcserve UDP review at Gartner Peer Insights

“Monitoring and scheduling backups becomes so easy with the help of its (Acronis) unique, intuitive web-based management console. … It is easy to deploy as well. We were looking for a product which can permanently guarantee security and also keep the data secure. … As our team is all over the world, with the help of this tool, we can manage and keep track of backup remotely and very effectively.” –User in a data and analytics role, Acronis Cyber Protect review at Gartner Peer Insights 

How to buy enterprise backup software

Choosing the right backup software requires knowing exactly what data you have and what data protection you need. Ask the following questions when searching for backup software:

  • Is disaster recovery being fully addressed by your business? If your DR solution could be enhanced, then choose a backup software that offers good DR features. This also includes looking at recovery times and the number of locations in which the data will be stored.
  • How much do you want to manage your own backup? Do you want a user panel or interface through which you control much of the data and processes, or would you prefer a more hands-off approach? Many backup and recovery software providers offer self-management solutions, but the level of oversight you’re looking for will affect which solutions are a better fit.
  • Does the solution include any machine learning (ML) or artificial intelligence (AI)? Intelligent backup software leaves a more room for IT teams to attack other manual tasks.
  • Is the solution compliant with data standards and regulations? If your business is in health care, finance, or law, in particular, you will have to meet certain retention requirements. Backup software should also have multiple copies of data stored in multiple locations, so customers are more able to keep old data per retention stipulations.

Is your business considering a disaster recovery solution? Read Top DRaaS providers and disaster recovery services at TechRepublic next. 

Some content contributed by Drew Robb.

Jenna Phipps
Jenna Phipps
Jenna Phipps is a staff writer for Enterprise Storage Forum and eSecurity Planet, where she covers data storage, cybersecurity and the top software and hardware solutions in the storage industry. She’s also written about containerization and data management. Previously, she wrote for Webopedia. Jenna has a bachelor's degree in writing and lives in middle Tennessee.

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