Losing critical company data or suffering extended outages can instantly jeopardize businesses large and small. Yet many march ahead blindly, entrusting data protection to outdated systems or none at all!
As an industry veteran, I assure you robust backup is not optional. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. When (not if) disaster strikes, you’ll wish you had a sound strategy in place.
I know, sorting through the maze of enterprise backup solutions is frustrating. Terms like RTO, RPO, snapshots, and air-gapped backups make your head spin!
That’s precisely why I created this guide examining key considerations and distilling 12 recommended options to simplify your decision process.
Think of it as your insider’s handbook for navigating the critical world of enterprise data protection with clarity and confidence…
Why Backup Matters
Let‘s quickly level-set on basics first. As your company grows, so does your data. Business apps, databases, file shares along with unstructured data are ballooning exponentially.
This data powers your business. Losing access equates to productivity and revenue loss. Without the ability to restore from backup, outages spanning hours or days are inevitable following destructive events like:
- Ransomware attacks
- Malicious insiders
- Software bugs
- Hardware failures
- Natural disasters
- Human errors
I reference real-world cases later where companies lacking adequate backup solutions faced seven-figure losses and even bankruptcy!
Creating a Sound Backup Strategy
A sound backup strategy is rooted in business requirements and Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO):
- RTO – The maximum tolerable length of time before an application or system must be restored post-outage.
- RPO – The maximum permissible period since the last recoverable backup.
Analyzing RTOs/RPOs for essential systems guides smarter decisions tailoring backup frequency, retention duration and storage planning.
With RTOs/RPOs established, a modern backup solution should offer:
- Application and crash consistent backups preserving integrity and usability
- Frequent snapshot-based backups for more recovery points
- Multiple on-prem and cloud targets enabling hybrid models not "all eggs in one basket"
- Retention policies aligning to compliance mandates
- Reliable, quick restores to meet RTO demands
- Ransomware protection via immutable backups and air-gapped copies
Solutions delivering these capabilities drive resilience and business continuity when adversity strikes.
Now let‘s explore key backup solution categories and terminology you‘ll encounter…
Backup Solution Types and Target Destinations
While solutions vary wildly, most serve one of three primary use cases:
Disk Image Backups
Disk image solutions like Dell EMC Avamar capture entire server disk volumes or client endpoints as periodic point-in-time snapshots. Images preserve the full system state enabling bare-metal restores.
File and Folder Backup
Solutions like Druva Phoenix protect enterprise file shares and folders. They index content allowing granular, quick restoration of individual files.
Application-Aware Backups
These specialized products like Veeam, Commvault, or Rubrik backup full application data sets across databases, mail systems and custom apps.
Most target one of three destinations:
- A local backup server
- Deduplicating disk appliances like Exagrid
- The cloud (private, public or hybrid)
Solutions may also replicate backups across multiple targets for redundancy and faster disaster recovery.
Now that you‘ve got the lay of the land, let‘s examine top solutions for on-prem, hybrid cloud, and SaaS environments…
The 12 Best Enterprise Backup Solutions
Below I highlight 12 enterprise-grade solutions fitting various deployment models, scales and specializations:
1. Veeam Backup and Replication
Overview – The dominant player in VM backup, Veeam provides unmatched speed, reliability and versatility protecting virtualized environments.
Capabilities
- Agentless VM backup/recovery
- vSphere and Hyper-V support
- Integration with NAS, cloud and tape
- Built-in replication for DR
- Immutable backups guarding against ransomware
Use Cases – IT teams with VM-heavy environments appreciate Veeam’s efficient, fast protection specifically designed for virtual machines.
2. Commvault Complete Backup and Recovery
Overview – Commvault consolidates backup, recovery and data management in a unified, scalable solution protecting cloud apps, VMs, databases and more.
Capabilities
- Broad workload support
- Automated policy-driven backup
- Analytics dashboards
- Copy data management
Use Cases – Large, complex IT environments like managed service providers benefit from Commvault’s breadth and enterprise-grade versatility.
3. Cohesity DataProtect
Overview – Cohesity radically consolidates fragmented secondary data silos onto a web-scale platform simplifying management.
Capabilities
- Converged backups, files, objects on one cluster
- Helios AI/ML umbrella management
- pay-as-you-go pricing model
- Support for modern complex envs
Use Cases – Enterprise IT architects looking to massively simplify infrastructure love Cohesity’s unique converged approach.
4. Druva Phoenix
Overview – Druva Phoenix offers a SaaS-based, cloud-native solution protecting edge, data center and cloud workloads.
Capabilities
- Unified dashboard
- Integrated data governance
- AWS/Azure cloud support
- Air-gapped cloud vault
Use Cases – Mid to large enterprises desiring a born-in-the-cloud approach with air-tight cyber resilience features.
5. Dell EMC Avamar
Overview – Avamar provides versatile deployment models, integration, deduplication and scalability enterprise IT teams demand.
Capabilities
- Client and agent-based backups
- 100:1 deduplication ratios
- Integration with Data Domain and PowerProtect DD
- On-prem, cloud and hybrid models
Use Cases – Companies that need powerful traditional backup capabilities augmented via powerful integrated data reduction.
6. Vembu BDR Suite
Overview – Vembu BDR offers an affordable, flexible solution specifically tailored for small businesses and resource-constrained IT teams.
Capabilities
- Image-based backup/recovery
- Direct-to-cloud and on-prem options
- Application-aware plugins
- Free 60-day trial available
Use Cases – Cost-conscious small/mid-sized companies want robust protection without excessive licensing fees or complexity.
7. CloudAlly SaaS Backup
Overview – CloudAlly furnishes automated, unlimited cloud-to-cloud backups protecting data within SaaS applications.
Capabilities
- Backs up Google Workspace, Office 365, Salesforce, Box + more
- Geographically distributed backups
- Unlimited data retention
- Handy virtual air gap capability
Use Cases – Any business extensively leveraging SaaS apps needs this additional safety net ensuring recoverability.
8. MSP360 Managed Backup
Overview – MSP360 Managed Backup features cloud-to-cloud backups tailored specifically for managed IT providers backing up client SaaS applications.
Capabilities
- Central dashboard
- MSP-friendly pricing model
- Unlimited storage and retention
- SOC-2 compliant infrastructure
Use Cases – Designed expressly for MSPs managing data protection across books of cloud-reliant small business clients.
9. Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup
Overview – Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup replicates and consolidates Office 365 data within a secure, searchable cloud-based vault.
Capabilities
- Backs up Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive
- PST management and migration
- Fast granular search for eDiscovery
- Centralized compliance featuring
Use Cases – Companies extensively using Office 365/M365 with concerns around data sprawl, retention and recoverability.
10. Asigra TrueNAS Backup Appliance
Overview – Asigra TrueNAS packages robust cloud backup software with high-performance ZFS NAS storage for a turnkey physical appliance.
Capabilities
- Optimized backup data storage
- Agentless architecture
- Ransomware detection
- Effortless scale-out backups
Use Cases – Midmarket companies wanting fast deployment of on-site backup capabilities with minimal TCO.
11. Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud
Overview – Acronis furnishes complete, integrated data protection merging backup with cybersecurity tools like malware detection.
Capabilities
- Backs up 50+ platforms
- Blockchain-based authentication
- integrated anti-ransomware
- intuitive web UI
Use Cases – Businesses of all sizes needing a user-friendly “set and forget” hybrid cloud backup solution.
12. Rewind Backup
Overview – Rewind delivers backup, restore and copy capabilities for indispensable SaaS applications businesses rely on.
Capabilities
- Rewind for Shopify, Slack, Gmail + more
- Point-in-time comparison
- Account migrations
- Version control-like features
Use Cases – Companies extensively using today’s essential cloud business apps seeking additional data protection and visibility.
As you can see, solutions abound fitting specific scales, specializations and recovery demands.
Now, let‘s crystallize criteria guiding your optimal backup choice…
Choosing the Right Backup Solution
While backup discussions skew technical, decisions ultimately center around business risks:
- Can you stomach potential data loss or prolonged outages from today‘s mounting threats?
- Are you gambling your company’s survival by cutting corners on protection?
With business impact clarity, solution evaluations come down to 3 main dimensions…
Deployment Model
Your infrastructure composition dictates suitable options:
- Virtual environments – Veeam Avamar, Rubrik
- Physical systems – Commvault, Dell EMC Avamar
- Cloud apps – Druva, CloudAlly, MSP360
- Hybrid models – Cohesity, Acronis, Asigra
Solutions must align to the environments they protect.
Scale
Larger companies need scalable options like Rubrik and Commvault with extensive platform support.
More streamlined solutions like CloudAlly and Vembu better serve lower complexity needs.
Recovery Requirements
If losing over 24 hours of data creates major headaches, pursue disk-based backups with shorter RPOs.
For less urgent RTOs, tape libraries or detached air-gapped cloud copies work.
Solutions must satisfy RTO/RPO needs around your must-have systems.
Final Thoughts
I know it’s uncomfortable confronting data protection gaps when operations hum along smoothly day-to-day.
But "winging it" based on outdated systems or assumptions courts disaster.
Use this guide to objectively evaluate if your current backup model measurably mitigates business risks.
If uncertainties or doubts creep in, research options aligned to your environment and recovery requirements.
Most crucially, quantify the hard and soft dollar damage from potential extended outages. This reveals if current solutions warrant upgrade investments.
No one enjoys conversations about insurance or prenuptials. But avoiding awkward topics heightens vulnerability!
