Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• A data protection and backup podcast primer: Tips, trends, products

  Backup and recovery are important areas of focus. Take the time to peruse our collection of podcasts that detail key segments of the market and the big risks to your data. Continue Reading

• How to protect data in the cloud

  Take a look at three backup methods -- on premises, cloud to local and cloud to cloud -- and find out the pros, cons and cost of each. Continue Reading

• Best backup and recovery tools cover cyber, all-in-one

  While backup and recovery products are important, organizations should be looking to go steps further to stay safe in the face of cyberthreats. A Unitrends GM provides details. Continue Reading

• Hybrid backups reap benefits of cloud and local backup

  Organizations should have a local backup to speed restores, even if the final backup location is in the cloud. This hybrid backup approach can be useful for ransomware protection. Continue Reading

• What is the difference between cloud backup and off-site backup?

  With confusion as to how to best approach the cloud and other off-site backups, it's easy to choose the wrong approach. What option provides the best data protection? Continue Reading

• How can AI and data protection work together?

  There may be value in including artificial intelligence in backup software. Find out which vendors are already using AI to improve backup and data protection capabilities.Continue Reading

• Azure backup options: Microsoft vs. third-party products

  Backup for Microsoft Azure data is well within your reach. But which product -- or products -- should you use? The choice comes down to some important considerations.Continue Reading

• Ransomware protection tips include offline storage, user education

  Ransomware resilience continues to be important because the problem isn't going away. Explore these backup and education tips to help stay out in front of the issue.Continue Reading

• What are top SMB backup services and platforms?

  Many on-site and cloud-based services are available for small to medium-sized business backup. Pay particular attention to the deciding factors for cloud SMB backups.Continue Reading

• Cloud-based backup: Best strategies and practices

  Cloud-based backups offer opportunities and present some challenges. Develop the right strategy for your cloud data protection platform and implement best practices.Continue Reading

• Does multi-cloud backup have a future, or is it hype?

  Backing up to multiple clouds can benefit your backup and recovery in different ways. However, from other important data protection perspectives, it may not be as beneficial.Continue Reading

• Which cloud backup type is best: Incremental or differential?

  Backup types vary in size, complexity of restoration, cost and resources consumed. Is incremental or differential the right approach for your cloud backup?Continue Reading

• How do I know if cloud backup and recovery is right for my data?

  Are you ready to implement cloud backup and disaster recovery? There are a number of questions you need to answer first, from the financial to the operational.Continue Reading

• Asigra Cloud Backup Evolved 14

  Veteran data protection vendor Asigra beat out new and older competition with its Cloud Backup Evolved product, highlighted by its ability to shield backups from ransomware.Continue Reading

• Zerto IT Resilience Platform 6.0

  Zerto's rebranded IT Resilience Platform provides many cloud choices for recovery, as well as automation and orchestration. Its innovation impressed our judges.Continue Reading

• IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.2

  IBM's Spectrum Protect Plus focuses on virtual data protection. Judges praised its VMware backup, instant recovery and potential for being part of overall data management strategy.Continue Reading

• Unitrends Recovery Series Gen 8 backup appliances

  Unitrends has updated its Recovery Series backup appliance to Gen 8, with added features like machine learning-based ransomware protection and automatic recovery testing.Continue Reading

• Cohesity DataPlatform

  Cohesity's converged data management product gets updated with machine-driven capacity planning and case management alongside a centralized, simplified dashboard.Continue Reading

• Asigra TrueNAS Backup Appliance

  Asigra's integrated backup appliance combines its Cloud Backup Evolved V14 antiransomware software with iXsystems' TrueNAS hardware featuring the OpenZFS file system.Continue Reading

• Converged secondary storage changes (almost) everything

  Converged secondary storage brings important benefits but also crucial choices. Learn the advantages and what you must do, and what questions to ask, in order to reap them.Continue Reading

• ROI considerations with a hyper-converged data protection platform

  Do the benefits of a single operating environment and improved cloud support outweigh the costs associated with switching to hyper-converged data protection?Continue Reading

• Modern data backup strategy involves integration

  Integrated data backup products are varied in their scope and capability. It is important to research your options, which range from integrated appliances to secondary storage.Continue Reading

• IT storage team skills for hyper-converged secondary storage

  Is your IT storage team ready for the arrival of hyper-converged secondary storage? Learn what storage skills pros need now in order to take on this latest development in storage tech.Continue Reading

• What are 3 top data protection trends expected in 2019?

  Top trends in data protection include more comprehensive backup platforms. With data in many different places, including multiple clouds, products must cover a lot of ground.Continue Reading

• CEO details HYCU backup for hyper-converged, multi-cloud

  Simon Taylor, CEO of HYCU, discusses his company's foray into hyper-converged and multi-cloud backup and recovery. The new vendor spun off from Comtrade in 2018.Continue Reading

• Azure Backup service best practices to streamline protection

  Is Azure Backup the right protection for your organization? Explore three important considerations for using the Microsoft service to back up your data.Continue Reading

• A NetBackup appliances deep dive for your data center

  Veritas' NetBackup appliance series includes a virtual edition, cloud-focused hardware and enterprise protection. Consider capacity and network backup infrastructure when choosing the best hardware fit.Continue Reading

• Evolving data protection technologies require attention

  The data protection market is evolving. In this podcast, Arcserve's Oussama El-Hilali explains why his company is focusing on cloud and where you should direct your attention.Continue Reading

• Consider storage backup devices for your data protection strategy

  A secondary storage device could be an important element of your data protection platform. Analyze accessibility, speed, scalability and cost before jumping in.Continue Reading

• Converge data protection and management successfully

  In this handbook, we'll cover the benefits of merging data backup with management, what the market is offering and what you should look for in a unified product.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between secondary and primary storage?

  Having primary storage and secondary storage is a good way to tier your workloads and ensure solid data protection. So, what should you expect from both platforms?Continue Reading

• Preventing ransomware attacks is a top storage vendor claim

  Storage vendors advance silly and not-so-silly claims about how data backup and protection technologies are the answer to ransomware prevention and growing ransomware fatalism.Continue Reading

• Cloud-based backups aid overall data protection plan

  From cost to off-site protection, cloud backup offers many benefits. This podcast details the good, but also the bad and the ugly, when it comes to cloud.Continue Reading

• How have disk backups changed in recent years?

  Disk-based backup provides newer features that can speed and ease recovery. IT should take advantage of instant recovery and virtual lab capabilities.Continue Reading

• SaaS backup tips, trends outlined by Spanning VP

  Mat Hamlin, vice president of products at Spanning, details the importance of backing up SaaS applications and being able to restore those cloud workloads successfully.Continue Reading

• Data backup systems supplement wares with management features

  With data so important to companies, backup vendors are seeking to provide a better window into its overall lifecycle, including such elements as compliance and analytics.Continue Reading

• Multi-cloud data backup: Choices and challenges

  With many organizations putting data in more than one cloud, multi-cloud backup has become an important element of protection. Organizations should tread carefully.Continue Reading

• What's new with data protection systems? Everything

  The next backup hardware you purchase will likely come with integrated backup software. That changes the buying dynamic and complicates the decision-making process.Continue Reading

• Simplify the integrated data backup appliance buying process

  Learn how to assess your organization's needs for an integrated backup appliance and to evaluate the different data backup systems on the market to find the right fit.Continue Reading

• The evolution of backing up to tape and where it stands

  Tape backup continues to have a cost advantage over disk, and there are still some use cases where the medium makes sense and will do so for the foreseeable future.Continue Reading

• Select a data backup appliance with robust functionality

  Many leading appliance-based data backup systems include functions such as backup, archiving, disaster recovery and replication, and they can be used for test/development and analytics.Continue Reading

• GDPR backup and data protection: Five steps to implement now

  Time is running out. If you haven't yet determined how to comply with the strict GDPR data protection rules, you better get started. Storage and backup play key roles.Continue Reading

• Carbonite CEO discusses data protection threats, developments

  Mohamad Ali, president and CEO of Carbonite, reflects on his trip to the State of the Union, how his job compares to previous high-profile positions and what's next for the vendor.Continue Reading

• How should the virtualized backup market evolve?

  GDPR looms large over many data protection processes, and virtual backup is no different. Overall management is important as well, as data volume continues to grow.Continue Reading

• Exploring the leading appliance-based data backup systems

  Learn how leading integrated backup appliance systems address key considerations, including capacity and performance, and what operational benefits they offer.Continue Reading

• Igneous Systems CEO: Data protection market transforming

  Igneous is seeking to take hold of a market that's 'up for grabs.' The vendor's Hybrid Storage Cloud provides backup and archive of unstructured data, as well as data management.Continue Reading

• What data backup technologies may look like in 2028

  The data backup and recovery technologies of the future will have not only a cloud focus, but a multi-cloud focus. Compliance will also be a key element.Continue Reading

• Modern data backup technologies afford merging opportunities

  Through technologies such as copy data management, vendors are merging primary and secondary storage. There's more convergence ahead, within the likes of solid-state drives.Continue Reading

• Criteria for vetting appliance-based data backup systems

  Knowing the right questions to ask when vetting data backup appliance vendors can help ensure you select the product that will provide the most comprehensive data protection.Continue Reading

• How ransomware variants are neutralizing data backups

  The latest iterations of ransomware aim to undercut backups as an effective method for recovering from attacks. Learn how to overcome this vulnerability.Continue Reading

• Data backup appliance offers simplicity and efficiency

  Learn how an integrated backup appliance can help sites with scalability issues or no dedicated backup team streamline the design and implementation of their backup architecture.Continue Reading

• Implementing GDPR is within your organization's reach

  Many companies still aren't prepared for the GDPR as its deadline looms. The advice in this handbook can help you tackle data protection and management issues.Continue Reading

• Quorum OnQ 4.0

  Quorum added one-click recovery to the latest version of OnQ, as well as deduplication at the source and destination targets. OnQ appliances scale to 400 TB of raw storage.Continue Reading

• Are you ready to comply with GDPR requirements?

  Compliance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation isn't optional. Noncompliance could be costly and possibly disastrous. Find out what you need to know.Continue Reading

• Enterprise file sync-and-share market evolves as adoption expands

  Most EFSS products unify communications, collaboration and content management tasks well beyond the technology's initial file sync-and-share functionality.Continue Reading

• Cohesity DataPlatform 4

  Cohesity's converged data protection product, DataPlatform, integrates appliances with backup, archiving and data analytics while shrinking secondary storage's data footprint.Continue Reading

• Rubrik Cloud Data Management (Alta 4.0)

  Rubrik extends the boundaries of secondary storage, updating the latest release of its data management platform to support more hypervisors and Oracle Recovery Manager.Continue Reading

• Acronis Storage 2

  Acronis' data protection and software-defined storage product features CloudRAID and Notary with blockchain, and is used as a back end for Acronis cloud offerings.Continue Reading

• Veeam Availability Suite 9.5

  Following podium finishes the last two years, Veeam again wins over judges with its Availability Suite. The 9.5 edition added physical support, integrations and Office 365 backup.Continue Reading

• Rubrik Datos IO RecoverX 2.0 (formerly Datos IO RecoverX 2.0)

  Rubrik performed well on the innovation front with its Datos IO RecoverX 2.0. Judges praised the software's semantic deduplication and eventually consistent data backup.Continue Reading

• Build data storage reliability into a backup infrastructure

  In today's market, there are a variety of data backup options. Here's how to make sure your organization's essential data will always be there when it is needed.Continue Reading

• Veeam CEO Peter McKay details company's plans, challenges

  Peter McKay, co-CEO of Veeam Software, reflects on his year and a half with the company, the evolution of the data protection market and the vendor's future.Continue Reading

• Data backup tools: Users want to handle more data more easily

  Businesses want data backup that handles more data than ever, but with software and hardware that's easier to implement and manage than what they're already using.Continue Reading

• The flat backup, or backup-less backup, data protection option

  With snapshot-based backup techniques and copy data management, you can effectively recover lost or damaged data without relying on traditional backup software.Continue Reading

• Secure file sync and share enhanced to maintain data safety

  Cloud, on-premises and hybrid enterprise file sync-and-share services, the EFSS market, deliver corporate security, compliance and peace of mind not present in consumer services.Continue Reading

• Before you back up to the cloud, ask these big questions

  These five questions for providers will get you off on the right foot to backing up data to the cloud. Some considerations, like cost, may seem easy, but that's not the case.Continue Reading

• What are ghost imaging software benefits and drawbacks?

  Ghost imaging comes in many forms, and it has reached the cloud. It helps avoid much of the manual input of unit setup, but some vendors don't support ghosted units.Continue Reading

• How does deduplication in cloud computing work and is it beneficial?

  The deduplication process reduces the amount of data in a storage system, but dedupe in the cloud may be more valuable to the cloud provider than the customer.Continue Reading

• Flash backups: What are the best use cases, and why?

  Flash storage arrays consume less power than traditional disks, and could be used to significantly decrease an organization's backup window and appliances.Continue Reading

• Get smart with cloud backup security through 'CIA'

  Encryption is just one important element of backup data security in the cloud. Ask the right questions of your organization and your cloud provider to make sure your data is safe.Continue Reading

• Quest Rapid Recovery incremental backup software saves data in a flash

  Quest Software's block-level, incremental backup software provides in-place recovery, integration with Microsoft VSS and tight recovery point and recovery time objectives.Continue Reading

• Veritas Backup Exec 16: Two major supporting features shine

  Dig deeper into Veritas Technologies' Backup Exec 16 software, which can protect the 2016 edition of Hyper-V and support several cloud storage architectures.Continue Reading

• What are some new data deduplication techniques?

  Copy data management is just one technology utilizing recent innovations in the backup deduplication space, combatting sprawl and managing snapshots.Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about snapshotting

  Though backups are a core element of a basic data protection strategy, Jason Buffington explains why storage snapshots and replication are must-haves as well.Continue Reading

• Five data migration approaches for cloud archiving

  Administrators can take several approaches to migrating data to a cloud archive, from manual migration to using cloud-integrated storage.Continue Reading

• Veritas, Veeam top choices of data backup app users

  Data backup app users are tough critics, but Veritas NetBackup and Veeam Backup & Replication won over users in this year's Quality Awards.Continue Reading

• Test your copy data storage management knowledge

  Every organization makes copies of data, but could they be gobbling up vital amounts of storage space? Take this quiz to see if you know copy data management best practices.Continue Reading

• Tape archiving tips for a better storage strategy

  Studies show that tape archives are a comparatively cheaper method of long-term data retention. Explore how to use active archive and other storage technologies with a tape system.Continue Reading

• Use Microsoft Azure Key Vault to protect your data backups

  The Azure Key Vault can serve as data backup protection through its encryption key storage management. Explore how to set up the vault and administer it in your organization.Continue Reading

• A look at data backup techniques: Recovery-in-place

  Explore recovery-in-place technology to see if it is the right fit for your organization. But be aware that this data backup method requires some up-front planning.Continue Reading

• When does storage snapshot technology work best?

  Snapshots do not replace backup, but they can be used to enhance a data protection strategy if you use them at the right time and for the right tasks.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Azure VM backup methods beyond Azure Backup vault

  You can back up an Azure VM using several different methods. Microsoft's preferred technique is to use Azure Backup vault, but this may not be the best choice in every situation.Continue Reading

• Data protection methods: Mounting backups vs. recovering from backups

  Mounting a virtual machine image can save time, but there's a penalty to pay for the convenience. We list the questions to ask when deciding which data protection method to employ.Continue Reading

• Docker data container protection methods: Pros and cons

  While Docker data container protection methods haven't reached the level found with hypervisor-based virtual machines, these four technologies can help users with the challenge.Continue Reading

• How to choose the right snapshot method

  Snapshots and replication have become data protection tools of choice, but finding the right snapshot method for your data center can be challenging.Continue Reading

• Geocluster vs. off-site replication for VM protection

  Is a geocluster or virtual machine replication the best option for VM protection? Both approaches protect VM workloads by moving them to an alternate data center during a disaster.Continue Reading

• What is NetBackup Instant Recovery for VMware?

  Symantec's NetBackup Instant Recovery for VMware feature can provide organizations with instant recovery capabilities, but backup server power issues can be a concern.Continue Reading

• ROBO backup necessary for ample corporate data protection

  There is no universal set of rules for ROBO backup. But all corporate data protection plans need to consider it, Jason Buffington explains.Continue Reading

• Would you ever perform Oracle backups without RMAN?

  While RMAN is typically used for Oracle backups, it is possible and sometimes necessary to use a different backup method.Continue Reading

• Which vendors support Oracle RMAN backup and recovery?

  It's important to carefully analyze if a given backup software platform supports Oracle RMAN backup and recovery, as the level of support varies from vendor to vendor.Continue Reading

• What is the best archival media type?

  Many archival media types are available, including disk and cloud, but their level of reliability and storage density varies.Continue Reading

• Why does Oracle Recovery Manager matter for backup?

  Oracle Recovery Manager not only handles underlying maintenance tasks, but increases database backup and recovery performance.Continue Reading

• What is Oracle Flashback Technology and is it a form of backup?

  With Oracle Flashback Technology, users can return data to a past status without traditional backup or restoration. But it's not a backup replacement.Continue Reading

• Are there tools that help users migrate from one backup product to another?

  Backup software vendors such as CommVault offer services and/or software that assist customers with migrating from a competing product.Continue Reading

• How do you perform Docker backup?

  Few backup software providers offer Docker container backup support, but is there a way to back up Docker containers with any backup software?Continue Reading

• Tape vs. disk: Which offers the greatest energy efficiency?

  Jon Toigo looks at the factors that determine whether disk or tape is more energy-efficient.Continue Reading

• What is Data Domain Boost and what is it used for?

  SearchDataBackup Senior Site Editor Andrew Burton explains what EMC's Data Domain Boost software is designed for, how it works, and which products it supports in this Expert Answer.Continue Reading

• What are the differences between file sync and share and backup?

  George Crump of Storage Switzerland discusses mobile device data protection, comparing products that perform file synchronization to products that perform an actual backup.Continue Reading

• Backing up Linux VMs running on Microsoft Hyper-V

  Independent backup expert Brien Posey explains what you should know about backing up Linux VMs running on Microsoft Hyper-V.Continue Reading

• The truth about using snapshot technology as data protection

  Marc Staimer discusses using snapshot technology in your data protection strategy and outlines issues you should know about before opting for this approach.Continue Reading