Veeam today launched its first fully preconfigured software appliance. The company aims to simplify data protection without compromising flexibility and security. The solution is primarily focused on new implementations and edge locations.
Security is a central component of the new appliance. The system features built-in immutability and Zero Trust access controls. Automatic patching of both the JeOS operating system and the backup software should reduce management costs and limit security risks. More about that operating system later.
The appliance also has a modern web interface with SAML single sign-on support. This should improve the user experience while maintaining high security standards.
Veeam takes full responsibility for maintaining the underlying operating system. IT teams no longer have to worry about OS patches, configurations, or Windows OS licenses.
Maintaining flexibility
According to Veeam, the Software Appliance offers a unique feature: instant recovery to Azure. This enables organizations to quickly recover to the cloud in an automated manner. For many companies, this can be an important advantage in disaster recovery scenarios.
The solution also supports implementation on existing infrastructure. Organizations can choose between physical servers, virtual machines, or cloud environments, depending on their specific needs.
Simplicity as a starting point
The new Veeam Software Appliance combines Veeam’s backup software with a stripped-down Linux operating system, a “Just Enough OS” (JeOS). This package is delivered as bootable media (ISO) or as a virtual appliance and can run on industry-standard hardware or in a virtual machine.
The hardware-agnostic design gives organizations the flexibility to deploy on existing infrastructure or chosen platforms. This allows Veeam to avoid the hardware lock-in that often accompanies traditional appliance solutions.
The software appliance is fully preconfigured and secured. This should drastically reduce implementation times. Where organizations previously spent weeks setting up backup infrastructure, Veeam now promises out-of-the-box protection.
Market position and availability
Veeam positions the Software Appliance as a solution for new deployments, edge sites, and teams that need a secure backup solution quickly without infrastructure headaches. The company unveiled the software appliance at its VeeamON conference in April as part of V13. This is the first fully developed version.
The Veeam Software Appliance is available worldwide as an early release. This version is ideal for early adopters and new environments. Organizations can try the solution free of charge for 30 days. The early access release deviates from Veeam’s traditional approach, which is to make new products widely available after a period of intensive testing and validation.
The appliance now works with Veeam Data Platform Foundation. Support for Premium and Advanced editions is expected in the fourth quarter of this year. With this, Veeam aims to expand its addressable market and help organizations accelerate their data resilience strategies.
The software-only approach is expected to reduce the total cost of ownership compared to hardware appliance-based alternatives. For many organizations, this could be an important argument for switching.
Tip: Veeam revamps backup infrastructure with software appliance