Veeam launches enhanced backup solution for Microsoft 365

Veeam Software has announced the release of Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 v8, a new version of its backup solution for the widely-used Microsoft 365 platform.

According to Veeam, the updated version will deliver more comprehensive and flexible immutability for Microsoft 365 data to ensure its resilience. This strategy is configured to prevent any potential changes or deletions, thus maintaining the original integrity of the backup data.

John Jester, Chief Revenue Officer at Veeam, commented on the significance of the release: "Losing the critical data, files, and communications housed in Microsoft 365 is a catastrophic scenario for any organisation. That's why we're protecting over 21 million users today, more than any other vendor in the market, making Veeam the number one data resilience solution for Microsoft 365." Jester further highlighted that Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 v8 is designed to ensure organisations have uninterrupted access to essential business information, despite the ongoing threats of cyber attacks and data disruptions.

The new version introduces several pivotal features, including comprehensive immutability. This feature underscores the ability to create immutable backups, a measure intended to provide total defence for organisational backups. These immutable backups can be stored on various object storage platforms such as Azure Blob Storage, Amazon S3, IBM Cloud Object Storage, and other S3-compatible storage. The objective is to give organisations the flexibility to choose the storage solutions that best fit their needs.

Additionally, Veeam has implemented an architectural update known as Veeam Proxy Pools, aimed at enhancing enterprise-scale performance and efficiency. By distributing backup traffic across multiple proxies, this feature facilitates better backup performance and provides an efficient solution for scaling large environments, particularly those with tens of thousands of users. This update seeks to avoid throttling, thereby optimising the backup process.

In response to customer requests, Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 v8 has expanded its feature set to include new support options. These enhancements incorporate the use of Linux-based backup proxies, which could offer a more cost-effective solution for organisations. Moreover, the platform now supports both private and shared Microsoft Teams channels, broadening the scope of its protection for this essential communication and collaboration tool.

Tony Palmer from TechTargets Enterprise Strategy Group noted the importance of this update: "Protecting business-critical data residing in Microsoft 365 is vital to organisations of all sizes. Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 has consistently provided comprehensive protection across all of Microsoft 365. With each new version, Veeam has introduced extensive new security measures, and version 8 is no different."

Patrick Gebhard, System Engineer Data Center and Team Lead Network at FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, expressed confidence in the new release: "We have been counting on and trusting Veeam for years. One of the main reasons for this is that Veeam is continuously evolving and leads in the market when it comes to new features. With the backup immutability delivered in Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 v8, we see further evidence of Veeam's dedication to enhancing security layers across Microsoft 365 data protection."

Matthew Prieto, Director of Infrastructure and Security at California Dairies, Inc, was also enthusiastic about the update: "We already felt confident with Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365, and now with v8 and the inclusion of Linux proxies, Proxy Pools, and improved immutability, we are looking forward to implementing further resilience and security."

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 v8 aims to provide a more robust solution to the growing need for resilient and secure data backups, supporting organisations in ensuring business continuity and protecting critical data from cyber threats and disruptions.