If you are looking for an affordable and intuitive way to deploy a Backup solution, Acronis Cyber Protect Backup Advanced should be a consideration. It is exceptionally inexpensive and feature-rich compared to other offerings.
As I reviewed Backup solutions for my business, my key consideration was cost. Most start-ups do not have the initial capital to benefit from tailored Microsoft Licensing Agreements or discounted vendor volume pricing. I assessed three solutions and will explain why I chose Acronis Cyber Protect Backup Advanced. Note that I was strictly looking for Backup. Any additional features complemented by already-in-place Microsoft coverage would be “Disabled.” Nonetheless, overall, product elements were a consideration for this post.
As a Microsoft-centric professional, my first consideration is always the Microsoft stack. This is not meant to suggest that I drink the “Kool-Aid,” but more to point out that I like to invest in the topology that has paid my way since Microsoft’s inception. That is when it makes sense. That is why we have POCs: to test the waters of multiple vendors as necessary.
First, I established Acronis Cyber Protect Backup Advanced as the baseline to rule out or include competitors. The Acronis Website provided me with general pricing.
Reviews and Rationale
Microsoft
Microsoft does not offer a direct counterpart to Acronis Cyber Protect Backup Advanced, which integrates backup and cybersecurity features into a single solution. However, Microsoft provides several tools and services that, when combined, can offer a comprehensive backup and protection strategy:
- Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM): This enterprise-grade solution offers continuous data protection and recovery for Microsoft workloads like Exchange, SQL Server, and SharePoint and virtual environments like Hyper-V. It supports disk, tape, and cloud backups.
- Azure Backup: A cloud-based backup service that safeguards on-premises and cloud data. It supports application-consistent backups for Windows and Linux virtual machines, SQL Server databases, and Azure file shares.
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: While not a backup solution, this service provides advanced threat protection, helping to prevent, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats.
By integrating these Microsoft services, you can achieve functionality comparable to Acronis Cyber Protect Backup Advanced. However, this approach may involve managing multiple interfaces and configurations, not to mention the stacked product costs.
Veeam
The Veeam Data Platform offers comprehensive data protection and management for virtual, physical, and cloud-based workloads and is recognized as a strong alternative to Acronis. However, the viable solution, which includes a Management Server riding on a Windows Server OS ($$$$$), becomes prohibitive when priced out.
Summary
Microsoft does not provide a single solution mirroring all the features of Acronis Cyber Protect Backup Advanced; combining its services or a third-party Veeam alternative can achieve similar outcomes. In the end, neither Microsoft nor Veeam was the frugal choice for my business.
Acronis Cyber Protect Backup Advanced offers a Cloud-based Management Server that eliminates the Windows OS expense and additional layers of management and patching. Those cost savings and an attractive pricing model made this choice a no-brainer.
Steve Labeau – Principal Consultant / Blogger
