Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments - CommVault
Transcript of Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments - CommVault
1 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
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Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments Be prepared for the future. Protect your past.
2 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Backup is becoming more complex. In addition to protecting physical
Windows and UNIX servers, solutions must handle virtual environments and
efficiently manage growing volumes of data. Choose the software that will
meet your backup and restore objectives at the lowest possible cost.
Introduction
Mid-sized to large enterprises whose environments
combine x86 platforms with Reduced Instruction Set
Computing (RISC)-based platforms running a UNIX-
based system (e.g. IBM AIX or HP-UX), or a
mainframe architecture.
CIOs, IT Managers, and System Admins that need to
select a solution for backup.
Organizations that require a comprehensive, well-
supported backup solution that balances affordability
and effectiveness.
This Research Is Designed For: This Research Will Help You:
Understand what’s new in the heterogeneous backup
software market.
Evaluate heterogeneous backup software vendors and
products for your enterprise needs.
Determine which products are most appropriate for
particular use cases and scenarios.
Create a shortlist of heterogeneous backup software
vendors, and select which is the best fit.
• Backing up virtual infrastructure is a growing concern across a range of enterprise sizes. All vendors
reviewed support backup of VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V-based virtual machines. For more detailed
information on virtual environment backup, see Vendor Landscape: Virtual Backup Software.
3 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Executive Summary
Champions
• CommVault’s comprehensive set of features, including broad
support for array and cloud storage targets as well as strong
deduplication capabilities, sets it apart from many competitors.
• IBM is a champion for its strong vendor scores and enhanced
data reduction features.
• Symantec maintains a lock on the backup software market
share thanks to its flexible deployment options and a focus on
data restoration features.
Value Award
• CA Technologies offers standout cloud support and a strong
ease-of-use factor with an affordable price point relative to its
competitors.
Trend Setter Award
• CommVault leverages a native Representational State Transfer
(REST)/HTTP interface to offer best-in-class support for third-
party cloud storage providers, complementing its broad support
for physical storage targets.
• It pays to know your needs. Some
vendors intend for their backup software to
integrate with primary storage or disk
backup targets; others focus on the
software. Avoid overpaying for more than
you need; buy according to specific
requirements and existing investments.
• Recovery time is money. While continuous
data protection sounds good, it is expensive
and probably overkill for most data. Carefully
consider your Recovery Time Objectives
(RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives
(RPO), and realistically evaluate what you
can afford.
• Backup is a future-oriented process. Your
backup solution needs to accommodate
future data requirements as well as probable
infrastructure changes down the road. Fit
your solution to your long-term data
management strategy.
Info-Tech Insight
Info-Tech evaluated nine competitors in the Heterogeneous Backup
Software market, including the following notable performers:
4 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Market Overview
• Many leading vendors originated in the late 1980s or
early 1990s, focused on backing up non-Windows
mainframe computers. As Windows-specific backup
solutions proliferated in the 1990s, enterprise providers
expanded to protect x86-based servers and desktops.
• Backup software originally focused on backing up data
from internal hard drives to internal and external tape
drives and libraries, but now includes networked storage
for the host and target and cloud storage. Tape
continues to play an important role as a secondary or
tertiary target.
• Previously discrete backup solutions for physical and
virtual machines are consolidating, making it possible to
deploy a single solution for a mixed physical and virtual
environment.
• Data sprawl has made it essential for solutions to
efficiently manage and reduce data when possible, with
compression and data deduplication technology.
• Backup management is data management.
CommVault understands backup as being part of a
larger data management strategy, rather than a discrete
solution. Other vendors are following suit, touting the
data discovery capabilities of their backup software.
• Data gets edgy. More critical data than ever is being
stored on laptops, desktops, and mobile devices. EMC
and CommVault offer solutions that protect this data to
ensure that continuity, recovery, and compliance needs
are met, even on the edge.
• Flexibility is becoming vital. As the market matures,
vendors begin to differentiate themselves by
accommodating variable client scenarios. Modular sales
models allow businesses to tailor a backup solution
without overpaying for unnecessary advanced features
or capacity. Pricing has also evolved, with vendors
offering capacity-based licensing alongside familiar per-
host licensing options.
How it got here Where it’s going
Backup isn’t just about protecting the past; it’s equally about preparing for the future. Legacy backup
solutions are ill-equipped to deal with the triple threat posed by virtualization, migration to the cloud, and
data sprawl. Today, vendors are working to provide solutions that meet current needs but are flexible
enough to respond to future challenges.
5 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Heterogeneous Backup Software vendor selection / knock-out criteria: market share, mind share, and platform coverage
• Acronis. While relatively new on the scene, Acronis has positioned itself as an up-and-coming player in the small to
mid-market range with its Acronis Backup & Recovery software.
• CA Technologies’ ARCserve has historically held a strong market share in Japan. Their ARCserve backup software
has a long history, going back as far as 1982.
• CommVault has been doggedly pursuing market and mind share with Simpana 9, a full-featured product notable for its
usability and integration capabilities.
• EMC continues to maintain a strong market share among mid- to large-sized enterprises with its NetWorker and Avamar
software and its Data Domain appliances. Lately, EMC has been making in-roads into cloud storage, as well.
• FalconStor. Though FalconStor is primarily focused on backup appliances, its Continuous Data Protector Virtual
Appliance is a software solution that is compatible with a variety of storage providers and targeted at small enterprises.
• HP. A cost-effective solution, HP’s Data Protector boasts big savings and strong integration with HP storage hardware.
• IBM. Second in market share, IBM’s Tivoli Storage Manager is a scalable product that plays well in large enterprise
environments.
• Syncsort has carved itself a niche in the market by partnering with NetApp and leveraging its data protection
capabilities.
• Symantec, a market leader with its NetBackup software is a full-featured, flexible solution designed to enhance the
client’s experience, recovering data quickly and effectively.
Included in this Vendor Landscape:
• Formerly advanced features, such as data encryption and compression are now standard. Info-Tech identified vendors
that provide heterogeneous IT environments with robust, advanced features, such as deduplication and array integration.
• For this Vendor Landscape, Info-Tech focuses on vendors that offer broad capabilities across multiple platforms and that
have a strong market presence and/or reputational presence among mid-sized and large enterprises.
6 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Criteria Weighting:
Heterogeneous Backup Software criteria & weighting factors
20%
20%
30%
30%
50%
50%
Vendor is committed to the space and has a
future product and portfolio roadmap. Strategy
Vendor offers global coverage and is able to sell
and provide post-sales support. Reach
Vendor is profitable, knowledgeable, and will be
around for the long-term. Viability
Vendor channel strategy is appropriate and the
channels themselves are strong. Channel
The three-year TCO of the solution is
economical. Affordability
Product supports many platforms including
Windows, Linux, UNIX, and major hypervisors. Architecture
The solution’s dashboard and reporting tools are
intuitive and easy to use. Usability
The solution provides basic
and advanced feature/functionality. Features
30%
35%
10%
25%
Features Usability
Architecture Affordability
Product
Vendor
Viability Strategy
Channel Reach
Product Evaluation Criteria
Vendor Evaluation Criteria
7 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Acronis
CA Technologie
s
CommVault
EMC
Falconstor
HP
IBM
SyncSort NSB
Symantec
Acronis
CA Technologie
s
CommVault
EMC
Falconstor
HP
IBM
NetApp Synscsort
Symantec
For an explanation of how the Info-Tech Vendor Landscape is created, see Information Presentation – Vendor Landscape in the Appendix.
The Info-Tech Vendor Landscape:
The Info-Tech Heterogeneous Backup Software Vendor Landscape
Champions receive high scores for most evaluation
criteria and offer excellent value. They have a strong
market presence and are usually the trend setters
for the industry.
Market Pillars are established players with very
strong vendor credentials, but with more average
product scores.
Innovators have demonstrated innovative product
strengths that act as their competitive advantage in
appealing to niche segments of the market.
Emerging Players are newer vendors who are
starting to gain a foothold in the marketplace. They
balance product and vendor attributes, though score
lower relative to market Champions.
The Zones of the Landscape
8 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
=Exemplary =Good =Adequate =Inadequate =Poor
Balance individual strengths to find the best fit for your enterprise
HP *
CommVault
CA Technologies
EMC *
FalconStor
Acronis
IBM
Symantec *
Syncsort
Legend
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
For an explanation of how the Info-Tech Harvey Balls are calculated, see Information Presentation – Criteria Scores (Harvey Balls) in the Appendix.
* The vendor declined to provide pricing and publically available pricing could not be found.
9 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
What is a Value Score?
The Info-Tech Heterogeneous Backup Software Value Index
The Value Score indexes each vendor’s
product offering and business strength
relative to their price point. It does
not indicate vendor ranking.
Vendors that score high offer more bang-for-
the-buck (e.g. features, usability, stability,
etc.) than the average vendor, while the
inverse is true for those that score lower.
Price-conscious enterprises may wish to give
the Value Score more consideration than
those who are more focused on specific
vendor/product attributes.
On a relative basis, CA Technologies
maintained the highest Info-Tech Value
ScoreTM of the vendor group. Vendors
were indexed against CA Technologies’
performance to provide a complete,
relative view of their product offerings.
For an explanation of how the Info-Tech Value Index is calculated, see Information Presentation – Value Index in the Appendix.
For an explanation of how Price is determined, see Information Presentation – Price Evaluation in the Appendix.
* The vendor declined to provide pricing and
publicly available pricing could not be found
10 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Table Stakes represent the minimum standard; without these, a product doesn’t even get reviewed
If Table Stakes are all you need from your Heterogeneous Backup Software solution, the only true
differentiator for the organization is price. Otherwise, dig deeper to find the best price to value for your
needs.
The products assessed in this Vendor
LandscapeTM meet, at the very least, the
requirements outlined as Table Stakes.
Many of the vendors go above and beyond the
outlined Table Stakes, some even do so in
multiple categories. This section aims to
highlight the products’ capabilities in excess
of the criteria listed here.
The Table Stakes What Does This Mean?
App-specific agents exist to handle requirements for
target workloads, such as Microsoft Exchange,
SharePoint, or SQL.
Application
Awareness
Computer systems can be restored from bare metal,
with no requirement of a previously installed
operating system or software.
Bare Metal
Restore
Data can be encrypted prior to transmission across
the LAN. Encryption
Data can be compressed at the client or media agent
for overall data reduction. Compression
Machines at the edge of the environment (i.e.
desktops, laptops) can be backed up.
Edge Machine
Backup
What it is: Feature
Solution can integrate with Volume Shadow Copy
Services (VSS)-certified arrays for snapshots of
Microsoft apps.
VSS-based array
support
11 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Advanced Features are the capabilities that allow for granular market differentiation
Advanced Features
Info-Tech scored each vendor’s features
offering as a summation of their individual
scores across the listed advanced features.
Vendors were given 1 point for each feature
the product inherently provided. Some
categories were scored on a more granular
scale with vendors receiving half points.
Scoring Methodology
Redundant data at separate backup nodes (e.g.
targets) is removed, leaving a single copy.
Global
deduplication
Deduplicated data can be backed up to and restored
from tape media.
Deduplication to
tape
Redundant data is removed either as it is being
written to disk or after data has been written.
Target
deduplication
Redundant data is removed at the source, before
transmission to the backup target.
Source-based
deduplication
Data can be backed up to a supported third-party
public or vendor-provided cloud environment. Cloud integration
Solution is capable of using snapshot features from
major storage array products beyond VSS. Array integration
VMs are automatically discovered and protected as
they move, change, or come online.
Advanced VM file
backup
Data can be backed up to and restored from tape
media. Backup to tape
Solution provides full support for end users to
perform self-service backup and restoration of data.
End-user self
service
Data changes are continuously tracked, enabling
true any-point-in-time recovery.
Continuous data
protection
What we looked for: Feature
For an explanation of how Advanced Features are determined, see Information Presentation – Feature Ranks (Stop Lights) in the Appendix.
12 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Each vendor offers a different feature set; concentrate on what your organization needs
HP
CommVault
CA Technologies
EMC
FalconStor
Acronis
IBM
Symantec
Syncsort
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced
VM file
protection
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Evaluated Features
=Feature Absent =Feature partially present/pending =Feature fully present Legend
For an explanation of how Advanced Features are determined, see Information Presentation – Feature Ranks (Stop Lights) in the Appendix.
13 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Array integration allows companies to take advantage of array-based
snapshots, simplifying backup across the environment.
Select a vendor that will integrate well with any existing array-based storage infrastructure
Why Scenarios?
In reviewing the products included
in each Vendor LandscapeTM ,
certain use-cases come to the
forefront. Whether those use-cases
are defined by applicability in
certain locations, relevance for
certain industries, or as strengths in
delivering a specific capability, Info-
Tech recognizes those use-cases
as Scenarios, and calls attention to
them where they exist.
3 2
Array Integration 1 Support for arrays from multiple vendors
Support for proprietary arrays and VSS arrays
Support for Windows VSS-certified arrays only
For an explanation of how Scenarios are determined, see Information Presentation – Scenarios in the Appendix.
14 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Cloud integration can improve disaster recovery capabilities as well as
provide agile scalability for your backup solution.
Select a vendor that will integrate well with cloud providers, providing a flexible backup target for storage and archiving
Why Scenarios?
In reviewing the products included
in each Vendor LandscapeTM ,
certain use-cases come to the
forefront. Whether those use-cases
are defined by applicability in
certain locations, relevance for
certain industries, or as strengths in
delivering a specific capability, Info-
Tech recognizes those use-cases
as Scenarios, and calls attention to
them where they exist.
3
1
Cloud Support 2 Proprietary Cloud Storage
Microsoft Azure
Amazon Web Services
For an explanation of how Scenarios are determined, see Information Presentation – Scenarios in the Appendix.
CA Technologies
also supports
Fujitsu Global
Cloud and
Eucalyptus
CommVault also
supports EMC
Atmos, Caringo,
Mezeo, and
Nirvanix
Symantec also
supports AT&T
Synaptic,
Nirvanix, and
RackSpace
15 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Organizations with limited IT resources stand to benefit from backup
solutions with enhanced usability features.
Choose a solution that simplifies backup administration with a unified console and helpful tools
Why Scenarios?
In reviewing the products included
in each Vendor LandscapeTM ,
certain use-cases come to the
forefront. Whether those use-cases
are defined by applicability in
certain locations, relevance for
certain industries, or as strengths in
delivering a specific capability, Info-
Tech recognizes those use-cases
as Scenarios, and calls attention to
them where they exist.
Exemplary Performers
CA Technologies offers a centralized management
interface, including a dashboard with Storage
Resource Management (SRM) reporting and
infrastructure visualization tools.
CommVault’s unified code base makes it easy to
manage the entire infrastructure from one pane of
glass. Simpana 9 also includes automatic discovery
and deployment options, remote operations services,
and migration tools.
2 1
Ease of Use 3
For an explanation of how Scenarios are determined, see Information Presentation – Scenarios in the Appendix.
Symantec allows administrators to mange their
backups from a single console for physical and virtual
global data. NetBackup features a number of
automation tools to simplify backup and restore
operations.
16 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
3 year TCO for this solution falls into pricing
tier 7, between $100,000 and $250,000
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
CommVault Simpana 9
1200+
Oceanport, NJ
Commvault.com
1996
NASDAQ: CVLT
Champion
$1 $1M+
• Simpana 9 offers enhanced data reduction features with an
easy-to-use interface. Expect CommVault to continue to expand
its market and mind share on the back of easy migration tools
and new, more flexible pricing options.
Overview
• Integrates well with a range of third-party array storage
providers, including Dell, EMC, IBM, HDS, HP, NetApp, and
Nimble Storage, for script-free snapshot control.
• Comprehensive feature package is ready to handle just about
any backup scenario put before it.
• Deduplication Accelerated Streaming Hash capabilities enable
backup of deduplicated data to a range of secondary disk
targets, including disk, tape, and the Cloud for efficient
archiving.
Strengths
• Because CommVault does not provide backup hardware,
support can require multiple points of contact, complicating
troubleshooting and service.
• CommVault’s roots in the mid-market have raised questions
regarding its ability to scale into the enterprise space, where
performance and scalability requirements are most stringent.
Challenges
CommVault Simpana 9 is a full-featured product that fits into a variety of use-case scenarios
Pricing provided by vendor
17 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
86 2nd out of 9
Value Index
Vendor Landscape
CommVault has positioned itself as a market leader with a strong slate of features and deployment options
Info-Tech Recommends:
CommVault’s Simpana capably handles physical and virtual heterogeneous environments from a single
pane of glass, and is a strong option for mid-sized to large enterprises.
Supported Architectures Include:
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced
VM file
protection
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Features
18 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
3 year TCO for this solution falls into pricing
tier 7, between $100,000 and $250,000
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager
433,362
Armonk, NY
IBM.com
1911
NYSE: IBM
IBM’s Tivoli Storage Manager stands apart for its scalability
Champion • IBM continues to occupy a strong position in the backup sector.
Its feature-rich Tivoli family of products offers a variety of
options, bolstered by IBM’s commitment to improving usability.
Overview
• Broad virtual hypervisor support, including VMware ESX/ESXi,
Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer.
• Excellent scalability: each Tivoli Storage Manager server is
capable of managing as many as four billion data objects.
• Combination of incremental backups with source- and target-
based deduplication effectively reduces overall data storage
requirements.
• Leverages IBM Cognos software to enhance reporting and
monitoring capabilities.
Strengths
• Snapshots from Microsoft apps are supported on any VSS-
complaint hardware, while on non-Windows systems, non-IBM
hardware requires Storage Area Network (SAN) Volume
Controller.
• Incremental forever backup model is efficient, but can lead to
slower restore times.
• True continuous data protection requires the purchase of a
complementary product.
Challenges
$1 $1M+
Pricing provided by vendor
19 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
79 4th out of 9
Value Index
Vendor Landscape
A pioneer in disk-to-disk backup, IBM offers broad virtual hypervisor support
Features
Info-Tech Recommends:
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager continues to be a stalwart player in enterprise backup, consolidating its
position with superior scalability and incremental backup features.
Supported Architectures Include:
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced VM
file backup
Backup
to Tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
20 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
Symantec NetBackup
17,000+
Mountain View, CA
Symantec.com
1982
NASDAQ: SYMC
Champion
The vendor declined to provide pricing, and
publicly available pricing could not be found
$1 $1M+
• Symantec is the largest provider of security software in the
world and a market-share leader in the backup software market,
with a broader portfolio, which includes integrated archiving,
deduplication, and virtual machine protection.
Overview
• Excellent virtual machine support, with automated protection
and recovery of entire VMs as well as granular recovery of files,
databases, or individual database items.
• NetBackup’s unified console and integration with Symantec
backup appliances simplifies deployment, management,
maintenance, and monitoring processes.
• OpenStorage Initiative Application Programming Interface (API)
allows NetBackup to integrate with a variety of storage targets,
including EMC, ExaGrid, Fujitsu, HP, and IBM arrays.
Strengths
• While Symantec offers a broad portfolio of solutions, integration
across its product family is not as strong a point as with some
competitors.
• Symantec has discontinued its Real Time Continuous Data
Protection (CDP) software, focusing instead on Replication
Director and NetBackup Accelerator. It feels these are more
cost-effective approaches to aggressive RPOs and RTOs.
Challenges
Symantec unites exceptional virtual and physical machine protection features with convenient management tools
21 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape
Symantec focuses on flexibility with a product that can adapt to a wide variety of infrastructure scenarios
Features
Info-Tech Recommends:
With exceptional hardware support, a comprehensive feature set, and strong virtual environment
protection, Symantec belongs on most enterprises’ shortlists.
Supported Architectures Include:
N/A Value Index
The vendor declined to provide pricing,
and publicly available pricing
could not be found
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced VM
file backup
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
22 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
EMC’s family of backup products combines superior deduplication ratios with robust VMware support
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
NetWorker 8
53,500
Hopkinton, MA
EMC.com
1979
NYSE: EMC
Market Pillar
The vendor declined to provide pricing, and
publicly available pricing could not be found
$1 $1M+
• EMC offers a strong portfolio of hardware and software
solutions for backup and recovery, including NetWorker and
Avamar software and Data Domain appliances, which become
especially powerful when used in concert with one another.
Overview
Strengths
• NetWorker depends on integration with other EMC backup
products for many advanced features, including deduplication
and cloud integration. This adds complexity in terms of
deploying and managing the solution.
• Integration with Data Domain appliances means that upgrading
storage capacity down the line can be costly.
Challenges
• Revised backup architecture distributes workloads across
several NetWorker Storage Nodes to manage bottlenecks.
• Client Direct feature allows backups to send data directly to
backup targets without going through an intermediate node,
reducing backup times.
• Supports continuous data protection for enterprises that require
an aggressive RPO.
• Integrates well across backup and storage product lines for
companies that already deploy Data Domain appliances.
23 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape
NetWorker works best when paired with EMC Avamar and EMC Data Domain appliances
Features
Info-Tech Recommends:
EMC’s 2012 revision to its NetWorker line adds a number of new features and performance
enhancements that make it worth a second look, especially for larger enterprises that can integrate it
with EMC’s complementary Data Domain appliances.
Supported Architectures Include:
N/A Value Index
The vendor declined to provide pricing,
and publicly available pricing
could not be found
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced VM
file backup
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
24 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
HP Data Protector
349,600
Palo Alto, CA
HP.com
1939
NYSE: HPQ
Market Pillar
The vendor declined to provide pricing, and
publicly available pricing could not be found
$1 $1M+
• HP is a formidable desktop, server, and storage company with a
strong lineup of consolidated network storage systems. They
offer hardware with deduplication options, cloud support, and a
respectable backup software solution in Data Protector.
Overview
• Data Protector integrates well with HP hardware, adding
snapshot functionality with HP 3Par, EVA, or P9000 arrays, and
deduplication when paired with a StoreOnce D2D system.
• Data Protector is compatible with a variety of client
architectures, including various Windows, UNIX, and Linux
distributions.
• HP is an affordable option for budget-conscious departments,
and claims they can save customers up to 70% in TCO over
comparable solutions.
Strengths
• Target deduplication is not natively supported, relying on
integration with complementary HP StoreOnce appliances.
• Edge desktops and laptops can be backed up; however,
processes must be initiated by an administrator, potentially
increasing IT workloads.
• HP does not offer continuous data protection as a feature of,
nor as an add-on to, its Data Protector solution.
Challenges
HP offers low-cost backup software with strong HP hardware integration
25 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape
Data Protector supports for a variety of client architectures, but relies on StoreOnce hardware for deduplication
Features
Info-Tech Recommends:
HP offers robust array and virtual machine support, but to unlock its full potential it must be integrated
with a StoreOnce appliance.
Supported Architectures Include:
N/A Value Index
The vendor declined to provide pricing,
and publicly available pricing
could not be found
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced VM
file backup
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
26 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
ARCserve Backup r16
14,000
Islandia, NY
CA.com
1976
NASDAQ: CA
Innovator
3 year TCO for this solution falls into pricing
tier 6, between $50,000 and $100,000
$1 $1M+
Pricing solicited from public sources
CA Technologies offers an affordable solution with flexible deployment and purchasing options
• CA Technologies delivers a family of products targeted at small
to mid-sized clients. Available as standalone products or in
combination as a unified solution, CA provides customers with
flexible solutions for heterogeneous environments.
Overview
Strengths
• ARCserve does not offer source-based deduplication.
• Snapshots are possible only for Windows apps on VSS-
compliant hardware.
• Infinite Incremental backup model can reduce data being sent to
backup targets, but can increase RTOs.
• ARCserve does not offer true continuous data protection.
Snapshots are available as low as fifteen-minute intervals.
Challenges
• ARCserve offers strong support for a variety of third-party public
cloud providers for remote data protection and archiving.
• ARCserve’s Storage Resource Manager and infrastructure
visualization tools provide a robust, central interface with which
to manage data across the enterprise.
• Recently announced, innovative licensing options based on
RPOs, in combination with familiar capacity-based and socket-
based licenses, offer affordability and flexibility to growing
businesses.
27 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape
ARCserve unites ease-of-use and broad compatibility with client architectures and backup targets
100 1st out of 9
Value Index
Info-Tech Recommends:
ARCserve’s ease-of-use factor and support for a wide range of physical and cloud backup targets make
it an ideal solution for budget-conscious enterprises.
Supported Architectures Include:
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced VM
file backup
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Features
28 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
3 year TCO for this solution falls into pricing
tier 8, between $250,000 and $500,000
$1 $1M+
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
FalconStor® Continuous Data
Protector (CDP)
442
Melville, NY
Falconstor.com
2000
NASDAQ: FALC
Innovator • FalconStor’s primary focus is on data protection software,
delivered to customers in three ways: as software only, as an
appliance, and as a virtual machine.
Overview
• FalconStor CDP stores backed-up data in its native format,
ensuring that administrators have easy access to files.
• Strong app support, with a library of app-specific snapshot
agents that enable RTOs of up to approximately 15 minutes.
CDP includes support for more than forty apps, and others can
be added with scripting.
• Exemplary continuous data protection coverage accommodates
RPOs of just seconds.
Strengths
• Companies in need deduplication capabilities will require
purchase of complementary hardware, such as FalconStor’s
Virtual Tape Library (VTL) or File-interface Deduplication
System (FDS) products for target and global deduplication.
• Backup to tape requires the additional purchase of HyperTrac
Backup Accelerator software.
• Breadth of purchasing and pricing options can make an initial
investment somewhat complex.
Challenges
FalconStor enables aggressive RPOs for mission-critical apps
Pricing provided by vendor
29 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape
FalconStor stands out for its application support and continuous data protection capabilities
62 5th out of 9
Value Index
Info-Tech Recommends:
FalconStor’s Continuous Data Protector may be a viable solution for smaller heterogeneous
environments with a need for continuous data protection.
Supported Architectures Include:
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced VM
file backup
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Features
30 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
TBA
3 year TCO for this solution falls into pricing
tier 6, between $50,000 and $100,000
$1 $1M+
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
Advanced Backup and
Recovery 9.5
800
Woburn, MA
Acronis.com
2002
Privately Held
Emerging Player
Pricing provided by vendor
Acronis brings flexible deployment options with strong disaster recovery features
• Advanced Backup and Recovery offers customers an affordable
solution that integrates well with Acronis’ broad range of
backup-related products. Its modular product allows companies
to tailor a solution without overpaying for unnecessary features.
Overview
• Innovative client-server management scheme enables
administrators to directly manage server and virtual hosts and
scheduled jobs to run even when the central management
system is unavailable. This allows admins to pursue more
aggressive disaster RTOs.
• Active Restore disaster recovery feature enables basic
Windows server functionality before recovery completes,
reducing downtime for many operations.
Strengths
• Modular structure offers increased flexibility, but comes at the
cost of additional complexity. While Acronis does offer bundles
that ameliorate this challenge somewhat, customers should
have a clear sense of requirements before making a purchase.
• Granular application data recovery is limited to Microsoft
Exchange emails and mailboxes.
• Support for UNIX-based architectures is extremely limited.
Challenges
31 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape
Acronis offers a range of supplementary add-ons for Advanced Backup and Recovery that expand its feature set
85 3rd out of 9
Value Index
Info-Tech Recommends:
Smaller and growing enterprises looking for a customizable solution for a primarily x86-based
environment should consider Acronis as a cost-effective option. However, companies that deploy UNIX-
based machines should carefully assess their environment’s architecture before making a purchase.
Supported Architectures Include:
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced VM
file backup
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Features
32 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Emerging Player
3 year TCO for this solution falls into pricing
tier 9, between $500,000 and $1,000,000
$1 $1M+
• Syncsort now sells its software exclusively in conjunction with
integrated arrays from NetApp. Combined, they offer a full-
featured solution for companies looking to integrate their
software and hardware infrastructures.
Overview
• Syncsort NSB’s single-agent technology simplifies
implementation of the backup solution, automatically installing
appropriate components when a supported application is
discovered.
• The combination of a source-side, ―incremental forever‖ backup
model and target-side, NetApp-native deduplication ensures
efficient reduction and management of back up data.
• NSB offers granular item-level or file-level recovery for Microsoft
Exchange, SQL, and SharePoint.
Strengths
• Because NSB relies on NetApp-native technology for features
including deduplication, compression, snapshots, and
replication, backup targets are limited to NetApp flash array
storage.
• NSB’s near-continuous data protection offers hourly backups,
but may be insufficient for some RPOs.
• NSB’s data reduction produces results that compare favorably
with deduplication, but some customers may balk at a perceived
lack of ―true‖ source-side deduplication.
Challenges
Pricing provided by vendor
Product:
Employees:
Headquarters:
Website:
Founded:
Presence:
Syncsort NSB
350+
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Syncsort.com
1968
Privately held
Syncsort partners with NetApp to build a robust integrated backup solution
33 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape
Syncsort NSB manages data sprawl with incremental backup and deduplication features
Features
Info-Tech Recommends:
Syncsort NSB offers near-continuous data protection alongside a strong data reduction scheme for
enterprises that are committed to NetApp storage appliances.
Supported Architectures Include:
Source-
based
dedupe
Target-
based
dedupe
Global
dedupe
Dedupe
to tape
Cloud
integration
Array
integration
Advanced VM
file backup
Backup
to tape
End user
self service
Continuous
data
protection
Overall Features Usability Afford. Arch. Overall Viability Strategy Reach Channel
Product Vendor
10 6th out of 9
Value Index
34 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
The Info-Tech Heterogeneous Backup Software Vendor Shortlist Tool is designed
to generate a customized shortlist of vendors based on your key priorities.
Identify leading candidates with the Heterogeneous Backup Software Vendor Shortlist Tool
This tool offers the ability to modify:
• Overall Vendor vs. Product Weightings
• Individual product criteria weightings:
Features
Usability
Affordability
Architecture
• Individual vendor criteria weightings:
Viability
Strategy
Reach
Channel
35 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Appendix
1. Vendor Landscape Methodology: Overview
2. Vendor Landscape Methodology: Product Selection & Information Gathering
3. Vendor Landscape Methodology: Scoring
4. Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation
5. Vendor Landscape Methodology: Fact Check & Publication
6. Product Pricing Scenario
36 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Overview
Info-Tech’s Vendor Landscapes are research materials that review a particular IT market space, evaluating the strengths and abilities of both
the products available in that space, as well as the vendors of those products. These materials are created by a team of dedicated analysts
operating under the direction of a senior subject matter expert over a period of six weeks.
Evaluations weigh selected vendors and their products (collectively ―solutions‖) on the following eight criteria to determine overall standing:
• Features: The presence of advanced and market-differentiating capabilities.
• Usability: The intuitiveness, power, and integrated nature of administrative consoles and client software components.
• Affordability: The three-year total cost of ownership of the solution.
• Architecture: The degree of integration with the vendor’s other tools, flexibility of deployment, and breadth of platform applicability.
• Viability: The stability of the company as measured by its history in the market, the size of its client base, and its financial performance.
• Strategy: The commitment to both the market-space, as well as to the various sized clients (small, mid-sized, and enterprise clients).
• Reach: The ability of the vendor to support its products on a global scale.
• Channel: The measure of the size of the vendor’s channel partner program, as well as any channel strengthening strategies.
Evaluated solutions are plotted on a standard two by two matrix:
• Champions: Both the product and the vendor receive scores that are above the average score for the evaluated group.
• Innovators: The product receives a score that is above the average score for the evaluated group, but the vendor receives a score that is
below the average score for the evaluated group.
• Market Pillars: The product receives a score that is below the average score for the evaluated group, but the vendor receives a score that
is above the average score for the evaluated group.
• Emerging Players: Both the product and the vendor receive scores that are below the average score for the evaluated group.
Info-Tech’s Vendor Landscapes are researched and produced according to a strictly adhered to process that includes the following steps:
• Vendor/product selection
• Information gathering
• Vendor/product scoring
• Information presentation
• Fact checking
• Publication
This document outlines how each of these steps is conducted.
37 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Vendor/Product Selection & Information Gathering
Info-Tech works closely with its client base to solicit guidance in terms of understanding the vendors with whom clients wish to work and the
products that they wish evaluated; this demand pool forms the basis of the vendor selection process for Vendor Landscapes. Balancing this
demand, Info-Tech also relies upon the deep subject matter expertise and market awareness of its Senior and Lead Research Analysts to
ensure that appropriate solutions are included in the evaluation. As an aspect of that expertise and awareness, Info-Tech’s analysts may, at
their discretion, determine the specific capabilities that are required of the products under evaluation, and include in the Vendor Landscape
only those solutions that meet all specified requirements.
Information on vendors and products is gathered in a number of ways via a number of channels.
Initially, a request package is submitted to vendors to solicit information on a broad range of topics. The request package includes:
• A detailed survey.
• A pricing scenario (see Vendor Landscape Methodology: Price Evaluation and Pricing Scenario, below).
• A request for reference clients.
• A request for a briefing and, where applicable, guided product demonstration.
These request packages are distributed approximately twelve weeks prior to the initiation of the actual research project to allow vendors ample
time to consolidate the required information and schedule appropriate resources.
During the course of the research project, briefings and demonstrations are scheduled (generally for one hour each session, though more time
is scheduled as required) to allow the analyst team to discuss the information provided in the survey, validate vendor claims, and gain direct
exposure to the evaluated products. Additionally, an end-user survey is circulated to Info-Tech’s client base and vendor-supplied reference
accounts are interviewed to solicit their feedback on their experiences with the evaluated solutions and with the vendors of those solutions.
These materials are supplemented by a thorough review of all product briefs, technical manuals, and publicly available marketing materials
about the product, as well as about the vendor itself.
Refusal by a vendor to supply completed surveys or submit to participation in briefings and demonstrations does not eliminate a vendor from
inclusion in the evaluation. Where analyst and client input has determined that a vendor belongs in a particular evaluation, it will be evaluated
as best as possible based on publicly available materials only. As these materials are not as comprehensive as a survey, briefing, and
demonstration, the possibility exists that the evaluation may not be as thorough or accurate. Since Info-Tech includes vendors regardless of
vendor participation, it is always in the vendor’s best interest to participate fully.
All information is recorded and catalogued, as required, to facilitate scoring and for future reference.
38 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Scoring
Once all information has been gathered and evaluated for all vendors and products, the analyst team moves to scoring. All scoring is
performed at the same time so as to ensure as much consistency as possible. Each criterion is scored on a ten point scale, though the manner
of scoring for criteria differs slightly:
• Features is scored via Cumulative Scoring
• Affordability is scored via Scalar Scoring
• All other criteria are scored via Base5 Scoring
In Cumulative Scoring, a single point is assigned to each evaluated feature that is regarded as being fully present, a half point to each feature
that is partially present or pending in an upcoming release, and zero points to features that are deemed to be absent. The assigned points are
summed and normalized to a value out of ten. For example, if a particular Vendor Landscape evaluates eight specific features in the Feature
Criteria, the summed score out of eight for each evaluated product would be multiplied by 1.25 to yield a value out of ten.
In Scalar Scoring, a score of ten is assigned to the lowest cost solution, and a score of one is assigned to the highest cost solution. All other
solutions are assigned a mathematically determined score based on their proximity to / distance from these two endpoints. For example, in an
evaluation of three solutions, where the middle cost solution is closer to the low end of the pricing scale it will receive a higher score, and
where it is closer to the high end of the pricing scale it will receive a lower score; depending on proximity to the high or low price it is entirely
possible that it could receive either ten points (if it is very close to the lowest price) or one point (if it is very close to the highest price). Where
pricing cannot be determined (vendor does not supply price and public sources do not exist), a score of 0 is automatically assigned.
In Base5 scoring a number of sub-criteria are specified for each criterion (for example, Longevity, Market Presence, and Financials are sub-
criteria of the Viability criterion), and each one is scored on the following scale:
5 - The product/vendor is exemplary in this area (nothing could be done to improve the status).
4 - The product/vendor is good in this area (small changes could be made that would move things to the next level).
3 - The product/vendor is adequate in this area (small changes would make it good, more significant changes required to be exemplary).
2 - The product/vendor is poor in this area (this is a notable weakness and significant work is required).
1 - The product/vendor is terrible/fails in this area (this is a glaring oversight and a serious impediment to adoption).
The assigned points are summed and normalized to a value out of ten as explained in Cumulative Scoring above.
Scores out of ten, known as Raw scores, are transposed as-is into Info-Tech’s Vendor Landscape Shortlist Tool, which automatically
determines Vendor Landscape positioning (see Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation - Vendor Landscape, below),
Criteria Score (see Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation - Criteria Score, below), and Value Index (see Vendor
Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation - Value Index, below).
39 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation – Vendor Landscape
Info-Tech’s Vendor Landscape is a two-by-two matrix that plots solutions based on the
combination of Product score and Vendor score. Placement is not determined by
absolute score, but instead by relative score. Relative scores are used to ensure a
consistent view of information and to minimize dispersion in nascent markets, while
enhancing dispersion in commodity markets to allow for quick visual analysis by clients.
Relative scores are calculated as follows:
1. Raw scores are transposed into the Info-Tech Vendor Landscape Shortlist Tool
(for information on how Raw scores are determined, see Vendor Landscape
Methodology: Scoring, above).
2. Each individual criterion Raw score is multiplied by the pre-assigned weighting
factor for the Vendor Landscape in question. Weighting factors are determined
prior to the evaluation process to eliminate any possibility of bias. Weighting
factors are expressed as a percentage such that the sum of the weighting factors
for the Vendor criteria (Viability, Strategy, Reach, Channel) is 100% and the sum
of the Product criteria (Features, Usability, Affordability, Architecture) is 100%.
3. A sum-product of the weighted Vendor criteria scores and of the weighted Product
criteria scores is calculated to yield an overall Vendor score and an overall Product
score.
4. Overall Vendor scores are then normalized to a 20 point scale by calculating the
arithmetic mean and standard deviation of the pool of Vendor scores. Vendors for
whom their overall Vendor score is higher than the arithmetic mean will receive a
normalized Vendor score of 11-20 (exact value determined by how much higher
than the arithmetic mean their overall Vendor score is), while vendors for whom
their overall Vendor score is lower than the arithmetic mean will receive a
normalized Vendor score of between one and ten (exact value determined by how
much lower than the arithmetic mean their overall Vendor score is).
5. Overall Product score is normalized to a 20 point scale according to the same
process.
6. Normalized scores are plotted on the matrix, with Vendor score being used as the
x-axis, and Product score being used as the y-axis.
Vendor Landscape
Champions:
solutions with above
average Vendor
scores and above
average Product
scores.
Innovators:
solutions with below
average Vendor
scores and above
average Product
scores.
Market Pillars:
solutions with above
average Vendor
scores and below
average Product
scores.
Emerging Players:
solutions with below
average Vendor
scores and below
average Product
scores.
40 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Harvey Balls
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation – Criteria Scores (Harvey Balls) Info-Tech’s Criteria Scores are visual representations of the absolute score assigned to each individual criterion, as well as of the calculated
overall Vendor and Product scores. The visual representation used is Harvey Balls.
Harvey Balls are calculated as follows:
1. Raw scores are transposed into the Info-Tech Vendor Landscape Shortlist Tool (for information on how Raw scores are determined, see
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Scoring, above).
2. Each individual criterion Raw score is multiplied by a pre-assigned weighting factor for the Vendor Landscape in question. Weighting
factors are determined prior to the evaluation process, based on the expertise of the Senior or Lead Research Analyst, to eliminate any
possibility of bias. Weighting factors are expressed as a percentage, such that the sum of the weighting factors for the Vendor criteria
(Viability, Strategy, Reach, Channel) is 100%, and the sum of the Product criteria (Features, Usability, Affordability, Architecture) is
100%.
3. A sum-product of the weighted Vendor criteria scores and of the weighted Product criteria scores is calculated to yield an overall Vendor
score and an overall Product score.
4. Both overall Vendor score / overall Product score, as well as individual criterion Raw scores are converted from a scale of one to ten to
Harvey Ball scores on a scale of zero to four, where exceptional performance results in a score of four and poor performance results in a
score of zero.
5. Harvey Ball scores are converted to Harvey Balls as follows:
• A score of four becomes a full Harvey Ball.
• A score of three becomes a three-quarter full Harvey Ball.
• A score of two becomes a half full Harvey Ball.
• A score of one becomes a one-quarter full Harvey Ball.
• A score of zero (zero) becomes an empty Harvey Ball.
6. Harvey Balls are plotted by solution in a chart where rows represent individual solutions and columns represent overall Vendor / overall
Product, as well as individual criteria. Solutions are ordered in the chart alphabetically by vendor name.
Product Vendor
Feat. Use. Afford. Via. Strat. Chan. Reach Arch. Overall Overall
Overall Harvey
Balls represent
weighted
aggregates.
Criteria Harvey
Balls represent
individual Raw
scores.
41 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Stop Lights
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation – Feature Ranks (Stop Lights)
Info-Tech’s Feature Ranks are visual representations of the presence/availability of individual features that collectively comprise the Features’
criterion. The visual representation used is Stop Lights.
Stop Lights are determined as follows:
1. A single point is assigned to each evaluated feature that is regarded as being fully present, a half point to each feature that is partially
present or pending in an upcoming release, and zero points to features that are deemed to be fully absent.
• Fully present means all aspects and capabilities of the feature as described are in evidence.
• Fully absent means all aspects and capabilities of the feature as described are in evidence.
• Partially present means some, but not all, aspects and capabilities of the feature as described are in evidence, OR all aspects and
capabilities of the feature as described are in evidence, but only for some models in a line.
• Pending means all aspects and capabilities of the feature, as described, are anticipated to be in evidence in a future revision of the
product and that revision is to be released within the next 12 months.
2. Feature scores are converted to Stop Lights as follows:
• Full points become a Green light.
• Half points become a Yellow light.
• Zero points become a Red light.
3. Stop Lights are plotted by solution in a chart where rows represent individual solutions and columns represent individual features.
Solutions are ordered in the chart alphabetically by vendor name.
For example, a set of applications is being reviewed and a feature of ―Integration with Mobile Devices‖ that is defined as ―availability of
dedicated mobile device applications for iOS, Android, and BlackBerry devices‖ is specified. Solution A provides such apps for all listed
platforms and scores ―Green‖, solution B provides apps for iOS and Android only and scores ―Yellow‖, while solution C provides mobile device
functionality through browser extensions, has no dedicated apps, and so scores ―Red‖.
Feature 1 Feature 2 Feature 4 Feature 5 Feature 3
Features
Feature 6 Feature 7 Feature 8
Yellow shows
partial availability
(such as in some
models in a line).
Green means a
feature is fully
present; Red,
fully absent.
42 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Value Index
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation – Value Index
Info-Tech’s Value Index is an indexed ranking of solution value per dollar as determined
by the Raw scores assigned to each criteria (for information on how Raw scores are
determined, see Vendor Landscape Methodology: Scoring, above).
Value scores are calculated as follows:
1. The Affordability criterion is removed from the overall Product score and the
remaining Product score criteria (Features, Usability, Architecture) are reweighted
so as to retain the same weightings relative to one another, while still summing to
100%. For example, if all four Product criteria were assigned base weightings of
25%, for the determination of the Value score, Features, Usability, and
Architecture would be reweighted to 33.3% each to retain the same relative
weightings while still summing to 100%.
2. A sum-product of the weighted Vendor criteria scores and of the reweighted
Product criteria scores is calculated to yield an overall Vendor score and a
reweighted overall Product score.
3. The overall Vendor score and the reweighted overall Product score are then
summed, and this sum is multiplied by the Affordability Raw score to yield an
interim Value score for each solution.
4. All interim Value scores are then indexed to the highest performing solution by
dividing each interim Value score by the highest interim Value score. This results
in a Value score of 100 for the top solution and an indexed Value score relative to
the 100 for each alternate solution.
5. Solutions are plotted according to Value score, with the highest score plotted first,
and all remaining scores plotted in descending numerical order.
Where pricing is not provided by the vendor and public sources of information cannot be
found, an Affordability Raw score of zero is assigned. Since multiplication by zero results
in a product of zero, those solutions for which pricing cannot be determined receive a
Value score of zero. Since Info-Tech assigns a score of zero where pricing is not
available, it is always in the vendor’s best interest to provide accurate and up to date
pricing
Those solutions that are ranked as
Champions are differentiated for point of
reference.
E
10
D
30
C
40
B
80
A
100 Average Score: 52
Vendors are arranged in order of Value Score.
The Value Score each solution achieved is
displayed, and so is the average score.
43 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation – Price Evaluation
Info-Tech’s Price Evaluation is a tiered representation of the three year Total Cost of
Ownership (TCO) of a proposed solution. Info-Tech uses this method of communicating
pricing information to provide high-level budgetary guidance to its end-user clients while
respecting the privacy of the vendors with whom it works. The solution TCO is calculated
and then represented as belonging to one of ten pricing tiers.
Pricing tiers are as follows:
1. Between $1 and $2,500
2. Between $2,500 and $5,000
3. Between $5,000 and $10,000
4. Between $10,000 and $25,000
5. Between $25,000 and $50,000
6. Between $50,000 and $100,000
7. Between $100,000 and $250,000
8. Between $250,000 and $500,000
9. Between $500,000 and $1,000,000
10. Greater than $1,000,000
Where pricing is not provided, Info-Tech makes use of publicly available sources of
information to determine a price. As these sources are not official price lists, the
possibility exists that they may be inaccurate or outdated, and so the source of the
pricing information is provided. Since Info-Tech publishes pricing information regardless
of vendor participation, it is always in the vendor’s best interest to supply accurate and
up to date information.
Info-Tech’s Price Evaluations are based on pre-defined pricing scenarios (see Product
Pricing Scenario, below) to ensure a comparison that is as close as possible between
evaluated solutions. Pricing scenarios describe a sample business and solicit guidance
as to the appropriate product/service mix required to deliver the specified functionality,
the list price for those tools/services, as well as three full years of maintenance and
support.
Price Evaluation
Call-out bubble indicates within which price
tier the three year TCO for the solution falls,
provides the brackets of that price tier, and
links to the graphical representation.
Scale along the bottom indicates that the
graphic as a whole represents a price scale
with a range of $1 to $1M+, while the notation
indicates whether the pricing was supplied by
the vendor or derived from public sources.
3 year TCO for this solution falls into pricing
tier 6, between $50,000 and $100,000.
$1 $1M+
Pricing solicited from public sources.
44 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation – Scenarios
Info-Tech’s Scenarios highlight specific use cases for the evaluated solution to provide as complete (when taken in conjunction with the
individual written review, Vendor Landscape, Criteria Scores, Feature Ranks, and Value Index) a basis for comparison by end-user clients as
possible.
Scenarios are designed to reflect tiered capability in a particular set of circumstances. Determination of the Scenarios in question is at the
discretion of the analyst team assigned to the research project. Where possible, Scenarios are designed to be mutually exclusive and
collectively exhaustive, or at the very least, hierarchical such that the tiers within the Scenario represent a progressively greater or broader
capability.
Scenario ranking is determined as follows:
1. The analyst team determines an appropriate use case.
For example:
• Clients that have multinational presence and require vendors to provide four hour onsite support.
2. The analyst team establishes the various tiers of capability.
For example:
• Presence in Americas
• Presence in EMEA
• Presence in APAC
3. The analyst team reviews all evaluated solutions and determines which ones meet which tiers of capability.
For example:
• Presence in Americas – Vendor A, Vendor C, Vendor E
• Presence in EMEA – Vendor A, Vendor B, Vendor C
• Presence in APAC – Vendor B, Vendor D, Vendor E
4. Solutions are plotted on a grid alphabetically by vendor by tier. Where one vendor is deemed to be stronger in a tier than other vendors in
the same tier, they may be plotted non-alphabetically.
For example:
• Vendor C is able to provide four hour onsite support to 12 countries in EMEA while Vendors A and B are only able to provide four hour
onsite support to eight countries in EMEA; Vendor C would be plotted first, followed by Vendor A, then Vendor B.
45 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation – Vendor Awards
At the conclusion of all analyses, Info-Tech presents awards to exceptional solutions in
three distinct categories. Award presentation is discretionary; not all awards are
extended subsequent to each Vendor landscape and it is entirely possible, though
unlikely, that no awards may be presented.
Awards categories are as follows:
• Champion Awards are presented to those solutions, and only those solutions, that
land in the Champion zone of the Info-Tech Vendor Landscape (see Vendor
Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation - Vendor Landscape, above). If
no solutions land in the Champion zone, no Champion Awards are presented.
Similarly, if multiple solutions land in the Champion zone, multiple Champion Awards
are presented.
• Trend Setter Awards are presented to those solutions, and only those solutions,
that are deemed to include the most original/inventive product/service, or the most
original/inventive feature/capability of a product/service. If no solution is deemed to
be markedly or sufficiently original/inventive, either as a product/service on the
whole or by feature/capability specifically, no Trend Setter Award is presented. Only
one Trend Setter Award is available for each Vendor Landscape.
• Best Overall Value Awards are presented to those solutions, and only those
solutions, that are ranked highest on the Info-Tech Value Index (see Vendor
Landscape Methodology: Information Presentation – Value Index, above). If
insufficient pricing information is made available for the evaluated solutions, such
that a Value Index cannot be calculated, no Best Overall Value Award will be
presented. Only one Best Overall Value Award is available for each Vendor
Landscape.
Vendor Awards
Info-Tech’s Champion
Award is presented to
solutions in the Champion
zone of the Vendor
Landscape.
Info-Tech’s Trend Setter
Award is presented to the
most original/inventive
solution evaluated.
Info-Tech’s Best Overall
Value Award is
presented to the solution
with the highest Value
Index score.
46 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Vendor Landscape Methodology: Fact Check & Publication
Info-Tech takes the factual accuracy of its Vendor Landscapes, and indeed of all of its published content, very seriously. To ensure the utmost
accuracy in its Vendor Landscapes, we invite all vendors of evaluated solutions (whether the vendor elected to provide a survey and/or
participate in a briefing or not) to participate in a process of Fact Check.
Once the research project is complete and the materials are deemed to be in a publication ready state, excerpts of the material specific to each
vendor’s solution are provided to the vendor. Info-Tech only provides material specific to the individual vendor’s solution for review
encompassing the following:
• All written review materials of the vendor and the vendor’s product that comprise the evaluated solution.
• Info-Tech’s Criteria Scores / Harvey Balls detailing the individual and overall Vendor / Product scores assigned.
• Info-Tech’s Feature Rank / Stop Lights detailing the individual feature scores of the evaluated product.
• Info-Tech’s Value Index ranking for the evaluated solution.
• Info-Tech’s Scenario ranking for all considered scenarios for the evaluated solution.
Info-Tech does not provide the following:
• Info-Tech’s Vendor Landscape placement of the evaluated solution.
• Info-Tech’s Value Score for the evaluated solution.
• End-user feedback gathered during the research project.
• Info-Tech’s overall recommendation in regard to the evaluated solution.
Info-Tech provides a one-week window for each vendor to provide written feedback. Feedback must be corroborated (be provided with
supporting evidence), and where it does, feedback that addresses factual errors or omissions is adopted fully, while feedback that addresses
opinions is taken under consideration. The assigned analyst team makes all appropriate edits and supplies an edited copy of the materials to
the vendor within one week for final review.
Should a vendor still have concerns or objections at that time, they are invited to a conversation, initially via email, but as required and deemed
appropriate by Info-Tech, subsequently via telephone, to ensure common understanding of the concerns. Where concerns relate to ongoing
factual errors or omissions they are corrected under the supervision of Info-Tech’s Vendor Relations personnel. Where concerns relate to
ongoing differences of opinion they are again taken under consideration with neither explicit not implicit indication of adoption.
Publication of materials is scheduled to occur within the six weeks immediately following the completion of the research project, but does not
occur until the Fact Check process has come to conclusion, and under no circumstances are ―pre-publication‖ copies of any materials made
available to any client.
47 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Product Pricing Scenario
Please price out the lowest possible three-year TCO including list prices for software and licensing fees to meet the requirements of the following scenario. Either a la carte or capacity-based licensing is acceptable.
Key elements of the common pricing scenario:
The following is a simplification of an Info-Tech client’s infrastructure. The company is considering a green field purchase of new backup software, and would like quotations from the leading vendors in the market.
Capacity
All said and done, the organization has approximately 30 TB of raw undeduplicated data and is growing at rate of 20% per year of raw undeduplicated data. The solution must be sufficient to support their infrastructure until at least the end of the three-year term. For the purposes of this scenario assume that, based on a compound increase of 20% per year, the organization will have 51.84 TB of undeduplicated data at end of year three.
End of year one = 36 TB
End of year two = 43.2 TB
End of year three = 51.84 TB
48 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Product Pricing Scenario, continued
Physical Servers
Each server is a 2-processor server with Xeon 5600 processors with 8 total cores (4 cores/processor) and 256GB of RAM.
The organization has nine servers for Exchange (see below), 5 servers for SharePoint (including 1 SQL database; see below), 4 physical servers for Microsoft Windows Serer 2008 R2 (64-bit), 2 servers for an ERP application, as well as 10 physical host servers for virtualization, for a total of 30 physical servers.
MS Exchange 2010
• 9 servers
• 3 front-end client access services servers
• 3 back-end mailbox servers
• 3 Blackberry enterprise services servers
SharePoint 2007
• 5 servers
• 2 front-end web services servers
• 2 back-end application servers
• Application servers are connected to 1SQL Server 2005 SP4 database
4 Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
ERP application (assume the agent is provided—do not cost the ERP app agent out, just Oracle support)
• Running on Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition (Linux) on two 2-processor servers with Xeon 5600 processors
with 8 total cores (4 cores/processor) and 256GB of RAM.
49 Info-Tech Research Group Vendor Landscape: Backup Software for Heterogeneous Environments
Product Pricing Scenario, continued
Virtual Servers
The organization has 10 host servers—4 each with 2 Xeon 5600 processors with 12 total cores (6 cores/processor)
and 6 each with 2 Xeon 5600 processors with 8 total cores (4 cores/processor), for 96 cores total; each server has
256GB of RAM—running a VMware virtual infrastructure on ESX4.1, structured in a single ESX cluster running 54 virtual
machines supporting Microsoft Windows Server 2003/2008.
Windows Server 2003/2008 guests (virtual machines—54 total)
• 26 x Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
• 16 x Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (64-bit)
• 8 x Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit)
• 4 x Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (64-bit)
Storage
All servers are connected to a SAN/unified storage device from another vendor (e.g. X-IO).
Basic Features
The basic features and functionality that the organization requires are deduplication, file- and image-level backups, as well
as VM and file backup and restore (where applicable).