Integrating a reliable Windows Server backup solution into an organization’s IT infrastructure is one of the obligatory security practices enabling thorough data protection. In this post, we discover five noteworthy solutions for Windows Server backup and recovery. With their strongest and weakest points highlighted, you can choose the solution that best meets your organization’s requirements.
Why You Need a Windows Server Backup Solution
Windows Server systems are critical to support production continuity in data-driven organizations. Those systems are vulnerable to a variety of threats such as:
- Accidental data deletion
- Hardware malfunction
- Software failure
- Cybersecurity breach
- Bad OS update
A Windows Server backup solution implemented is the way to increase critical data protection and boost the overall IT infrastructure resilience. Backups created, updated and stored correctly become reliable tools to keep your organization up and running in case of data disasters or other disruptions.
Regular Windows Server backups enable you to remain proactive in downtime minimization and risk mitigation. Having a relevant data backup at hand means an opportunity to support production continuity and data coherence. Modern organizations are data-driven regardless of their size and industry, so any of them using Windows Server machines to provide IT workflows should have a backup solution integrated, enabling swift data recovery.
1. BackupChain
The leader of our top-5 list is BackupChain, a solution that can be perfect for small and medium organizations due to being lightweight and efficient. The solution provides incremental and differential backup functionality along with data deduplication and compression to optimize backup timings, storage space consumption and network load. Additionally, the solution has a user-friendly UI and is easy to learn.
However, BackupChain does not reach the enterprise level due to the limited variety of advanced features. Larger enterprises may want some more functions to satisfy their data protection needs than this solution is able to provide.
2. NAKIVO Backup & Replication
NAKIVO Backup & Replication is a top contender in this list, being a comprehensive and scalable solution supporting virtual, physical, cloud and hybrid environments along with SaaS. With image-based backups and real-time replication, the NAKIVO solution is an excellent tool to ensure your Windows Server data safety. Add a well-thought user interface enabling streamlined management to the abovementioned advantages, and you can get a reliable, feature-rich and usable solution that doesn’t require much time to master.
The solution has a complicated licensing model despite being affordable when you get your head around the features you need and which licensing model — perpetual or subscription.
3. BackupAssist
BackupAssist is a versatile solution to back up files, folders, apps and servers, including Windows Server nodes. With deduplication, compression and encryption features, this solution can enable you to cut backup windows, reduce the size of backup copies and reliably protect backup data from unauthorized access. Plus, BackupAssist’s learning curve is low, thus saving resources and effort to master and use the available features effectively.
However, on the reverse side of the medal, there is a deficiency of advanced features. Modern enterprise-focused solutions provide users with more opportunities. Moreover, users trying to set BackupAssist for large-scale and complex backup workflows may be unhappy with the limits they can face.
4. Compellent Data Protection
Compellent Data Protection is the backup solution specifically designed to protect Compellent storage systems by Dell. The set of advanced functions and features includes image-based backups, replication, and disaster recovery (DR) functionality, which are wanted for enterprise-level organizations’ data protection strategies. The richness in terms of features is packed with a user-friendly interface, making it easy to learn and use the solution at 100% of its capabilities.
Still, Compellent Data Protection is an ultimately narrowed solution with all the typical consequences of such specialization. While organizations relying on Compellent systems can benefit a lot from the optimization and cost-effectiveness of this solution, others may prefer something designed for a wider variety of infrastructures.
5. StorageCraft ShadowProtect
StorageCraft ShadowProtect is the fifth and last solution in our list, but the position shouldn’t make you think it’s not worth attention. StorageCraft offers a powerful and fast backup solution for Windows Server systems, providing enough reliability and automation. Both SMBs and enterprises would appreciate the set of features including image-based backups, replication and disaster recovery functionality.
StorageCraft is in last place because of its price and interface. The price can be considered too high for SMBs with small budgets. The interface can seem complex if your organization’s IT team prefers a more streamlined data protection workflow management.
Conclusion
To pick the Windows Server backup solution for a specific IT infrastructure, an organization needs to strike a balance between the set of features available, user experience provided and the price to pay. The top 5 options here have their strengths and weaknesses highlighted, and BackupChain may seem the leader to many. However, NAKIVO Backup & Replication, the top contender, can provide organizations with the desired cost-efficiency and swiftness. Consider your organization’s current budget and scaling plans, and pick the most usable solution based on those metrics to ensure the safety and recoverability of your critical data in 2024.
