In today’s digital age, data protection is paramount for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). With the increasing threat of cyberattacks and data breaches, having a reliable backup solution is essential. Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) emerges as a versatile and comprehensive data backup solution designed to meet the diverse needs of SMBs. This article delves into the various features and capabilities of NBR 11, exploring whether it truly stands out as the best choice for SMB data protection.
Versatility and Platform Support
Extensive Compatibility
With its extensive support for various host platforms, Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) distinguishes itself in the crowded data backup market. The solution is compatible with Windows, Linux, VMware, Nutanix, and AWS EC2, making it appealing to businesses with diverse IT environments. It also offers packages for NAS appliance vendors such as Qnap and Synology, plus generic ARM-based models. This broad compatibility ensures that businesses can protect their data regardless of the platform they use. By accommodating a wide range of platforms, NBR 11 provides a flexible and adaptable solution that is capable of integrating seamlessly into existing IT environments.
Client and Component Support
While NBR 11 lacks macOS support, it compensates for this limitation by providing robust support for other platforms. The solution is designed to protect Windows and Linux servers and workstations, VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix hosts, as well as business applications like Exchange and SQL Server. With version 11, NBR also secures all Microsoft 365 (MS365) components, including those equipped with multi-factor authentication (MFA). Additionally, NBR 11 offers direct cloud-to-cloud backup options for multiple public clouds. This extensive client and component support ensures comprehensive data protection for SMBs, enabling them to safeguard critical data across various systems and applications.
Deployment and Configuration
Deployment on Synology NAS
Deploying Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) on a Synology DS1823xs+ desktop NAS appliance running DSM 7.2 is straightforward, thanks to Nakivo’s online tutorial. Initially, the latest version of NBR was not available on the DSM Package Center app due to ongoing Synology verification. However, businesses can upgrade the available version 10 app to the latest version using PuTTY to SSH into the appliance. This process ensures that businesses can quickly and easily deploy NBR 11 on their Synology NAS, allowing them to promptly protect their important data. The guided approach simplifies the upgrade and installation procedure, making it accessible even for users who may not be highly technical.
Components and Configuration
Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) comprises three main service components: the Director for browser-based management, Transporters for handling backup, replication, and recovery operations, and Repositories for storing backups. During the Synology deployment process, a repository is automatically created, though users have the flexibility to choose local folders, CIFS/NFS network shares, or standard and immutable cloud storage solutions from providers such as Amazon EC2 and S3, Microsoft Azure Blob, Wasabi, and Backblaze B2. This flexibility in configuration allows businesses to tailor their backup solution to meet their specific needs, providing a customizable approach to data protection. By offering multiple storage options, NBR 11 ensures that organizations can select the most suitable and secure method for their data storage needs.
Data Security and Ransomware Protection
Advanced Security Measures
Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) enhances data security significantly through its implementation of source-side backup encryption, ensuring complete protection during data transfer and while at rest in the backup repository. The solution offers advanced ransomware protection by enabling encryption and creating immutable recovery points that cannot be deleted for a set number of days. These security measures provide SMBs with peace of mind, knowing that their data is protected from unauthorized access and ransomware attacks. The solution’s advanced security framework, combined with its robust encryption capabilities, ensures that sensitive information remains confidential and secure at all times.
Malware Scanning Features
Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) bolsters its security offerings with support for malware scanning, employing a separate server to host security applications such as Microsoft Windows Defender, ESET, Sophos Intercept X, or Clam AV for scanning backups before recovery. This critical feature ensures that any malware present in the backups is identified and addressed before data recovery, preventing potential security breaches. The solution’s deep scan option, though undemanding, ensures the thorough identification of malware in backups and will abort the recovery job if any malware is detected. By integrating an additional layer of protection through malware scanning, NBR 11 helps SMBs mitigate the risk of data corruption and security threats.
Data Protection and Management
User-Friendly Web Console
The user-friendly web console of Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) allows for the easy addition of systems to the NBR inventory and automatic deployment of the Transporter service for physical Windows servers and Hyper-V hosts. For VMware vSphere hosts, NBR presents all virtual machines for agentless backup upon entering admin credentials. The console groups backup jobs under a new Data Protection tab, covering all essential protection functions. This intuitive interface simplifies data management for SMBs, making it easier for IT administrators to oversee and orchestrate their backup operations. Additionally, the organized layout and clear navigation within the console facilitate quick access to critical functions, streamlining the overall management process.
Comprehensive Protection Functions
Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) offers a comprehensive set of protection functions, allowing users to apply schedules, set the number of recovery points to be retained, and determine the immutability duration. The solution also enables network and backup encryption for enhanced security. With version 11, NBR introduces real-time replication of VMware vSphere VMs, which is currently in beta testing, and agentless backup for ProxMox Virtual Environment (VE). Users can create jobs for backup copies, as well as VMware, Hyper-V, or Amazon EC2 replication. This comprehensive feature set ensures that SMBs can efficiently manage their data backup and recovery processes with minimal hassle, offering robust data protection and streamlined workflow management. The versatile protection capabilities of NBR 11 make it an ideal solution for SMBs aiming to safeguard their valuable data assets.
Additional Features and MS365 Integration
MS365 Integration
The seamless integration with MS365 accounts in Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) is facilitated by a special SaaS repository, enabling users to protect MS365 components effortlessly. The MS365 authentication process is straightforward, requiring only three steps to set up scheduled jobs for comprehensive data protection. This ease of integration ensures that businesses using MS365 can safeguard their data without any hassle, offering a streamlined approach to securing critical business information. By simplifying the authentication and integration process, NBR 11 allows SMBs to efficiently incorporate MS365 data protection into their existing backup strategies, thereby enhancing overall data security and continuity.
Data Recovery and Malware Scanning
Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) provides extensive restore features, ranging from file and folder recovery to application-aware backups for Active Directory, SQL Server, and Exchange apps. Its disaster recovery functionalities include VM replication as clones and Flash VM Boot, which allows for the quick creation of VMs directly from the backup repository. Additionally, the solution’s malware scanning feature has been tested using a Dell PowerEdge R760xs host running Windows Server 2022 as a scan server. The undemanding deep scan option ensures the thorough identification of malware in backups and will abort the recovery job if malware is detected. These restore and scanning capabilities provide businesses with comprehensive tools to recover and secure their data effectively, minimizing downtime and mitigating potential risks.
Licensing and Cost
Nakivo offers transparent and flexible licensing options, with a variety of perpetual licenses or per-workload subscriptions available for Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11). An example of an Enterprise 10-server perpetual license with a 2-year 24/7 support contract costs approximately £1,874. MS365 licenses are separate, with a minimum 10-user subscription costing £252 per year. Real-time replication for VMware is priced at £971 for a single-socket perpetual license, and VMware host monitoring services cost £464 per socket. This clear and flexible pricing structure allows SMBs to select the most appropriate licensing option based on their specific needs and budget, ensuring that they receive an optimal balance of value and functionality.
Conclusion
In our digital era, safeguarding data is crucial for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). With the rise in cyberattacks and data breaches, a dependable backup solution is vital. Nakivo Backup & Replication 11 (NBR 11) presents itself as a flexible and all-encompassing data backup solution tailored to the diverse needs of SMBs. This piece investigates the various features and functions of NBR 11, assessing whether it truly excels as the optimal choice for SMB data protection.
Businesses today face numerous cyber threats that can compromise sensitive information and financial details. Therefore, implementing a robust backup system is not just a precaution but a necessity. NBR 11 offers a range of functionalities, such as automated backup processes, data deduplication, and streamlined recovery options, which are indispensable for maintaining data integrity and business continuity. By examining the advantages that NBR 11 provides, we can determine if it is the most suitable tool to ensure the safety and security of SMB data against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
