We use it for backing up all servers and user data.
Network Administrator with 51-200 employees
Data recovery is a key feature for us, but I would like to see a better licensing model
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
I'm very familiar with it because I've been using it since we, as an organization, started using it. I'm very familiar with the software package itself and how to set alerts, how to know what's going on, how to recover stuff. So familiarity is probably the best thing for me right now.
How does it help our organization? It's the recovery of data and the assurance that we know it's there and it's safe.
What is most valuable?
- Automation
- Restore
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
Buyer's Guide
Veritas Backup Exec
January 2025
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Learn what your peers think about Veritas Backup Exec. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
838,713 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It does what it says it's going to do.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
As I start getting into the newer releases - I'm not at the most current release - I'll start taking a look not only at backing up on-prem data, but also the stuff that's in the cloud, stuff that's in Office 365, that's in Azure. We need to start reaching out and grabbing our data that's out there and successfully backing it up.
How are customer service and support?
I've used their technical support. If you can get somebody who knows what they're doing, it's good; and if you get somebody that you can easily understand.
The issues are the language barrier, as well as: You finally get somebody to call you back and you start talking with them. All of a sudden, they say, "Oh, this belongs to a different department." They shove me off and I have to wait again for somebody to call me back. It's not a very streamlined and not a very efficient way of providing support.
How was the initial setup?
At first, because it was such a new product at that time, there was a huge learning curve. But once I understood how they back things up, all the versions that followed after that were pretty straightforward and there wasn't much of an additional learning curve.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would like to see a better licensing model. They changed it and it's just horrendous.
What other advice do I have?
If you're seriously looking at Backup Exec, take a hard look at their licensing model and compare that. Also, experience their tech support before you jump in.
Right now, the two big hitters are Backup Exec and Veeam. But the document that I've downloaded now from IT Central Station has introduced me to other vendors that I also need to take a look at.
In looking for a vendor to go with, the important criteria for me are:
- cost
- ease of use
- options, especially trial-based options.
The current version that I'm at, and I have to base my rating on it because it's the only one that I've been using, I would give it a seven out of 10 because it doesn't have the cloud options, the licensing has gotten worse instead of better, and technical support is iffy at best. I'm using version 16.0.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Senior Data Center Administrator at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees
Reasonably priced, stable and scales well, but the console is complicated
Pros and Cons
- "Veritas is good for small environments."
- "In the future, their console should not be complicated."
What is our primary use case?
Veritas is used for standalone servers. such as physical servers We also use it for backups.
What is most valuable?
Veritas is good for small environments.
It's a good product.
What needs improvement?
In one console, you will see a variety of things. In my opinion, it should be simple and straightforward. It is currently a little complicated.
It is not straightforward to click the drives.
Even assigning the tapes to the media pole is difficult when compared to Veeam.
Some of the steps, are to assign, create a set, then a media set, for example.
In the future, their console should not be complicated. For example, When you compare with Veeam it has multiple columns on one side itself where you can browse all of the features. With Veritas, it is not like that at all, it goes to the next window, then the next window, and continues that way to view the features.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Veritas Backup Exec is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Veritas Backup Exec is good.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is adequate, but it could be improved.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We are also using Veeam and Symantec.
Veeam is completely different when it comes to virtualization, such as virtual machines.
We use Veeam for the majority of our backups.
If I had to rate Veeam, I would give it a ten out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is not an expensive product.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Veritas Backup Exec a six out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Veritas Backup Exec
January 2025
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Learn what your peers think about Veritas Backup Exec. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
838,713 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Very fast with good backup capabilities but can be a bit expensive
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is very fast. It does not take a long time to backup everything."
- "The pricing of the solution is a bit high."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for the backup capabilities of our whole system, including our applications. We don't use it as a VM backup, however. We're able to handle daily backups of everything and we tend to back up quite regularly.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very fast. It does not take a long time to backup everything.
We have a backup operator and admin that can handle the back up of the files on the database. They're able to handle all aspects of the solution quite easily.
It's very good at allowing us to back up the servers.
What needs improvement?
We had issues during the installation.
The solution is affected by internet congestion. It requires quite a bit of bandwidth in order to really work effectively.
The pricing of the solution is a bit high.
We've found the scalability to be a bit limiting.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for about five years at this point. It's been a while.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution isn't really giving us what we need. We're seeing some limitations and we're finding it doesn't support us in the way we need it to. Therefore, we are looking at potentially moving off of it in the near future.
Normally we have about 17 people on the system, and three core people that handle the solution directly.
I'd advise a company, if it is smaller, or needs a comprehensive solution or a virtual environment, that Veritas may not be the best option.
How are customer service and technical support?
We mostly worked with technical support via a portal for customer support. Largely, we've been happy with their level of service. They call us when we have issues and they help in whatever way they can.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup can be a bit complex. We had to adjust some settings on one server in order to finalize the deployment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution operates on a subscription basis. A company pays yearly. They also need to pay extra for technical support access.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We're currently looking at other options We're considering moving away from the solution.
What other advice do I have?
We're just customers. We don't have a business relationship with the company.
The solution is a bit expensive. The trade magazines seem to imply that you can do a virtual environment for almost the same price, which would be better.
Overall, I would rate the solution at a seven out of ten. It's okay. It could be better in a variety of ways.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Operations Manager at Cybernaptics
Predictable, easy to se up, and has a lot of configuration capabilities
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is easy."
- "We need to have duplication and better compression."
What is our primary use case?
We have two use case types. We do onsite and offsite. Onsite, we need some conversion and backups. Offsite, for example, similar to Symantec, it is based on the volume, and we sell this solution to clients.
What is most valuable?
We've used the solution for ten years, and everything has worked very well.
There are many settings, and after working on it for so long, we have a good understanding of the configurations that make sense.
It's easy for us. It's like a legacy of predictability. We've used it for a long time.
The initial setup is easy.
It's stable.
The scalability is good.
What needs improvement?
We need to have duplication and better compression. We don't really get that with Veritas. There's customer demand for it.
We'd like to see some better synchronization between the office and other sites. There's room for improvement in off-site syncs.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for ten to 11 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. I haven't noted any issues. It doesn't have bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable product.
How are customer service and support?
Maybe in the early years, we used to seek support, however, now, since we are quite versatile with it, we deal with any issues ourselves. We normally don't seek any support now. When we used them, maybe ten years ago, they were quite helpful.
How was the initial setup?
We find the solution to be straightforward to set up. It's not overly complex or difficult. I'd rate it a ten out of ten in terms of ease of implementation.
We always keep three people (engineers) on the solution. During the implementation, we have three people there, and they can handle maintenance once it is up. If, for a backup, somebody's not available for a particular reason, we'll be covered as we don't rely on one person.
What other advice do I have?
We are resellers.
We use the latest versions to ensure we get support as older versions often lose support.
I'd advise potential new users to read the manual well and don't just go next, next, finish, et cetera. Read everything well to understand the options they are providing. I've seen many people fail to understand what options are offered or what the customer needs. If you don't do the right configuration, it becomes faulty. It slows down the process if it's not configured right.
I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
System Admin at a sports company with 501-1,000 employees
Easy to set up and user-friendly but doesn't support the AIX platform
Pros and Cons
- "It is a scalable product."
- "It doesn't support the AIX platform."
What is most valuable?
It's user-friendly, and, except in the case of AIX, it supports a wide variety of platforms. This includes Windows, VMware, Linux, et cetera. It's okay as a product.
The solution is stable.
It is a scalable product.
The solution is easy to set up.
What needs improvement?
It doesn't support the AIX platform.
I've had a little problem in the tape solution in the Backup Exec. When you use a tape solution, take a backup in the tape, not in the disc, and restore it, there is a little complexity. It's not really user-friendly in that aspect.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and reliable. There aren't bugs. It's not glitchy. It doesn't crash or freeze. The performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
You can expand and scale the product. It's not a problem at all.
We might have five or six people using the solution right now.
How are customer service and support?
I didn't face any problems just yet. I have not reached out to support. Typically, I can just search the internet and find an answer to my questions. I'd, of course, reach out if I had a huge problem.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and simple. It's not a complex implementation by any means. I'd rate it a four out of five in terms of ease of setup.
What was our ROI?
I haven't followed any details related to there being an ROI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm not sure what the exact costs of the product are.
What other advice do I have?
I'm a customer and end-user.
I've enjoyed the product. It's a user-friendly and widely support platform and is flexible and scalable.
I'd rate the product seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Director at F1 INFOTECH
A simple and flexible solution with good support
Pros and Cons
- "It is a simple and flexible solution to work with."
- "The deduplication feature can be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We have been deploying this solution for our customers. They use it for the backup of their physical and virtual servers.
We are using its latest version. We recently renewed it for a customer.
What is most valuable?
It is a simple and flexible solution to work with.
What needs improvement?
The deduplication feature can be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for almost five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Their support is good.
How was the initial setup?
It is a bit complex, but it is a good solution to work with.
The deployment duration depends on the size of the project. For a big project, it takes around 7 to 10 working days to deploy it and do all the configurations.
What about the implementation team?
We deploy it for our customers. The number of people required for the deployment depends on the project. It could be a one-person team, or it could be a five-person team. It is based on the complexity and the size of the project.
In terms of maintenance, two people can easily manage a setup of about 50 servers.
What was our ROI?
Its ROI is good.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Its price is a bit high. There is only the standard fee. There is no additional fee.
What other advice do I have?
You should have the right skill set because these are complex projects. If you have the right skill set and the right partner with you, it is easy to implement. You should check that the partner or the team you are engaging for this project is technically certified and experienced to handle such a project.
I would rate it an eight out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Service Engineer at a performing arts with 201-500 employees
Reasonably priced, and reliable, but the the support could be more knowledgeable
Pros and Cons
- "Compression is the most valuable feature."
- "There is no training provided, and their technicians are unaware of the features available."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use Veritas Backup Exec for backup.
What is most valuable?
Compression is the most valuable feature.
What needs improvement?
Technical support could be better. In most cases, we must learn and resolve issues on our own. There is no training provided, and their technicians are unaware of the features that are available.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Veritas Backup Exec for one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
So far, it has been stable. However, in order to prevent problems, you should use their most recent platform.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In terms of Scalability, we haven't done much with it. I'm not sure how scalable Veritas is because we only have three or four sellers on one site.
We have multiple sites, and each one is managed by a different Backup Exec.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support needs improvement.
It is difficult to find a technician, or even a knowledgeable person because most of their technicians are not well-versed in their product.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Veritas was already in place.
We installed Veeam for a new client a few months ago.
The installation of Veeam was hectic. It was difficult at first, and the process took longer than we had anticipated.
It required a lot of other applications. It has several dependencies, even at the client.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is intermediate. You should at least be familiar with it before you install it. It's not easy.
What about the implementation team?
We completed the installation with the assistance of a consultant.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is reasonable for the features it offers.
What other advice do I have?
We are resellers. We offer products for our clients as well as installation.
I would rate Veritas Backup Exec a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: reseller
Tape Library Associate at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
A great back-up solution that recovers data, applications, databases and systems
Pros and Cons
- "The ease-of-use in general is great."
- "If you keep it for too long and the catalog gets really big, the application tends to move slowly."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for file backups. We use it for Veeam, Exchange, and Sharepoint.
Within our organization, roughly five people had access to this solution.
What is most valuable?
The ease-of-use in general is great.
What needs improvement?
What I didn't like about it is that sometimes, even though it says that it's successful, there are some bugs in it — it's not really successful. Sometimes, I would do a backup and it would say that it was successful but then when I tried to restore it, it's not in the catalog to restore. Then I have to go digging into my email to see if I have a copy of that catalog, then go and find it and restore it. In short, I think there is an issue with the cataloging.
Other than that, it runs pretty fine. If you keep it for too long and the catalog gets really big, the application tends to move slowly because of how big the catalog and the database is getting. We kept on upgrading to the newer version; after a while, it just began to move slow, even if we updated and imported the catalog and the data.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Veritas Backup Exec since 2015.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Veritas Backup Exec is quite stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
For small enterprises, Backup Exec works flawlessly; However, they were trying to push us to their bigger enterprise backup, which was NetBackup. When I left my previous company, we were actually in the phase of implementing NetBackup. They recommend NetBackup for larger enterprises.
Overall, It scales up, but only to a certain point. If you want something bigger, you should look into NetBackup.
How are customer service and technical support?
I would give the technical support a rating of seven. Sometimes it feels like their reps are not trained enough.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was quite straightforward. I didn't try to make it any more complex than it already was.
Deployment is really quick; It took us less than one day.
What other advice do I have?
It's very easy to use. It's easier than all of the other backup solutions available. In terms of ease-of-use, Backup Exec is the most straightforward one that I have dealt with.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of eight.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Updated: January 2025
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Most companies do want to see their data is safe when the IT guy tells them so but unfortunately most small to medium organizations don’t have that cash flow to invest into these solutions that’ will give them the needed rest. It’s about time software OEMs take a second look at their targets and cost implications to attract more customers from within these organizations