Most organizations already use general-purpose clouds in some form. Microsoft represents one such cloud provider that has taken a market leading position in providing infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings. Its IaaS offering, Microsoft Azure, now represents one of the top three general-purpose clouds while Microsoft 365 may well be the #1 SaaS offering used by organizations worldwide. Yet as enterprises utilize these cloud offerings, they still must protect the applications and/or data they host in these Microsoft clouds.
To help organizations make the best choices among available data protection solutions for these Microsoft cloud offerings, DCIG has begun updating its research into them. DCIG invites technology providers that offer Microsoft Azure and/or Microsoft 365 to participate in the research taking place through January 13, 2023. (Technology providers can contact DCIG by completing the form available at this link.)
DCIG intends to publish one or more DCIG research reports based on this research into Microsoft cloud backup offerings in the 1st half of 2023. These DCIG research reports help IT decision-makers save valuable time as they succinctly analyze available Microsoft Azure and 365 backup offerings.
Changes in Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 Backup Products
DCIG’s research into Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 backup products represents a refresh of DCIG’s research into these two topics. DCIG first researched Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 (then Office 365) backup products in 2020. This research led to DCIG producing the 2020-21 DCIG TOP 5 Azure Cloud Backup Solutions Report and the 2021-22 DCIG TOP 5 Office 365 Online SaaS Backup Report.
Since DCIG first researched and produced reports on these two topics, significant changes have occurred in both markets.
Microsoft 365 Backup Solutions – Early Insights
First, on cloud-based Microsoft 365 SaaS backup products, DCIG has uncovered the following three changes in this market based upon its preliminary research:
- The number of Microsoft 365 SaaS backup providers has nearly doubled in the last two years. In 2020, approximately fifteen cloud-based SaaS backup offering existed for Microsoft 365. Now, in 2022, DCIG has identified nearly 30 products that offer cloud-based SaaS backup for Microsoft 365. This total does NOT include the on-premises backup products (~10) that also backup Microsoft 365.
- Consolidation of cloud-based SaaS backup providers has begun. While still in its early stages, in the last two years larger backup providers have acquired or merged with companies that possessed cloud-based Microsoft 365 SaaS backup offering. By way of example, Veritas acquired Hubstor. Open Text acquired two companies (Micro Focus and Zix,) both of which have Microsoft 365 backup offerings. This two are in addition to Carbonite which it acquired in 2019 which also has a Microsoft 365 SaaS backup offering. Kaseya also acquired Datto in 2022 which complements it previous acquisition of Spanning Cloud Apps in 2018. In short, these acquisitions can create uncertainty about which products will survive, or if they will survive, and what their respective futures hold.
- Emergence of application-focused backup-as-a-service (BaaS) providers. A new class of BaaS providers has emerged that primarily focus on protecting data hosted in cloud-based SaaS applications. Many backup providers got their start protecting on-premises or cloud applications and data. However, a new generation of providers only protect data residing in cloud apps and offer no options to protect file or application data. They often start by first protecting Microsoft 365 due to its popularity. They then expand to protect data stored in such applications as Google Workspace, Quickbooks Online, DropBox, Hubspot, Splunk, and others.
Microsoft Azure Backup Solutions – Early Insights
On the Microsoft Azure cloud backup side, DCIG has uncovered the following three data points in this market based upon its preliminary research:
- Fewer backup products than expected. Multiple third parties identify Microsoft Azure as one of the three largest clouds that organizations choose as an IaaS provider (others include AWS and GCP.) Despite Azure achieving this status, DCIG has only identified about 15 products that formally provide backup for the Microsoft Azure cloud in any capacity.
- Not all products available as a BaaS. Of the 15 or so products that perform backup in Azure, only about 75% of providers make their offering available as a BaaS. More notable, some of the larger, more established backup providers do not yet have a BaaS offering in their existing product portfolio.
- The more advanced products focus on multi-cloud backup. The one piece of good news is that if a provider offers a BaaS for Azure, it likely offers its BaaS in multiple clouds. This positions organizations to select a single backup offering for the multi-cloud environment that may now possess and need to manage.
Microsoft Cloud Backup Research Window Open Through January 13, 2023
The survey data collection period runs now through January 13th, 2022. DCIG bases its survey data upon publicly available and vendor-provided information. DCIG will publish the results of its analysis in the first half of 2023 as part of one or more DCIG research reports. DCIG announces the release of each report via its website and newsletter.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESEARCH PROCESS
DCIG does not charge providers to participate in the survey process or be selected as one of the top solution providers.
The survey captures data on Microsoft cloud product offerings from an end-user perspective. It contains a mix of check-all-that-apply, yes/no, and short answer questions. DCIG’s survey instrument allows multiple people from the same provider to evaluate the survey and contribute to it.
The DCIG Microsoft cloud backup reports may focus on specific market segments or use-cases. The reports highlight the positive aspects, similarities, and differences among the top products and the key capabilities that earned each product a high ranking.
DCIG RESEARCH REPORT BENEFITS
IT Executives and managers will find the results of the independent research DCIG conducts in the Microsoft cloud marketspace valuable as these reports:
- Save time discovering, researching, and analyzing available Microsoft cloud products they should consider
- Help them understand essential factors they should consider
- Identify important differentiators between top products
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE
DCIG invites all Microsoft cloud backup providers to participate in the survey research. Microsoft cloud backup providers can ensure they receive a survey by contacting DCIG on DCIG’s Contact Us web page.
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH DCIG
DCIG announces the availability of new reports and webinars via its newsletter. Announcements include links enabling individuals to download the reports at no cost. To be notified of new DCIG reports, sign up for DCIG’s free weekly newsletter. Technology providers interested in licensing DCIG blog articles or have DCIG develop custom reports or research, please contact DCIG for more information.