Carbonite has launched Server Backup VM Edition for managed services providers (MSPs). The new service allows MSPs to protect virtualized environments both locally and in their own cloud. In some ways, the effort targets Veeam, which pioneered the market for virtual machine (VM) data protection.
Carbonite also refreshed its Data Protection Console, with new purpose-built backup for virtual machines. The solution allows businesses to select, manage, and recover their VM data from the company’s Console, the company says.
CEO Mohamad Ali calls the launches the culmination of one of Carbonite’s largest cross-functional efforts. “Our customers and partners are eager to have an integrated and easy to use data protection solution for both physical and virtual servers.”
Carbonite's Evolution
Under Ali's leadership, the company has been growing its backup, disaster recovery (BDR) and data protection business both organically and through acquisitions over the last few years -- adding a range of data protection and compliance capabilities for partners.
Key acquisitions have included Data Castle, DoubleTake, and EVault. The deals were seen as tuck-in acquisitions with high-performing technologies that never quite got their due in the market. It’s an approach that’s allowed Carbonite to avoid M&A bidding wars while keeping an eye on Ali’s strategy.
To tie all that technology together, Carbonite recently promoted Rob Beeler to senior VP, products and engineering.
The results are promising. Carbonite's revenues hit $77.7 million in Q2 2018, up 32 percent from the corresponding quarter last year., the company announced in August 2018.
Carbonite: Backup, Disaster Recovery Competition
Still, Carbonite faces intense competition on multiple fronts. Key rivals include Veeam in the VM data protection market, Datto in the SMB data protection sector, and a lengthy list of entrenched rivals that have evolved their data backup, recovery and secondary storage solutions for cloud services consumption models.
Veeam recently generated its 41st consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in Q3 of 2018. Additionally, that company's bookings grew more than 20 percent year-over-year (YoY). The firm's alliances business grew 128 percent year over year -- amid growing collaborations with Cisco Systems, HP Enterprise, Lenovo and Nutanix, among others.
Meanwhile, Carbonite is planning some next moves of its own. The company is set to host a Service Provider Executive Forum on October 24-25 in Boston, according to a recent email to partners. The sessions will arm MSPs with “information and tools to better succeed within our Partner Program,” the data protection company says. Meetings and face time with top Carbonite executives also will be offered.
Still, Carbonite also remains known for its direct sales efforts. While Veeam and Datto essentially bet everything on channel partners, Carbonite's recent marketing and advertising on Bloomberg Radio makes no mention of partners, and invites listeners to deal directly with the data protection company.
Additional reporting by Joe Panettieri.
