Scality launches Veeam backup appliance for mid-size firms

Scality has launched ARTESCA+ Veeam HA, a unified backup appliance that combines Veeam Data Platform with Scality ARTESCA object storage. It is aimed at mid-size organisations seeking highly available backup infrastructure.

The new system builds on an earlier single-node version with a multi-node design that delivers high availability across the backup software, configuration database and storage layer. According to Scality, it is the first integrated software appliance to use the native high-availability features of the Veeam Software Appliance.

Organisations can run backup software and object storage on the same hardware without separate plugins or extra servers. Scality says the architecture removes single points of failure and allows the system to keep operating if one node goes down.

The product is aimed at customers that want immutable backups and simpler deployment, particularly in the mid-market, where IT and security resources are often more limited than in larger enterprises. Scality says the appliance scales from 50 TB to 10 PB, expanding its reach from smaller mid-sized deployments to larger estates.

Backup focus

The launch comes as backup repositories become a more prominent target for ransomware attacks. Scality cited Veeam data showing that more than 90% of attacks now target backup repositories, increasing the importance of systems that can preserve clean copies of data for recovery.

ARTESCA is built around S3 Object Lock in compliance mode, which is designed to prevent stored backup data from being altered or deleted during a defined retention period. Scality says this applies even if an attacker or administrator attempts to modify the data.

The appliance also uses a predefined firewall and follows zero-trust and least-privilege principles. By keeping traffic between Veeam and ARTESCA internal to the appliance, Scality says access credentials are not exposed to end users and the attack surface is reduced compared with separate deployments.

The launch also includes a USD $100,000 cyber guarantee for ARTESCA customers. Scality says it applies if an external cyberattack compromises immutably stored data, and that all customers using the product qualify automatically.

High availability

Scality says the appliance delivers three layers of resilience: Veeam Data Platform v13 and the Veeam Software Appliance for application high availability, database high availability for metadata across nodes, and ARTESCA's distributed storage architecture for storage high availability.

Packaging these layers into one appliance is intended to simplify deployment and operations while reducing the risk of manual configuration errors. Scality says deployment, integration and operation are heavily automated.

The product can be deployed on standard x86 storage servers from suppliers including Supermicro, HPE, Lenovo, Cisco and Dell. Sales will go through Scality's channel partner network.

For Veeam, the launch adds a pre-integrated option around the software vendor's newer appliance model. It also reflects a broader market shift in data protection, as suppliers try to link backup, storage and cyber-recovery functions more closely in response to ransomware threats.

Michael Cade, EMEA Field CTO at Veeam, said the integrated design could lower the operational burden for customers adopting immutable backup storage.

"Scality ARTESCA+ Veeam and the integrated high-availability features make it easier for customers to adopt immutable backups without adding complexity. By bringing the core Veeam capabilities onto the same appliance as the storage, deployment is simpler, day-to-day operations are more straightforward, and there are built-in safeguards to keep the solution running even if a component fails. The outcome is greater confidence that backups stay protected and recovery remains available when it matters most," Cade said.

Scality says combining software and storage in one platform also changes the security profile of the deployment by keeping communications internal and limiting external exposure. It positions this as a way to bring features more often associated with larger enterprises to smaller IT teams.

"By running Veeam and ARTESCA on the same platform, we eliminate external attack vectors and deliver a solution that is simple to deploy, inherently more secure, and fully highly available end to end. With triple HA, CORE5 security, and our $100,000 cyber guarantee, we are truly bringing the cyber-resilience tools of large corporations to every mid-size enterprise," Danan said.