What is our primary use case?
Our main use case for Veeam Backup for AWS is to automate backups by creating policies for regular snapshots, such as daily or weekly backups of production servers. For example, we use an application running on EC2, and we ensure its data is backed up consistently so that in case of any issues such as accidental deletion, ransomware, or instance failure, we can quickly restore it.
We also monitor backup job statuses regularly to make sure everything is running successfully and troubleshoot any failed jobs. Occasionally, we perform restore tests to validate that backups are working properly and meet our recovery objectives.
What is most valuable?
In my opinion, one of the best features of Veeam Backup for AWS is its cloud-native backup with policy-based automation. Once we define backup policies, it automatically handles snapshots and scheduling without much manual effort, which really simplifies day-to-day operations. Another key feature I appreciate is the flexible restore capability.
We can restore at different levels, including full EC2 instance, specific volumes, or even individual files, which is very useful during real incidents. From a security perspective, features such as encryption and immutable backups are very important, especially for protecting against ransomware and ensuring data integrity. Additionally, the ability to copy backups across regions or accounts is very useful for disaster recovery scenarios, helping us ensure business continuity.
Overall, automation, flexibility in recovery, and strong security are the top features that stand out for me.
What needs improvement?
Overall, Veeam Backup for AWS works well, but there are a few areas where I think it could be improved. One area is cost visibility and optimization. Since it relies on AWS snapshots and storage, it would be helpful if Veeam provided more built-in insights or recommendations to better manage and optimize backup costs, especially in larger environments.
Another area is initial setup complexity, particularly around IAM roles and permissions. For someone new, it can take considerable time to properly configure everything, so more simplified guidance or automation in setup would be beneficial. I also feel that reporting and dashboards could be enhanced further, especially for enterprise use cases where more detailed and customizable reports are required for audits and compliance.
One aspect that could improve the experience is more intuitive UI navigation, especially when managing multiple backup policies across different accounts. The system works well, but more simplification would help in large-scale environments. Another area is alerting and notification. While alerts are available, having more customizable and detailed notifications, such as better integration with tools including email or incident management platforms, would improve visibility for operations teams. Additionally, some predefined templates or best practice recommendations for backup policies based on workload type would be helpful, especially for new users to get started quickly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Veeam Backup for AWS for approximately six months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Veeam Backup for AWS has been quite reliable in our environment. Once the backup policies are configured, it runs consistently with very few issues. Backup jobs complete as expected, and we have not faced any major failures, which gives us good confidence in day-to-day operations.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
From a scalability perspective, Veeam Backup for AWS scales well as our environment grows. Since it is built for cloud-native workloads, we can easily extend the backup coverage to new EC2 instances or workloads without needing additional infrastructure. As our environment expands, we simply update or create new policies, and the system handles it efficiently. We have not seen performance bottlenecks so far, even with increasing workloads.
How are customer service and support?
Overall, my experience with Veeam support has been positive. The support team is responsive, and for most issues, we receive timely assistance with clear guidance. For common issues or configuration-related queries, the resolution is usually quick, and their documentation is very helpful.
In a few cases involving more complex scenarios, it took a bit more time to troubleshoot, but the support team was cooperative and followed up properly until resolution. I would say the support quality is reliable and meets expectations, especially for enterprise use.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before using Veeam Backup for AWS, our team primarily relied on native AWS backup methods such as AWS snapshots and basic backup configuration through AWS Backup. While this solution worked, it was somewhat limited in terms of centralized management, automation flexibility, and visibility.
Managing backups across multiple workloads required more manual effort, and reporting or monitoring was not very detailed. We decided to switch to Veeam Backup for AWS mainly to obtain better automation, centralized control, and more flexible recovery options. The ability to manage backup policies in a structured way and perform granular restores was a key factor.
After switching, we have seen improvements in operational efficiency, faster recovery times, and better overall visibility, which made backup management much more streamlined for our team.
How was the initial setup?
Before finalizing Veeam Backup for AWS, we evaluated a few other options. We looked at a native solution such as AWS Backup and also considered some third-party tools including Commvault and Veritas NetBackup. While AWS Backup was simple and well-integrated, we felt it lacked some advanced features such as detailed reporting and centralized management across environments and flexible recovery options.
The other enterprise tools were quite powerful, but they were relatively more complex to manage and required additional overhead. We chose Veeam Backup for AWS because it offered the right balance of ease of use, automation, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, especially for our AWS-based workloads.
What was our ROI?
We have definitely seen a positive return on investment after implementing Veeam Backup for AWS. From a time-saving perspective, the automation has reduced manual backup management efforts by approximately 35 to 45 percent, which allows our team to focus more on critical tasks instead of routine tasks.
In terms of downtime, earlier recovery could take a few hours depending on the issue, but now we are able to restore workloads within 35 to 45 minutes, which significantly reduced the business impact. We have not necessarily reduced the number of employees, but it has improved team efficiency, meaning that the same team can handle more workloads without additional resources.
Also, from a risk perspective, avoiding even a single major data loss or downtime incident results in significant cost savings, especially for critical applications.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Overall, my experience with the pricing and licensing for Veeam Backup for AWS has been quite reasonable. Since we used AWS Marketplace, the licensing and billing process was straightforward and integrated with our existing AWS billing, which made procurement and management easier.
In terms of cost, it follows a consumption-based model, so it scales based on usage, which is good for flexibility. However, as with any cloud backup solution, costs can increase depending on snapshot storage and retention policies, so it requires proper planning and optimization.
The initial setup cost was not very high since it is cloud-native and does not require additional hardware, but some effort is needed during the configuration, especially around permissions and policies. Overall, I would say the pricing is fair for the value it provides, especially considering the automation and recovery capabilities.
What other advice do I have?
My advice would be to clearly understand your backup and recovery requirements before implementing Veeam Backup for AWS, especially in terms of RPO, RTO, and retention policies. Additionally, spend some time properly configuring IAM roles and permissions during the initial setup, as that will avoid issues later.
It is important to plan your backup policies carefully based on workload criticality to optimize both performance and cost. I would also recommend regularly testing your restores to ensure everything is working as expected and building confidence in your recovery process.
Overall, if you are running workloads on AWS and looking for a reliable automated backup solution, Veeam Backup for AWS is definitely a good option. Veeam Backup for AWS has been a reliable and effective solution for our environment. It has helped us improve backup automation, reduce downtime, and increase confidence in our recovery process. While there are a few areas for improvement such as cost visibility and reporting, the solution delivers strong value, especially for organizations running workloads in AWS. I would say it is a solid choice for anyone looking for a scalable and easy-to-manage cloud backup solution. I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)