Arcserve UDP 10 stands as a top-tier disaster recovery solution meticulously designed to safeguard both physical and virtualized environments, offering unmatched flexibility in deployment and management. Catering to diverse business preferences, Arcserve UDP 10 is available as turnkey rack appliances or as a software-only option, suitable for installation on any on-premises hardware. This adaptive solution can be managed locally or via the cloud, making it a go-to choice for ensuring robust protection and swift recovery in the face of data disruptions. This latest iteration of Arcserve’s Unified Data Protection (UDP) introduces several enhancements that bolster its effectiveness, making it an even more compelling option for enterprises.
New Features and Enhancements
Arcserve UDP 10 has introduced several key enhancements that significantly bolster the platform’s capabilities, one of the most notable additions being an upgraded malware scanning feature. Unlike previous versions where Sophos Intercept X software was included, this iteration has adopted the Windows Defender service on the UDP host. This shift ensures that the system remains protected against malware threats without necessitating the installation of additional software, effectively streamlining security processes. The newly implemented malware scanning feature enhances overall data integrity and security, addressing modern cybersecurity challenges.
Beyond malware scanning, Arcserve UDP 10 also features a redesigned cloud console designed to facilitate an intuitive user experience. This console supports the backup and recovery of Nutanix hypervisors, enabling seamless integration and protection within existing infrastructure. The platform now accommodates Azure-hosted recovery point servers (RPS), allowing for efficient data recovery from the cloud. Additionally, Arcserve UDP 10 incorporates the usage of Google Cloud Platform as a new backup destination, broadening the options available for data storage and redundancy. Another significant enhancement is the ability to replicate an RPS to multiple locations simultaneously. This added functionality enhances redundancy and ensures that data is backed up across various geographical locations, providing greater security and reliability.
Installation and Configuration
The streamlined installation and configuration process of Arcserve UDP 10 makes it accessible to users of varying technical expertise. In a detailed case study, UDP 10 was installed on a Dell PowerEdge R760xs rack server running Windows Server 2022, opting for full on-premises control using the local management console. This setup process begins by establishing comprehensive protection plans tailored to specific business needs. Users can then add backup sources as nodes and designate appropriate backup destinations. Scheduling backup jobs is integral to the configuration, ensuring regular and consistent data protection routines.
Data backup destinations, or RPS servers, benefit from advanced features such as encryption, deduplication, and compression services. These features work together to enhance data security, minimize storage use, and improve efficiency. Moreover, Arcserve UDP 10 supports global deduplication across multiple RPS servers, further optimizing storage requirements. The ability to replicate backups to the cloud, leveraging up to 19 different cloud providers, adds a layer of versatility to business continuity strategies. This flexibility ensures that in the event of a disaster, critical data is securely stored and readily recoverable, significantly minimizing downtime and operational impact.
Virtual Standby and High Protection Flexibility
A standout feature of Arcserve UDP 10 is its virtual standby service, which significantly enhances protection flexibility. This service creates backup VMware or Hyper-V VMs of selected nodes, ensuring that there is always a ready-to-launch backup in place. The virtual standby service continuously monitors the primary node using a heartbeat service. This proactive approach ensures that if the primary node fails, the standby VM is automatically launched using the latest recovery point. This feature is critical for businesses that cannot afford prolonged downtime, offering a seamless transition and ensuring continuity.
The efficacy of Arcserve UDP 10’s malware scanning was put to the test in a real-world scenario involving preloaded malware on a Hyper-V VM. The platform successfully detected all malware within 50 minutes, highlighting alerts in the console and logging the job as failed on the dashboard. What is particularly impressive is that throughout the scanning process, CPU resource usage remained minimal, demonstrating the efficiency and reliability of the platform. This performance underscores the platform’s ability to manage and mitigate risks without compromising overall system performance.
Cloud Management and Flexibility
For users who prefer managing their disaster recovery solutions via the cloud, Arcserve UDP 10 offers substantial flexibility. The installation process can be customized by unchecking the local management console box, enabling users to shift all management functions to the cloud. This adaptability was vividly demonstrated in the article with the use of Arcserve’s migration tool, facilitating a seamless transition of all managerial actions to the cloud. This cloud-oriented approach allows for remote management of on-premises UDP installations, aligning with modern business environments that increasingly prioritize flexibility and remote work solutions.
The cloud management capabilities extend to comprehensive management of backup and restore tasks, as well as the addition or importation of new nodes and modification of protection policies via Arcserve’s cloud portal. This centralized management system is not only user-friendly but also efficient, simplifying the oversight of complex disaster recovery processes. By leveraging cloud capabilities, businesses can ensure their data is consistently protected and swiftly recoverable, enhancing their overall resilience to data disruptions.
Licensing Options and Cost-Effectiveness
Arcserve UDP 10 offers a range of licensing options designed to provide cost-effective solutions that match various business needs. The suggested list price for a single-socket premium yearly subscription of on-premises UDP 10 is £749, and this package boasts no restrictions on RPS storage usage or the number of VMs. This pricing structure makes it a viable option for businesses looking for an all-encompassing data protection solution without unexpected limitations on usage. Alternatively, Arcserve UDP 10 offers front-end TB (FETB) licenses, which are based on the raw storage space before deduplication and compression.
These FETB licenses allow for unlimited backups of systems and VMs, priced at £649 for a one-year 1TB license. This option caters to businesses with substantial data storage needs, offering a cost-effective solution that scales with storage requirements. The flexible licensing ensures that businesses can choose a plan that fits their specific needs and budget, making Arcserve UDP 10 an accessible option for enterprises of varying sizes.
Addressing Microsoft 365 Support
A significant change in Arcserve UDP 10 is the omission of Microsoft 365 support, a decision made to address the challenges faced during the authentication process in previous versions. This strategic shift suggests that users adopt Arcserve’s separate Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering to manage their Microsoft 365 data. While this shift might be seen as a drawback, it was intended to streamline and enhance user experience by providing a more tailored solution for Microsoft 365 management. The separate SaaS offering is designed to address specific requirements, ensuring a smoother, more efficient data management process for Microsoft 365 users.
The decision to remove Microsoft 365 support from the main UDP solution doesn’t detract from the platform’s overall robustness. Instead, it allows Arcserve to dedicate resources to enhancing other critical features, ensuring a comprehensive and highly efficient disaster recovery and data protection solution.
Conclusion
Arcserve UDP 10 is a top-tier disaster recovery solution expertly crafted to protect both physical and virtualized environments, offering unparalleled flexibility in deployment and management. Catering to a wide range of business needs, Arcserve UDP 10 is available as turnkey rack appliances or as a software-only option that can be installed on any on-premises hardware. This versatile solution can be managed either locally or through the cloud, making it a prime choice for ensuring robust protection and rapid recovery in the event of data disruptions. The latest version of Arcserve’s Unified Data Protection (UDP) brings numerous enhancements that significantly boost its effectiveness. These improvements make it an even more appealing option for enterprise-level data protection. It seamlessly integrates with existing systems and offers various backup strategies, ensuring minimal downtime and continuity. Arcserve UDP 10 stands out by providing comprehensive, reliable, and swift data recovery solutions, thus securing valuable business data against unforeseen disruptions.
