Rubrik and Other Alternatives for 2023

As we move into 2023, data backup and recovery are as important as ever especially if you’re a business. In this article, we will discuss one of the best options for safeguarding your data (Rubrik), why it has been a popular choice in recent years, and other options to explore if you’re looking for a better fit for your business.

Data Security & Its Importance

Data security has become a crucial aspect of data management for modern companies. As cyber-attacks and ransomware attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, data protection has become an essential measure to protect from data breaches and data theft. The use of data security tools such as firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption is key in order to ensuring data is not accessible by malicious actors. By taking these measures, businesses can reduce the risk of disruption due to cyber threats and protect their valuable data assets.

Data Protection Strategy

Data protection is an incredibly important consideration for businesses of all sizes. The sensitive data held and used regularly by these organizations must be kept secure, and the only way to guarantee this is through a robust strategy that encompasses the use of state-of-the-art software solutions as well as additional layers of security, especially if you do not have dedicated security teams. If not, it could be lessons learned the hard way in case something does happen. Safeguarding important data should always be a high priority.

For organizations, a data protection strategy provides a strong foundation from which companies can springboard into further security measures, and lays the groundwork for prompt and efficient recovery if any sensitive information is accessed illegally. Investing in a data protection plan ensures businesses have the necessary means to keep their sensitive data safe, while also training their employees on how to handle data securely. This proactive approach to protecting sensitive company information gives businesses a huge advantage when it comes to cybersecurity.

Disaster Recovery (Using Backup Data)

Technology has greatly improved the ability of organizations to recover data in the event of an attack, natural disaster, or human error. Backup data is a vital tool businesses rely on when they experience data loss. Companies can provide their users with cybersecurity measures that reliably analyze for attackers and protect against threats and also use backup technology to safeguard against malicious activity and protect business data volumes.

By having access to all of the necessary historical information from the past, organizations can quickly and easily recover from such events. The importance of backup technology for recovering from disasters cannot be understated; by having secure backups, companies can continue their operations without interruption and remain in a positive state moving forward. Things such as a ransomware attack can set a business up for failure if there is no plan or security measures in place to remediate the issue.

Rubrik Security Cloud – What is Rubrik

Rubrik is a modern, cloud-based data management platform that simplifies the storage, protection, and discovery of important data. With Rubrik, users can streamline data recovery, increase compliance with key regulations, and optimize infrastructure for better performance. The platform’s intuitive dashboard allows organizations to gain insight into their environment and make critical decisions in real time.

Rubrik is a platform for backup and recovery that has become increasingly popular due to its scalability, speed, and ease of use. Rubrik offers an array of features designed to simplify the process of backing up data while reducing complexity. Rubrik allows you to set up regular backup schedules, fine-tune specific backup policies, and restore data quickly and easily. It also offers advanced security features to protect your data from ransomware and other malicious activity.

Rubrik can help improve efficiency in time-sensitive tasks such as backup, disaster recovery planning, and system testing. It enables organizations to monitor applications in virtual environments while ensuring all software versions are consistent. Overall Rubrik provides a comprehensive solution to manage data at scale while maintaining control and resilience over IT infrastructures.

Although Rubrik is a great option for businesses, there are several alternatives on the market that may provide better options depending on your needs. Some of these include Veeam, Commvault, Veritas NetBackup, Unitrends, and Zerto. Each of these solutions offers different features and strengths that you can use to decide which one is the best fit for your business.

Rubrik Overview (Pros, Cons, Pricing)

Rubrik is an excellent choice for securing data, providing a unique hardware and software solution for data management.

Pros

1. Scalability: Rubrik can scale to manage large amounts of data and support multiple platforms, including on-premises, cloud, and SaaS environments.
2. Flexibility: Rubrik can be used for backup, disaster recovery, archival, and analytics, providing a comprehensive data management solution.
3. Automation: Rubrik allows for the automation of common backup and recovery tasks, which can save time and reduce the risk of human error.

Cons

1. High costs: Rubrik’s solutions can be expensive and may not be cost-effective for small businesses or organizations with limited IT budgets.
2. Complexity: Rubrik’s solutions may be complex to set up and manage, requiring specialized skills and expertise.
3. Limited support: Rubrik’s support may be limited for certain platforms or configurations, and additional services may be needed to fully utilize the solution.

Pricing

Rubrik has several different packages and in order to determine pricing for your specific needs, you must reach out to their sales team.

Trial: Rubrik does offer a free trial.

What Are The Best Rubrik Alternatives?

Although Rubrik is one of the more popular choices today for data security and management, there are other options that may be better suited for your needs. In this list, we will break down other viable options, the pros/cons, and the pricing for each of them.

For some options, they did not readily post the pricing tiers due to service complexity. Pricing for some of these options is dependent on business factors such as size and needs. For these reasons, you will need to reach out to their respective sales representatives for more information on pricing options if needed.

Veeam

Veeam is a backup, disaster recovery, and virtualization management solution for VMware and Hyper-V virtual environments.

Pros

1. Versatile: Veeam offers solutions for a multitude of platforms such as VMware, Hyper-V, Windows, Linux, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and more.
2. Simple to use: Veeam is simple and easy to use.

Cons

1. Complex licensing: some users have reported that the licensing is a bit complex.

Pricing

Veeam offers multiple different products at different price points. Visit their product licensing page for more info.

Trial: Veeam offers a 30-day free trial.

Backblaze

Backblaze is a pioneer in robust, scalable low-cost cloud backup and storage services.

Pros

1. Easy to use: Backblaze has a simple user interface that makes it easy to set up and manage backups.
2. Automatic backups: Backblaze automatically backs up all files on your computer, so you don’t have to remember to do it manually.
3. Unlimited storage: Backblaze offers unlimited storage for all plans, so you don’t have to worry about running out of space.

Cons

1. Slow upload speeds: Some users have reported slow upload speeds when backing up large amounts of data.
2. Limited file versioning: Backblaze only keeps the last 30 versions of a file, so if you need to restore an older version you may be out of luck.

Pricing

1. $7/mo per computer
2. $70/year per computer
3. $130/2-year license per computer

Trial: Backblaze offers a 15-day free trial.

CrashPlan

CrashPlan provides secure, scalable endpoint data backup solutions.

Pros

1. Automatic backups: CrashPlan automatically runs in the background.
2. Unlimited storage: CrashPlan offers unlimited storage for all plans, so you don’t have to worry about running out of space.
3. Cross-platform support: CrashPlan supports a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Cons

1. Slow upload speeds: Some users have reported slow upload speeds when backing up large amounts of data.
2. Mobile app: CrashPlan’s mobile app could use improvement.

Pricing

1. The pro plan is $10 per month per computer
2. The enterprise plan is dependent upon your business (contact sales for pricing).

Trial: CrashPlan offers a 30-day free trial.

Qumulo

Qumulo is a data storage company that provides a scale-out file storage system for on-premises and cloud environments.

Pros

1. High scalability: Qumulo’s scale-out file storage system can handle a large amount of data and can scale up or down as needed.
2. Real-time visibility and control: Qumulo provides real-time analytics and reporting capabilities with Qumulo Aware, allowing customers to have a detailed understanding of their storage usage.
3. Cloud compatibility: Qumulo’s storage system can be used in both on-premises and cloud environments, including with AWS and Google Cloud.

Cons

1. Cost: Qumulo’s storage system may be more expensive than other options on the market.
2. Limited to specific workloads: Qumulo’s storage system is primarily designed to handle large-scale, high-performance workloads such as video rendering, scientific research, and genomics. It may not be suitable for other types of workloads.

Pricing

The specific pricing for Qumulo’s products can vary based on factors such as the number of users, the amount of data being stored, and the length of the contract.

Trial: Qumulo offers a free trial.

HYCU

Hycu is a tool that allows an organization to create and manage an online library of digital assets (such as documents, images, and videos) in a simple and organized way.

Pros

1. Nutanix-specific: Hycu is specifically designed for Nutanix, which means it can take full advantage of the Nutanix platform’s features and capabilities.
2. Easy to use: Hycu’s solutions are designed to be user-friendly and easy to set up and manage.
3. Scalable: Hycu’s solutions can scale to meet the needs of large enterprises.

Cons

1. Limited platform support: Hycu only supports Nutanix, so it may not be a good fit for organizations that use other platforms.
2. Limited features: while Hycu’s solutions are designed to be easy to use, they may not have as many features as some of the more advanced solutions on the market.

Pricing

The cost of Hycu can vary depending on the specific solution, the number of users, and the amount of data that needs to be backed up and recovered.

In general, Hycu’s solutions are sold as annual subscriptions, with pricing based on the number of CPU sockets on the Nutanix cluster. Visit their site for more info on pricing.

Trial: Hycu also offers a free trial for their software.

Arcserve

Arcserve is a provider of data protection, replication, and recovery solutions. They are formerly known as Cheyenne Software.

Pros

1. Cross-platform support: Arcserve’s solutions can backup and recover data across a variety of platforms, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
2. Advanced features: Arcserve’s solutions include data deduplication, encryption, and replication features that can help organizations optimize their backup and recovery processes.
3. Support and services: Arcserve offers a variety of support and services that can help organizations implement and manage their backup and disaster recovery solutions.

Cons

1. Cost: Arcserve’s solutions can be expensive, especially for organizations with a lot of data to back up and recover.
2. Learning curve: Arcserve’s usage learning curve may be a little harder, especially for inexperienced users.

Pricing

The cost of Arcserve’s products can vary depending on factors such as the number of users, the amount of data being protected, and the specific features and functionality that are needed. Visit their website for more information on pricing.

Trial: Arcserve offers a 30-day free trial.

Carbonite

Carbonite is a company that provides cloud-based data backup and disaster recovery services.

Pros

1. Automatic backups: Carbonite automatically backs up your files, so you don’t have to remember to do it manually.
2. Remote access: You can access your files from any device with an internet connection, which makes it easy to work remotely or share files with others.
3. Affordable: Carbonite offers several plans at different price points, making it a cost-effective option for both individuals and businesses.

Cons

1. Slow restore speeds: Some users have reported slow restore speeds when trying to retrieve their data.

Pricing

1. 1-3 computers are $6/mo
2. Up to 25 computers are $24/mo
3. Computers + servers start at $50/mo

Trial: Carbonite offers free trials for its services.

Unitrends

Unitrends is a company that provides data protection and disaster recovery solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Pros

1. Comprehensive protection: Unitrends provides a range of data protection and disaster recovery solutions that can protect physical, virtual, and cloud-based systems, ensuring that all of a business’s data is secure.
2. Easy to use: Unitrends’ software is designed to be easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation.
3. Scalable: Unitrends’ products can be scaled to meet the needs of businesses of any size, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Cons

1. User interface: is not as intuitive as other competitors. It may be harder for inexperienced users to navigate.

Pricing

Use Unitrends’ Cloud Storage Cost Calculator to get an idea of how much it would cost to implement Unitrend’s service with your business.

Trial: Unitrends offers a 30-day free trial.

StorageCraft

StorageCraft is a company that merged with Arcserve and provides data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Pros

1. Comprehensive protection: StorageCraft provides a range of data protection and disaster recovery solutions that can protect physical and virtual data, ensuring that all of a business’s data is secure.
2. Flexible and Scalable: StorageCraft’s products are flexible and can be scaled to meet the needs of businesses of any size, from small businesses to large enterprises.
3. High-speed recovery: StorageCraft’s products provide fast and efficient recovery options, allowing businesses to quickly restore their systems and data in the event of a disaster.

Cons

1. Restores: speed of restorations has been reported to be slow.
2. Remote management: managing the system remotely can be a little tricky for inexperienced users.

Pricing

StorageCraft has a multitude of software solutions. Visit their software catalog here for pricing.

Trial: StorageCraft offers a 30-day free trial.

MSP360

MSP360 is a software and application service provider company that provides products and services for online backup, remote desktops, and file management.

Pros

1. Speed of deployment: MSP can utilize bulk actions which save you time in the long run.
2. Easy setup: MSP is very easy to set up and deploy within most environments.

Cons

1. Management portal: the overall aesthetics and UI of the management portal could use improvement.
2. Errors: the errors can be difficult to decipher especially when inexperienced users may be trying to troubleshoot issues.

Pricing

MSP360 has a variety of products and services. Visit their products page for more info.

Trial: MSP360 offers a trial for most if not all of their products.

Commvault

Commvault is a data management and data protection software company that provides solutions for backup, recovery, archiving, and cloud management.

Pros

1. Comprehensive data protection: Commvault provides a wide range of data protection and management features, including backup, recovery, archiving, and cloud management. This allows organizations to protect and manage their data across different environments and use cases.
2. Flexibility: Commvault software is highly configurable and customizable, allowing organizations to tailor the software to their specific needs and requirements.

Cons

1. Complexity: with Commvault’s flexibility comes complexity. It can be complex to use and configure, requiring a high level of technical expertise. This can make it difficult for organizations with limited IT resources to fully utilize the software.
2. Complex License Model: there are reports of the licensing model and how complex it can be.

Pricing

Commvault provides a customizable solution and its pricing is based on a subscription model, typically on a per-user or per-device basis. Refer to their product page for more info and to start a trial.

Trial: Commvault offers a 30-day free trial.

Druva

Druva is a data protection and management company that provides enterprise-grade data backup, recovery, and governance solutions for organizations of all sizes.

Pros

1. Comprehensive solution: that covers various types of data and devices, including endpoints, servers, cloud applications, and storage platforms.
2. Wide range of features: such as data backup and recovery, data archiving and retention, and data governance and compliance, which can help organizations meet various data protection and regulatory requirements.
3. Supports various platforms: and environments, including Windows, Mac, Linux, AWS, Azure, and more, which makes it easy for organizations to adopt and use.

Cons

1. Complex: for some users to set up and configure, especially those without IT support or expertise.
2. Not very intuitive: some users may find the software’s interface not intuitive and not user-friendly.

Pricing

The cost for Druva’s service is broken down into separate categories:

1. Data Center: credit-based, per TB
2. SaaS Applications: starts at $2/user/month
3. Endpoints: starts at $8/user/month
4. AWS Infrastructure: $7/server/month

Visit Druva’s product page for more information regarding pricing.

Trial: Druva offers a 30-day free trial.

Cohesity

Cohesity is a software-defined storage platform that simplifies data protection and management for multi-cloud and edge environments.

Pros

1. Intuitive interface: the UI is very easy to use and navigate. Things are easy to find.
2. Affordable: some users have noted that Cohesity can be cheaper than other alternatives.

Cons

1. Bugs: some users have reported known bugs with the interface.

Pricing

Cohesity has a multitude of products with different prices. Visit their site for more info.

Trial: Cohesity offers a 30-day free trial.

Zerto

Zerto is a disaster recovery and business continuity software that enables IT teams to protect, migrate, and recover applications and data across hybrid clouds.

Pros

1. Continuous data protection: Zerto provides protection continuously for peace of mind.
2. Automation: Zerto includes many automated tasks that save you time and allows you to focus on other important tasks.
3. Analytics: Zerto offers powerful analytics and monitoring tools.

Cons

1. Pricing: Zerto can be on the pricey side as reported by users.

Pricing

Zerto has several different products to choose from. Visit their pricing and licensing page for more info.

Trial: Zerto offers a 14-day free trial.

Clumio

Clumio is a cloud-based data backup platform that simplifies and automates data protection for enterprise workloads in multi-cloud environments.

Pros

1. Scalable: Clumio is readily scalable for all types of businesses, sizes, and situations.
2. Secure: Clumio is secure. It includes end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and access audits
3. Simple: when it comes to recovery, everything is simple and intuitive.

Cons

1. Newer product: Clumio was launched in 2017 so it is a newer developing product and may not be as popular an option as other competitors.

Pricing

Clumio features a pay-as-you-go service. See their prices here.

Trial: Clumio offers trials for their various services.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we looked at one of the most popular options for data backup and recovery (Rubrik) and how it stacks up to some of the top contenders for 2023. Rubrik has emerged as one of the most effective data backup and recovery solutions for businesses balancing operations in the cloud age. It allows businesses to quickly restore critical data if a disaster occurs, saving invaluable time and resources.

There are numerous alternatives to Rubrik, such as Backblaze, Veeam, and other options that were listed in this article that offer similarly attractive features while tailored to meet more specific requirements. Regardless of the option chosen, businesses should always ensure they are picking a solution that is best suited for their environment, and which offers the best protection possible for their operations.

To learn more useful business tools that can be leveraged by your business to save time and money, check out our other content.