Veeam is gearing up to launch version 13 of its Veeam Data Platform (VDP) by the end of 2025. During the recent VeeamON event in San Diego, the company highlighted some exciting features.
One standout is the Veeam Software Appliance, which comes pre-configured with Veeam Backup & Replication software on a Linux server. Running on “Just Enough OS” (JeOS) enhances performance by stripping away unneeded functionalities. This setup also boosts resilience against malware, which often targets Windows systems. For instance, when Manutan faced a ransomware attack in 2021, their Veeam software protected the data, but recovery was difficult due to the compromised Windows servers. This experience likely influenced Veeam’s shift toward a Linux-based system.
Veeam also announced a partnership with Scality to offer a backup appliance based on Scality’s Artesca, focused on object storage.
Another development is the upcoming integration of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in VDP 13. This feature will connect backups to large language models (LLMs), enhancing data retrieval capabilities. Christophe Fontaine, Veeam’s technical director for Southern Europe and Africa, mentioned that this integration would leverage data from backups, even files no longer in production. Veeam ONE, their management console, will classify data to ensure sensitive information isn’t accessible to AI.
VDP 13 will also introduce an API for MCP and data classification. However, Veeam hasn’t confirmed if backup data can convert to the vector format required by LLMs, as this process demands significant computing resources.
Veeam has developed an AI chatbot that writes reports on backup status and answers questions in natural language. The depth of search depends on the customer’s subscription level. The VDP offers several service tiers—Foundation, Advanced, and Premium—each providing different features, with data classification reserved for Premium users.
As for Veeam Data Cloud (VDC), there’s uncertainty about whether MCP support will launch with VDP 13 or sooner within VDC, which protects data in the Azure cloud. VDC simplifies backups, storage, and software management while requiring on-site customers to handle their own storage solutions. It offers core VBR functionalities but adds backup capabilities for Office 365 and other Azure services, including Microsoft Entra ID and Salesforce.
VDC allows for fast, immutable backups, letting users restore servers in under five minutes.
Complete functionality from VDP will roll out in VDC by 2026, consolidating the features under “VDP on VDC.” While VBR and VDP can export backups to various cloud platforms, VDC is exclusively Azure-based.
VDC originated from the demand for backing up Microsoft 365 data and was built on the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 from 2022. Veeam’s success in this area, boasting over 23 million users, has led to the expansion of its Microsoft-focused services. Recently, Microsoft announced an investment in Veeam.
With around 550,000 customers and an annual revenue of $1.75 billion, Veeam leads the market in backup software for Microsoft 365 and Kubernetes, according to IDC and Gartner.