Symantec updates SME storage

Security vendor Symantec has released Backup Exec 2010 R3; an updated version of its backup and recovery software for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), reports InformationWeek.

The security company says it will add appliance and cloud-based versions of its Backup Exec suite later this year.

Backup Exec's client-side software has around 1.5 million customers, according to Dave Elliott, Symantec's senior product marketing manager for Backup Exec.

While the flagship version remains a part of Symantec's plans for Backup Exec, adding appliance and cloud delivery models could expand the vendor's potential SME reach by becoming a one-stop backup shop.

ComputerWorld reveals that both Backup Exec and Netbackup is what Symantec is calling its V-Ray technology; which offers storage administrators a view of backups across virtual and physical server backup environments through a single console.

“Typically, you have to mount and restore all files from a virtual machine in order to find the one file you want,” explains Sean Regan, senior director product marketing for Symantec's information management group.

“Now you can go in from NetBackup and Backup Exec to restore a single file,” adds Regan.

According to eChannel Line, the solution gives small companies an option to choose a software-as-a-service offering.

Monica Girolami, Symantec SME senior product marketing manager, says: “It's really for the very price sensitive market where IT is not a strategic priority.”