Highlights of the FY25 Backup Exec Partner Sales Kickoff

Just over a week since our FY25 Backup Exec Partner Sales Kick-off (SKO), the Backup Exec team is still reflecting on all the exciting conversations that took place. Our recent virtual Backup Exec Partner Sales Kick-offs (SKOs) were a resounding success, with hundreds of Veritas distributors and resellers attending worldwide.  

The events were much anticipated as our partners were seeking clarity around Backup Exec’s future direction after our recent announcement to create a new spin-off company codenamed "DataCo," comprising of the Backup Exec, Data Compliance & Governance, and InfoScale businesses. The simple answer is, it means more focus on these legendary solutions, including Backup Exec growth with our channel partners.

Focus on the unique needs of each Geo - We hosted three SKO sessions, catering to the Americas (Canada, North America and Latin America), EMEAI (Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India), and APJ (Asia-Pacific and Japan), with each session tailored to address the unique needs and opportunities of these markets. The discussions during the virtual event indicated that our partners are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and believe that these developments will deliver significant benefits to them and our customers.

Focus on customer needs in Cyber and Cloud - During the event, the Backup Exec product leadership team spoke about the new data protection challenges and the ever-evolving threat landscape which can leave businesses more vulnerable to malware threats, such as ransomware. We introduced some of the new Backup Exec product innovations and integrations, including Malware Detection, powered by Microsoft, which equips our customers with another line of defence against malware propagating within their data environment.

We also emphasized Backup Exec’s continued support for multi-cloud and the growing as-a-service model as essential to business innovation. This is in-line with our product vision and strategy of addressing our customers’ data protection needs irrespective of the data and application residency, whether in multi-cloud, Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI), on-prem, or as-a-service. We also shared solution success stories from across different geographies.

Five Key Highlights of the Backup Exec Partner SKO

1. Enhanced focus on Backup Exec.

Backup Exec has an amazing opportunity to further grow and scale its pioneering simple, secure, and unified data protection technology, and the team is committed to innovation and accelerating market growth with our dedicated sales teams and partner ecosystem.

2. Addressing Cyber Resiliency challenges and opportunities.

Cyber criminals are now using sophisticated tools to increase the frequency, speed, and scale of their attacks. Small and mid-sized (SMB) organizations are less likely to be hiring additional specialists. This leaves SMBs in need of additional support. We showcased our artificial intelligence (AI)-powered advancements which keep organizations secure and protected from ransomware attacks.

We also showcased how our latest updates including malware detection capabilities ‘democratizes’ cyber resilience through Backup Exec, giving our customers data defence tools to help them detect and recover from ransomware attacks with full confidence.

3. Recognizing Excellence and Engagement.

During the SKOs, we partnered with our regional channel leaders to recognize and celebrate our partners who have demonstrated consistent performance and engagement pertaining to the Backup Exec business throughout FY24. Their dedication and commitment have been instrumental in driving our mutual success, and we are excited to continue building on this strong foundation in FY25.

4. Product Vision and Strategy for FY25.

One of the key segments of the SKOs was outlining our product vision and strategy for the upcoming fiscal year. Our team presented the roadmap themes, highlighting the innovations and enhancements that will shape the future of Backup Exec. We are committed to empowering our partners with cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of the market.

5. Previewing the New Backup Exec Sales Plays

A major highlight of the event was the preview of the new Backup Exec Sales Plays, designed for our partners, which are strategically focused on two critical market drivers to help you accelerate your sales conversations and closed deals on:

• Cyber Resiliency: In an era where cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, our solutions are designed to help organizations build robust defences and ensure business continuity.
• Protecting Microsoft 365 Data: As more businesses migrate to cloud-based productivity tools, safeguarding M365 data has become paramount. Our advanced protection solutions ensure that our clients' critical data is secure and recoverable.

6. Celebrating Key Customer Wins.

We also shared customer success stories from each region, showcasing key customer wins that highlight the effectiveness and value of our solutions:

• EMEAI: A major public sector organization successfully integrated our Backup Exec solution, enhancing their cyber resiliency and data protection capabilities.
• AMS: A leading aerospace company leveraged our Backup Exec technology to secure their Microsoft 365 environment, ensuring robust data protection and compliance.
• APJ: A prominent multinational organization implemented our solution to safeguard multiple sites, spread across seven countries, demonstrating the critical role of Backup Exec in their data protection strategy.

Key Takeaways:

1. We are putting greater focus on Backup Exec to drive more growth and greater innovation:  The spin-off of specific Veritas product lines to form a separate and exciting new company places a renewed emphasis on Backup Exec. Several new capabilities were showcased during the SKO sessions, highlighting that Backup Exec continues to focus on innovation and improving capabilities to address changing customer requirements and market needs.
2. With the new Backup Exec, we are laser focused on the most pressing needs of SMB and SME customer - cyber resiliency and cloud: As businesses focus on strengthening cyber resilience and reducing the complexity of data protection, Backup Exec is developing capabilities to support these needs. It has many customer success stories to support these initiatives regardless of market. Partners need to realize the full protection of Backup Exec which is now beyond just data protection and disaster recovery: Backup Exec is firmly positioned to support multi-cloud, cloud-native, and Microsoft 365. Partners can leverage and sell Backup Exec for new requirements such as enhanced cyber resiliency, Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) observability, and M365 data protection without adding bolted or extra solutions.
3. We have Focused, Motivated and Inspiring Partners: The motivation and passion of our partners was palpable throughout the Backup Exec SKO sessions. The insights, strategies, and success stories shared during each of the SKOs have helped to equip our partners with the knowledge and tools they need to drive growth and success in FY25.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward in FY25, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Our focus on innovation, collaboration, and excellence will continue to drive our efforts in delivering unparalleled value to our customers and partners. Together, we will navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that FY25 presents.

Thank you to all our partners for your continued support and engagement. Let’s make FY25 a landmark year of growth and success for our joint Backup Exec business!