Item: Dell Avamar
Rating: 9
Author: William Pavlock

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Our organization is currently using Dell EMC Avamar to backup all our assets around the globe (Linux, AIX, Virtuals, Windows, Mac, AS400). We presently have 22 individual systems deployed internationally to provide backup and replication protection using deduplication. We have two sites running the new IDPA (Integrated Data Protection Appliance) with a combined capacity of over 150TB and a virtual tape library. Data protection is provided by backup/restore of critical files for data loss prevention. Business data is growing at an exponential rate where storage and recovery processes are vital to speed to market. Initial installation is simple and straightforward. Backup schedules adhere it time zones across the globe and are easy to set up. Before purchasing Dell EMC Avamar other backup solutions were vetted and cost to storage and feature options were compared. The final decision came down to cost of storage and ease of setup and technical support, which of course Del EMC Avamar won us over.

Pros and Cons

Ease of setup
ROI storage to cost
Technical support

Renewing Avamar contracts internationally should be more integrated
More simplified technical support portal
Price of additional storage

Return on Investment

Return on investment has been achieved
End of life for hardware is approaching which is going to be costly
Has met our business objectives overall, but will need to reassessed during EOL transition

Alternatives Considered

I personally would put Dell EMC Avamar at the top of the list for backup/restore data protection. Given the size of the deployment and the technical expertise of the engineers the implementation was flawless and timely. We vetted other companies backup solutions against Dell EMC Avamar and Avamar came out on top because of storage cost, simplicity of setup, technical support, deduplication, single pane of glass management.

Other Software Used

Microsoft Office 365, MobileIron, VMware ESXi

Likelihood to Recommend

Dell EMC Avamar is well suited for medium to large corporations since costs are larger for storage and contracts. Deploying large scale backup/restore topology is Dell EMC's strong point. Support and upgrades are handled on a per site basis with constant connection with tech support during the process. Small to medium organizations might not need the extremely powerful features included with Avamar. And the costs may be prohibitive.

What does Dell EMC Avamar provide that others backup solutions do not?

Overall Satisfaction with Dell EMC Avamar