With the evolution of virtualization technology, many businesses and individuals are exploring VMware alternatives that can offer unique features at more affordable prices. Today, different options are available, depending on your specific needs.

Whether you’re looking for a more budget-friendly solution, open-source flexibility, or specialized capabilities, the market has different alternatives that can provide excellent performance and a wide range of virtualization features. Here are five of the best options to consider.

Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure

Virtuozzo Hybrid infrastructure is a cloud platform designed for service providers, enterprises, and software vendors, which OpenStack fully manages. The platform offers an efficient and secure solution tailored for cloud-native applications, artificial intelligence, and machine learning projects. Virtuozzo Hybrid integrates virtualization, orchestration, and storage technologies into a single hyper-converged platform, simplifying cloud management, ensuring rapid deployment, and saving capital.

The platform includes KVM-based virtualization, Kubernetes orchestration, storage based on software, and S3-compatible object storage. It also consists of an in-built load balancer, management tools that help streamline operations and are very easy to use, and a backup. It allows users access to resources through a self-service portal, allowing for quick provision and monitoring of computing, network services, and storage.

Key use cases include building private or public clouds, running cloud-native applications, and providing disaster recovery solutions. Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure also supports virtual machines, persistent storage for Kubernetes, and high-availability configurations for critical applications. Integration with Storware Backup and Recovery adds a layer of security to data stored and processed on the Virtuozzo infrastructure.

This platform’s advanced features help businesses reduce complexity and operational costs. Its secure, software-defined networking uses VXLAN encapsulation for isolated environments, while built-in analytics and alerting enhance performance monitoring. A unified management console simplifies control of all infrastructure layers.

Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure supports easy scalability, allowing businesses to grow incrementally by adding servers or disks. Data redundancy protects against hardware failure, supporting VM volumes, NFS, and S3 storage types. Compatibility with third-party systems, such as WHMCS and CloudBlue, offers flexible integration options. The multi-tenant architecture isolates shared environments while full Windows guests support adequate desktop and server deployments.

Virtuozzo Hybrid Infrastructure, designed with unimaginable hardware and software capabilities, provides users with ready-to-use cloud solutions that improve performance, enhance reliability, and lower the cost of ownership.

VergeOS

Verge.io, founded in 2010 and based in Clarkston, Michigan, is dedicated to simplifying the complexity and high costs often associated with modern IT infrastructure. Verge.io aims to revolutionize data center operations by providing a streamlined, efficient solution. Its primary offering, VergeOS, is an integrated operating system that combines virtualization, storage, and networking into a single platform. This system maximizes existing hardware use while ensuring high data resiliency and performance levels.

The company’s vision stems from a belief that IT infrastructure has become unnecessarily complex and expensive. Verge.io started by breaking away from the traditional, fragmented IT model that relies on separate, siloed components for each function.

Instead, they created VergeOS, a single piece of software that runs on standard, affordable hardware powered by AI and machine learning for self-management and optimization. This innovative approach allows IT generalists, even those without specialized knowledge, to deploy entire virtual data centers quickly and easily without costly hardware or time-consuming setups.

One key benefit of VergeOS is its ability to extend the lifespan of hardware. By removing the reliance on specific hardware compatibility lists and optimizing resources through AI, VergeOS helps businesses avoid the costly cycle of frequent hardware upgrades. This reduces capital expenditures and cuts operational costs, making IT infrastructure more accessible to companies of all sizes.

Verge.io is changing the IT landscape by providing a more straightforward, affordable solution that reduces the complexity of traditional systems. This empowers businesses to manage their data centers more effectively and efficiently.

Proxmox VE

Proxmox VE is a platform that manages virtual machines, VMs, and containers designed to help businesses and individuals set up and manage virtualized environments simply and cost-effectively. It is a completely integrated solution that combines virtualization and technology into a single platform, allowing versatility and a wide range of use cases.

Promox VE can manage virtual machines and containers using the Kernel-based Virtual Machine for VMs and LXC. It can also use Linux Containers for lightweight, faster, and container-based virtualization. This feature makes it an excellent choice for those who want to get the best of both functions. Promox VE offers a web-based interface for efficiently managing virtual environments. It is designed to simplify tasks that require a lot of manual effort and act as an interface for users who want more control over their systems.

The platform allows for high availability and clustering, which is crucial for companies looking to ensure that their systems are always resilient and online. You can integrate Proxmox VE with backup solutions to protect your data and setups. To learn more about Proxmox VE backup solution read Proxmox Backup Server vs. Storware Backup and Recovery.

Although Proxmox VE is a free platform, it provides subscription options and features for those who want a wider range of assistance. Proxmox is open-source. Therefore, it is a popular choice for companies looking for scalable virtualization solutions without paying exorbitant fees for proprietary software.

Nutanix

Nutanix is a technological company that has revolutionized IT infrastructure, particularly its hyper-convergence (HCI) solutions.

Previously, the traditional silo system was expensive and ineffective, not allowing the different parts of the company’s infrastructure to communicate. However, Nutanix has solved this by integrating the system, making it easier for businesses to manage their IT resources.

Nutanix has evolved to support hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Therefore, companies can manage their on-site infrastructure, cloud resources, and edge devices without using different platforms. Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure and Nutanix Prism help to manage and monitor virtual environments using machine learning, performance optimization, and security features.

Meanwhile, Nutanix is also flexible. Its software is not tied to specific hardware. Instead, it can run on equipment from different suppliers. This includes Dell and Lenovo and cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft Azure. Thus, businesses have the freedom to choose the best solutions for them.

In recent years, Nutanix has expanded its offerings. It now offers tools for database management, cloud cost optimization, and remote or edge environments. Thus, it plays a significant role in helping businesses simplify their processes and improve efficiency as IT ecosystems become more complex.

OpenMetal

OpenMetal is a technology company that provides cloud-based solutions and management services to businesses of various sizes worldwide. Its primary goal is to give users easier access to open-source technologies, empowering individuals and teams to contribute to tech communities. The platform aims to benefit users by positively impacting the future of IT.

OpenMetal’s key feature is its strong commitment to open-source technologies. It has made OpenStack and other open-source systems accessible for teams of different sizes. The platform helps grow the technological ecosystem built on collaboration and shared knowledge.

OpenMetal stands out by providing cost-effective solutions that combine the best of various technologies. These solutions combine the flexibility and power of bare metal, the ease of public cloud, and the security and control of private cloud infrastructure. Building and maintaining a private cloud had previously been costly and complex. Thus, only large enterprises with substantial resources could access this resource. OpenMetal changes this by offering hosted private cloud solutions, enabling organizations of all sizes to leverage the benefits of private cloud technology without heavy investments.

In addition to its hosted private cloud solutions, OpenMetal also provides dedicated bare metal servers. This ensures businesses have a wide range of options to meet their specific IT needs. Ultimately, OpenMetal’s mission is to empower organizations with high-performance, cost-effective infrastructure that competes with traditional public cloud services. It does this while simplifying cloud management and fostering open-source contributions.

Conclusion

The growing demand for VMware alternatives has led to the emergence of different solutions tailored to various business needs. Platforms like Virtuozzo Hybrid, Verge.io, Proxmox VE, Nutanix, and OpenMetal offer a range of benefits, from cost-efficiency and simplicity to robust scalability and advanced cloud capabilities.

Choosing the right option depends on budget, infrastructure requirements, and desired features. Businesses can enhance their IT environments by evaluating these alternatives. This would also help reduce complexity and improve companies’ overall performance.

For every option, including VMware, Storware provides reliable data backup. You can easily book a free session with our engineer and see how to protect your data from cyberattacks, accidental or intentional deletion or other worst-case scenarios.

Proxmox Backup Server and Storware Backup and Recovery are robust solutions for backing up Proxmox VE environments. However, they have distinct features, strengths, and target user bases.

Let’s delve into a comparison to help you make an informed decision:

Proxmox Backup Server

• Open-Source and Partly Free: This is its primary advantage, making it a cost-effective choice for many. However, the free version is recommended only for testing and non-production use.
• Simple and Intuitive: Offers a user-friendly web interface for easy management.
• Limited Features: While it provides essential backup and restore functionalities, it may lack advanced features like automated DR testing and granular recovery options.
• Community Support: Relies on a strong community for support and troubleshooting.

Storware Backup and Recovery

• Free, Trial, or Commercial License: This requires a license but offers professional support and regular updates. The free license comes with community support.
• Advanced Features: This product provides a comprehensive set of features, including automated DR testing, granular recovery, advanced backup policies, and robust security options against cyber threats. It’s also perfect for mixed virtual, cloud, and physical environments.
• Scalability: Designed to scale with your infrastructure needs, supporting multi-node deployments and large-scale environments.
• Enterprise-Grade Support: Offers professional support and maintenance services.
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Key Differences

Here’s a detailed comparison between Proxmox Backup Server and Storware Backup and Recovery, focusing on key factors such as supported environments, backup functionality, scalability, security, and pricing considerations.

Supported Environments

• Proxmox Backup Server: Primarily designed to work within the Proxmox ecosystem, it is optimized for Proxmox VE (Virtual Environment) but can handle backup tasks for virtual machines, containers, and physical servers through API integration. It’s popular among Proxmox users for seamless compatibility.
• Storware Backup and Recovery: It’s a highly versatile solution that supports multiple environments, including virtual (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV), physical, and containerized workloads. It also integrates with hybrid cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and offers comprehensive data protection for endpoints, databases, and applications.

Backup Functionality and Features

• Proxmox Backup Server: This server is known for efficient deduplication and compression to optimize storage. It provides full, incremental, and differential backup options for file- and VM-level backups. Proxmox emphasizes performance, leveraging open-source components for low-cost, high-speed backup.
• Storware Backup and Recovery: This product offers a wide range of advanced backup features, such as data deduplication, compression, and application-consistent backups. Its incremental-forever backup approach minimizes storage usage and ensures faster recovery times. Additionally, Storware supports role-based access control (RBAC), storage snapshot integrations, and granular recovery options for databases and applications.

Scalability and Flexibility

• Proxmox Backup Server: Designed to scale well within the Proxmox ecosystem, suitable for small to medium-sized environments or organizations heavily reliant on Proxmox VE. Its open-source nature provides flexibility but may require customizations or additional tools for large-scale or hybrid environments.
• Storware Backup and Recovery: Built with scalability in mind, Storware can handle small and enterprise-level deployments across diverse infrastructures, including multi-cloud and hybrid setups. Its centralized management interface makes it ideal for large-scale operations with complex backup requirements across varied environments.

Security and Compliance

• Proxmox Backup Server: This server includes data encryption (AES-256) for backups, both in transit and at rest. While it has essential security features, compliance with enterprise-level security or regulatory standards may require additional configurations or external tools.
• Storware Backup and Recovery emphasizes enterprise-grade security with end-to-end encryption (complying with FIPS 140-2), air-gap backup, multi-factor authentication, RBAC, and advanced compliance reporting. Its robust security features align well with industry compliance standards, often essential for regulated sectors.

Integration and Compatibility

• Proxmox Backup Server: Highly compatible with Proxmox products and offers some REST API integration for third-party tools. However, its ecosystem is primarily tailored for Proxmox VE and may need more compatibility with broader infrastructures.
• Storware Backup and Recovery: Provides extensive integrations, supporting a range of hypervisors, storage solutions, and cloud providers. This makes it ideal for organizations using mixed environments and those looking to adopt a unified backup solution across platforms.

Pricing and Licensing

• Proxmox Backup Server: It is open-source and offers optional subscription plans for enterprise support. This makes it highly cost-effective, especially for Proxmox environments, although support options are limited compared to commercial alternatives.
• Storware Backup and Recovery: Licenses are priced based on storage or endpoint counts, offering flexibility for various business needs. Storware’s model includes support and feature upgrades, which can benefit businesses needing high-level support and regular updates.

Which One is Right for You?

• Suppose you’re primarily using Proxmox VE and have limited backup needs. The Proxmox Backup Server may be a great fit due to its cost-effectiveness, seamless integration, and efficiency within the Proxmox ecosystem.
• If you require a more robust, scalable, and versatile solution with extensive integration across multiple environments and need enterprise-grade security and compliance, Storware Backup and Recovery would likely be a better choice. It’s particularly suited for businesses operating in complex, multi-environment setups.

Each solution has its strengths, so the choice depends on the complexity of your infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and budget.

You can test Storware Backup and Recovery for free or book a one-on-one demo session with our engineer who will be happy to answer all your questions and concerns.

The new EU regulation, DORA, is set to significantly enhance the protection of customer funds and data within financial institutions.

DORA officially entered into force on January 16, 2023. Since then, financial institutions have begun preparing to meet the new requirements, although compliance was not initially mandatory. However, the regulation will become fully enforceable on January 17, 2025.

DORA consolidates various initiatives from different European regulatory authorities, including the European Central Bank (ECB), into a single document. Essentially, DORA impacts every participant in the financial market, including banks, investment firms, asset management companies, digital asset providers, insurance companies, and others.

In Poland alone, the regulation will apply to 29 commercial banks, nearly 500 cooperative banks, over 40 payment institutions, and notably, dozens of IT solution providers.

Under DORA, financial institutions are obligated to manage information and communication technology (ICT) risks, report incidents, test operational resilience, manage third-party (ICT service providers) risks, and share information with other entities in the financial sector.

Steeper Penalties and Greater Order

While banks are accustomed to regulations, DORA introduces several new elements. It all began in 2002 with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which increased the responsibility of boards in financial reporting and internal controls. Then came Basel I, II, and III, PCI DSS, and numerous other regulations. So, what new aspects does DORA bring to regulations for financial institutions?

Three factors are worth highlighting:

• DORA unifies digital security regulations in the financial sector. Regulations for the industry are scattered across various legal acts, and sometimes they simply do not align well with one another.
• The introduction of individual penalties for board members ensures that compliance cannot be ignored. The penalties are quite severe, with maximum fines reaching up to €10 million. In the case of serious or repeated violations, the fine can be doubled, and in extreme situations, imprisonment is not excluded. This personal risk emphasizes the need for top-level managers to be actively involved in ensuring compliance with DORA.
• For the first time, regulations include IT system providers. DORA changes the game, as financial institutions are now obligated to impose requirements on IT infrastructure providers. In practice, this means financial entities can only contract external ICT service providers that meet high and up-to-date information security standards. Moreover, certain oversights may result in penalties for infrastructure providers.

The regulation sets the bar quite high—not only for IT hardware and software manufacturers but also for cloud service providers and MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers).

DORA and Data Protection

According to data from Check Point, banks operating in Poland must fend off more than 1,600 attacks daily. Hackers target only the military and public institutions more frequently in the country. A similar situation exists in the United States, where the financial sector ranks second in the frequency of cyberattacks.

Attackers have straightforward goals—they want money or data, and financial institutions have both. Banks and insurers handle vast amounts of personal and financial data, including bank accounts, transaction details, investment information, and credit histories. These organizations manage highly sensitive data, and breaches can result in severe consequences for both customers and the institutions themselves. For this reason, the financial sector pays close attention to the ever-growing body of privacy and data protection regulations.

The latest of these is the aforementioned DORA, which clearly defines requirements for financial institutions regarding data backup and recovery. Their obligations include configuring backup systems capable of withstanding cyber incidents, system failures, and disruptions. Notably, DORA emphasizes that creating backups is not just an IT issue but a management responsibility requiring oversight and approval from executive leadership.

Article 12 – Data Protection Guidelines

Article 12 of the DORA regulation provides detailed guidelines on the principles, procedures, and methods for data backup, restoration, and recovery. According to these provisions, financial entities are required to develop and document rules and procedures for backing up and recovering data.

The document must specify the scope of data to be backed up and the frequency of backups. When determining RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective) for each function, it is essential to consider its criticality and the extent to which disruptions would harm the entity’s financial performance and service continuity.

In addition to regular backups of critical systems and data, DORA mandates periodic testing of backup procedures and recovery methods. Financial institutions are also required to establish clear procedures for both internal and external communication during incidents. This ensures timely and effective responses, including notifying relevant authorities and customers.

Financial institutions must conduct post-incident reviews to maintain the highest levels of data integrity. These reviews should also be carried out during the reconstruction of data from clients and partners to ensure the consistency of all data transferred between systems.

DORA also specifies requirements for central securities depositories, which must maintain at least one secondary data processing site:

a) A safe distance from the primary processing site to prevent the same event from affecting both locations.
b) Capability to ensure continuity of critical functions at the same level as the primary site or at a service level sufficient to carry out recovery processes.
c) Immediate access for financial entity personnel to ensure the continuity of critical functions if the primary site becomes unavailable.

Data Protection for SaaS

Cloud applications are the largest source of data breaches, according to 60% of respondents in The 2024 State of SaaS Resilience survey.

However, half of the respondents mistakenly believe that cloud service providers (CSPs) are solely responsible for data protection. In reality, CSPs operate under a shared responsibility model, meaning they are responsible for the security of the cloud infrastructure and the solutions they offer, while users are responsible for securing their own data and applications within the cloud.

Unfortunately, misunderstanding this principle often results in data loss caused by employee errors or cyberattacks. This issue affects banks, insurance companies, and fintech organizations alike. However, with the implementation of DORA, the situation is set to change. Financial institutions, when signing contracts with SaaS providers, will now inquire about the ability to obtain a complete copy of their data—questions that will be raised as early as the procurement stage.

If the service provider does not offer backup services, the responsibility will fall on the user. In such cases, backups must be stored in a separate local system or in the cloud of another provider.

How does Storware Backup and Recovery support Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)?

Storware Backup and Recovery software aligns with the principles of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) by providing robust data protection, ensuring operational continuity, and supporting compliance with regulatory requirements. Here’s how Storware helps companies meet DORA’s key principles:

1. ICT Risk Management Framework

• Centralized management console to monitor backup and recovery activities.
• Reporting and alerts for backup failures
• Supports enterprise-wide implementation of ICT risk strategies.

2. Incident Reporting

• Logs and audit trails for all backup and restore operations, facilitating incident detection and reporting.
• Detailed insights into data integrity issues or failures.
• Automated reporting features to notify of anomalies or recovery scenarios.

3. Digital Operational Resilience Testing

• Built-in recovery testing features ensure backup data is recoverable and operational.
• Non-disruptive testing capabilities to verify disaster recovery plans without impacting live environments.
• Tools to simulate different failure scenarios and measure recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs).

4. Third-Party Risk Management

• Supports backup of data across diverse environments, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid setups, ensuring resilience against third-party failures.
• Vendor-neutral architecture minimizes dependency on any single third-party provider.
• Data encryption and access controls to secure data managed by external service providers.

5. Information Sharing

• Facilitates collaboration with IT and security teams by providing clear reports and analytics on backup-related events.
• Promotes a unified approach to managing cybersecurity threats through visibility into data protection workflows.

6. Governance and Oversight

• Role-based access controls (RBAC) and user activity tracking ensure accountability within the organization.
• Simplifies audits with detailed documentation of backup configurations and recovery processes.

7. Critical ICT Providers Oversight

• Works seamlessly with major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and ensures their data protection meets compliance requirements.
• Encrypts backups and ensures secure data transfer, reducing risks from third-party vulnerabilities.

8. Adaptation and Compliance

• Regular updates to the software ensure compatibility with evolving cybersecurity threats and regulations.
• Flexible deployment options enable organizations to adapt their data protection strategy as needed.
• Compliance-friendly features such as encryption, immutability, and detailed reporting support adherence to regulatory standards like DORA.

By delivering resilient, secure, and adaptive backup and recovery solutions, Storware enables financial entities to meet the stringent requirements of DORA, ensuring business continuity and safeguarding critical data in an increasingly digital and regulated environment.