ExaGrid 7.4.0 Adds New MSP Features for Tiered Backup Storage
▼ Summary
– ExaGrid’s Version 7.4.0 introduces features tailored for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) using its Tiered Backup Storage to protect customer data.
– MSPs can store multiple customers on a single system with separate shares for each, enabling easy customer management and data tracking for billing.
– The system ensures fast backups and restores through a disk cache Landing Zone and scale-out architecture, while reducing costs with deduplication.
– Enhanced security features include ransomware recovery per customer share, a non-network facing tier, immutable data, and AI-powered Auto Detect & Guard for data protection.
– ExaGrid supports over 25 backup applications and provides MSPs with reliable performance, predictable costs, and comprehensive support services.
ExaGrid’s latest software update, Version 7.4.0, introduces a suite of features specifically designed for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) leveraging the company’s Tiered Backup Storage platform. These enhancements help MSPs safeguard client data more effectively while streamlining operational and billing processes.
Many businesses now rely on MSPs to handle critical IT functions, ranging from specialized offerings like Backup as a Service (BaaS) and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) to full-scale management of entire data centers. A significant number of these providers already depend on ExaGrid for their storage needs. The new capabilities in version 7.4.0 empower MSPs to precisely monitor customer data consumption and, crucially, enable the restoration of a single client’s information following a ransomware incident without affecting others.
A key advantage for service providers is the ability to host multiple customers on a single ExaGrid system. Administrators can establish a dedicated share for each client, with each appliance supporting up to 35 shares and a full system accommodating 300. There is no practical limit to the number of systems an MSP can deploy. Data usage is meticulously tracked per share, generating detailed reports for accurate billing based on terabytes or petabytes consumed by each customer. These reports can illustrate usage trends over time or be exported for further analysis. Adding a new client is as simple as creating a new share, while removing one involves just deleting the corresponding share.
Performance remains a cornerstone of the platform. Backups complete quickly thanks to a unique front-end disk cache area known as the Landing Zone. A true scale-out architecture ensures that backup windows do not lengthen as data volumes increase. Restores are also rapid because the most recent backups reside undeduplicated in the Landing Zone for immediate access. Advanced data deduplication technology keeps overall storage costs lower than those of conventional storage systems.
Security and recoverability are critically enhanced. A non-network facing Repository Tier acts as a tiered air gap. This is complemented by features like Auto Detect & Guard, a Delayed Delete Policy, and immutable data objects. Together, these measures guarantee that data can be recovered even after a sophisticated cyberattack. Importantly, ransomware recovery operations can be executed at the individual share level, ensuring one client’s disaster does not impact the services of others.
ExaGrid integrates seamlessly with a broad ecosystem of over 25 leading backup applications, including Veeam, Rubrik, Commvault, and NetBackup, with support for Cohesity planned for 2026. It also offers direct integration for Oracle RMAN and SQL Dumps.
MSPs receive the same core benefits as other ExaGrid customers: reliable backups and restores, reduced capital equipment expenses, a flexible pay-as-you-grow pricing model, comprehensive security, high-quality maintenance, predictable support costs, and robust technical assistance.
A standout addition in this release is the AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock feature, Auto Detect & Guard, now available to all data center clients and MSPs. This intelligent system monitors all daily operational deletion requests on a per-share or per-customer basis. It learns normal patterns over time. If a delete request deviates from the established pattern, the system immediately alerts the IT team. Simultaneously, ExaGrid automatically extends the delayed delete policy across all shares, preventing any data in the Repository Tier from being erased. If the deletion is verified as legitimate, the team can clear the alert, and the system will revert to its original policy.
Company leadership emphasized their dedication to the MSP market. “ExaGrid is committed to helping MSPs meet their SLAs for their BaaS, DRaaS, and IT outsourced data center customers with our backup storage that provides faster backup ingest performance, fast restores, comprehensive security and ransomware recovery, with reliability,” stated Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid.
He added, “With this new release, we are pleased to offer tracking by share and our AI-Powered Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery by the share/customer. MSPs that use ExaGrid can feel confident that their customer data is well-protected and always ready for recovery.”
(Source: HelpNet Security)