Analyst(s): Krista Case
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
VeeamON 2025 showcased the company’s ongoing evolution into a cyber-resilience provider. Here are key takeaways and analysis from the annual customer and partner show during April 21-23 in San Diego, California, which had 1,600 on-site attendees.
Key Points:
- Product Innovation: Veeam launched a hardened Linux-based software appliance for simplified, secure deployment, expanded Universal Continuous Data Protection (CDP) beyond VMware for near-zero RPOs/RTOs, and introduced new cloud and identity protection capabilities for Microsoft Entra ID.
- AI and Intelligence Advancements: Veeam integrated AI-driven features such as intelligent data classification, malware detection, and natural language processing (NLP)-assisted recovery, along with support for Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) for enhanced compliance and eDiscovery.
- Strategic Frameworks: Veeam introduced the Data Resilience Maturity Model (DRMM), developed with McKinsey & Company, to guide organizations in evaluating and improving their cyber-resilience across technical and operational areas.
Overview:
At VeeamON 2025, Veeam reinforced its evolution from a traditional backup vendor to a broader cyber-resilience enabler. Its strategy remains anchored around five pillars—backup, recovery, portability, security, and intelligence—while expanding its managed Veeam Data Cloud portfolio to cover modern workloads such as Microsoft 365 and Kubernetes. Cybersecurity is front and center, with ransomware threats accelerating the need for resilient data protection and inspiring Veeam’s acquisition of Coveware and expanded cybersecurity partnerships.
Veeam’s 2025 product innovations include a pre-configured, hardened Linux-based software appliance designed for streamlined, secure deployment across diverse environments; expanded Universal CDP for broader workload coverage; instant recovery of Windows and Linux backups to Azure VMs via Veeam Cloud Data Vault; and a SaaS-based identity protection service for Microsoft Entra ID. These additions improve Veeam’s cyber-resiliency capabilities and competitive position.
The company is taking a careful but strategic approach to AI, focusing on two tracks: enabling AI to streamline backup operations (through intelligent data classification, malware detection, and NLP-guided recovery) and securing AI workloads by protecting data pipelines, vector databases, and model artifacts. It also announced support for Anthropic’s MCP, allowing AI agents to query Veeam backup repositories for compliance, discovery, and enrichment use cases—positioning Veeam for the emerging era of active data intelligence.
To complement its product advancements, Veeam introduced the Data Resilience Maturity Model (DRMM), developed with McKinsey & Company. DRMM offers a structured framework for organizations to assess and improve their data resilience practices across technology, process, and behavior, addressing a major gap, as most organizations fall short of best practices. It supports Veeam’s shift toward more consultative selling and deeper engagement with IT and security decision-makers.
Recommendations for Veeam include addressing AI data resiliency needs with clear, use case-driven value; continuing to emphasize platform simplicity and baked-in security; expanding consultative selling and ecosystem partnerships in cybersecurity; and staking a stronger ground in identity protection and cloud delivery models.
What to Watch:
- Customer adoption of the hardened appliance and AI-powered resilience capabilities.
- How organizations adapt data infrastructure for secure AI usage.
- Veeam’s execution of its consultative sales strategy using DRMM.
- The impact of its strategic security ecosystem partnerships on market traction.
The full report is available via subscription to the Cybersecurity IQ service from Futurum Intelligence—click here for inquiry and access.
For more detailed insights from the event, see Veeam’s press releases.
About the Futurum Cybersecurity Practice
The Futurum Cybersecurity Practice provides actionable, objective insights for market leaders and their teams so they can respond to emerging opportunities and innovate. Public access to our coverage can be seen here. Follow news and updates from the Futurum Practice on LinkedIn and X. Visit the Futurum Newsroom for more information and insights.
Image Credit: @ChernogorovPhotography, Veeam
Author Information
With a focus on data security, protection, and management, Krista has a particular focus on how these strategies play out in multi-cloud environments. She brings approximately 15 years of experience providing research and advisory services and creating thought leadership content. Her vantage point spans technology and vendor portfolio developments; customer buying behavior trends; and vendor ecosystems, go-to-market positioning, and business models. Her work has appeared in major publications including eWeek, TechTarget and The Register.
Prior to joining The Futurum Group, Krista led the data protection practice for Evaluator Group and the data center practice of analyst firm Technology Business Research. She also created articles, product analyses, and blogs on all things storage and data protection and management for analyst firm Storage Switzerland and led market intelligence initiatives for media company TechTarget.
