Veeam has acquired N2WS, which specializes in Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud backup and disaster recovery. The deal highlights the growing need for backup and disaster recovery (BDR) companies to push beyond their server and endpoint heritage to embrace cloud-centric data protection services.
N2W has offered channel-focused subscription solutions since 2013, primarily selling through the AWS marketplace. The $42.5 million buyout has at least three clear partner and customer benefits, according to the two companies:
- Veeam will have access to N2WS technology and research & development to integrate data protection for AWS workloads into the Veeam Availability Platform;
- N2WS will have access to Veeam’s R&D as well along with its experience delivering data protection for virtual and now physical environments; N2WS will also have access to Veeam’s ecosystem of alliances and partners, including nearly 55,000 resellers and 18,000 Veeam Cloud Service Providers;
- Existing Veeam customers will benefit from a soon-to-be-launched package of special offers and incentives for Cloud Protection Manager (CPM) from N2WS.
Veeam and N2WS: Strategic Partnership Paved Way for M&A
N2WS and Veeam are familiar dance partners. The companies unveiled a partnership in May 2017, at which time N2WS bolstered its executive leadership team and secured some third-party funding. Around the same time, Veeam co-founder Ratmir Timashev joined N2WS’s board of directors.
Now, the two companies see even bigger opportunities ahead.
Veeam Co-CEO and President Peter McKay described the M&A deal this way:
“As enterprises look to migrate more workloads to the public cloud, having a robust and intuitive data protection and Availability solution is imperative. By combining Veeam’s industry-leading capabilities in protecting virtual, physical and cloud environments with N2WS’ leadership in AWS data protection, we have a strong solution to deliver on the needs of the digital enterprise. N2WS has experienced incredible growth in the last 12 months and it will continue to operate as a standalone business to best position the company to provide AWS data protection - the same way Veeam transformed protection for VMware environments a decade ago. Together, we will achieve great things; this is a game-changer in every sense!”
N2WS CEO Jason Judge added:
“Joining forces with one of the world’s fastest growing software companies is very exciting for the N2WS team and for our customers. We will further accelerate our rapid growth and the development of our top-rated solutions by leveraging the world-class team that Veeam has established. We also look forward to assisting Veeam customers explore their public cloud strategies with our years of innovation in public cloud storage.”
Veeam Growth, Competition
Channel partners and strategic alliances, meanwhile, are fueling Veeam's march toward $1 billion in annual revenues. The company works mainly through IT consulting firms, integrators, CSPs and strategic partners like HP Enterprise and Cisco Systems. Stronger relationships involving MSPs, global systems integrators and distributors also are taking shape, Channel Chief Kevin Rooney and VP Dangvy (Ngo) Keller told ChannelE2E in November 2017.
Of course, Veeam isn't the only fast-growing provider of data availability and protection services for MSPs and channel partners. Other growth-minded players on the move include Datto and StorageCraft, both of which have massive partner followings. Also, upstarts like Druva and Rubrik are growing rapidly with cloud-centric data protection services. Rubrik just last week hired former Google Cloud Channel Chief Bertrand Yanouni to drive its partner program.
It's a safe bet Veeam will make additional competitive moves before and during the VeeamOn 2018 conference, set for May.
