Backup Exec Gets Stronger: Unified Data and Identity Protection Made Simple

The Hidden Weak Point: Entra ID

As a product manager, I spend countless hours with IT generalists, backup admins, and partners. One theme keeps surfacing: even organizations with encrypted, well-planned backups remain vulnerable, because attackers don’t just target data. They target Microsoft Entra ID configurations.

Attackers do not need to crack encryption. By corrupting or hijacking Entra ID settings, they can disable access, elevate privileges, or impersonate valid users, slipping past even the strongest defenses. Weak or unprotected identity configurations can undermine the best data strategy. And it is not just malicious actors: accidental deletion, sync corruption, or failed migrations can be just as damaging, leaving teams scrambling to rebuild access structures from scratch.

Data Alone Is Not Enough: Configuration Completes the Picture

Backup Exec has long simplified protection for Microsoft 365, servers, and hybrid workloads. But Entra ID configuration protection was often treated as separate, fragmented across tools or overlooked entirely. The risks are serious:

• Compromised or deleted Entra ID settings can lock out entire teams or open backdoors for persistent threats
• Mapped access relationships make targeted attacks or accidental exposure easier
• Compliance and customer trust can evaporate if identity configurations are altered or lost

Most organizations only discover these gaps after an incident, whether an attacker’s change, an admin’s mistake, or an integration failure, when recovery is slow, painful, and costly. That is why we set out to fix this: uniting data backup and Entra ID configuration protection in one platform.

What Is New in the Latest Release

The latest Backup Exec release now includes Microsoft Entra ID configuration protection, built in for every customer at no additional charge. From the same console you already use, you can:

• Unify Resilience: Backup Microsoft 365, hybrid, virtual, physical data and Entra ID identities together in one platform
• Simplify Management: One console, one license type, guided sizing recommendations, no juggling vendors or bolt-ons
• Recover More Broadly: Restore Entra ID users, groups, apps, and relationships quickly after ransomware, deletion, corruption, or misconfiguration
• No Extra Cost: Entra ID protection is standard, no hidden fees, no separate SKU, no add-on required

More Enhancements in This Release

We did not stop at identity protection. The latest Backup Exec also delivers:

• Significantly Faster OneDrive Backups - Reduced backup windows and improved performance for high-volume environments
• Improved Scalability for SharePoint and Teams - Optimized handling of complex site structures and large datasets
• Expanded Platform and Cloud Support - Including SharePoint Subscription Edition, Windows Server 2025, OVHcloud WORM, and new AWS or Google regions

The New Backup Exec Sizing Tool

To make adoption even easier, we have introduced a standalone sizing Recommendation Tool, also included at no cost. It scans your Microsoft 365 environment and instantly recommends the optimal Backup Exec setup, right-sized for your data and identity protection needs.

This means no guesswork, no overprovisioning, and no hidden surprises. Whether you are an IT generalist or a partner sizing for multiple customers, the tool makes deployment faster and more predictable.

Why It Matters for Lean IT Teams and Partners

Lean IT teams do not have time for complex, multi-vendor solutions. With Entra ID protection included in Backup Exec, critical gaps are closed without extra overhead or extra budget approvals.

For partners, the value is just as clear: one SKU, one install, one console, and a built-in sizing tool to simplify deployment. Complete protection. No bolt-ons. No hidden costs.

A Note from Our Team

This release reflects close collaboration between engineering, customers, security experts, and our partner ecosystem. It is not about chasing features, it is about solving real, urgent problems our customers face every day. By uniting data backup with identity configuration protection, we are giving IT teams confidence that they can recover quickly, whether the issue is an attack, a sync failure, or a simple mistake.

Start Your Free 60-Day Trial to see how seamlessly Backup Exec protects both your Microsoft 365 data and your Entra ID configurations, always included, never extra.

Want the full story?

Read the official Backup Exec Press Release to see how Arctera is raising the bar for simple, unified data and identity protection.