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May 12, 2023

VMblog #VEEAMON 2023 QA: Find Out What GRAU DATA Has Planned for the Event

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Ready for VeeamOn 2023 Expand?  Will you be in attendance?  Make sure to visit with GRAU DATA.

VeeamON 2023, the community event for data recovery experts, is taking place both physically in Miami, Florida as well as digitally as an online event. The event kicks off May 22 - 25, 2023 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.

Get started by reading this exclusive pre-show interview between VMblog and David Cerf, Chief Data Evangelist at GRAU DATA, the creators of Blocky for Veeam, protecting your backup data.

GRAU DATA logo

VMblog: Can you give VMblog readers a quick overview of the company?

David Cerf:  GRAU Data is a leading provider of software solutions for data protection, management, and archiving. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, we have earned the trust of over 2000 global customers who rely on our innovative products and expertise. As a family-owned and managed company, we pride ourselves on delivering superior solutions that meet the ever-evolving needs of our clients.

VMblog: What will VeeamON attendees be most interested to know about your company/technology? Why will they want to add you to their MUST SEE list at the show?

Cerf:  Ransomware attacks pose an ongoing and significant challenge for businesses in 2023. It is no longer a matter of if, but when a company will fall victim to such an attack, and the consequences can be severe. Traditional security solutions alone are insufficient to combat ransomware threats, and relying solely on data backups is no longer a guarantee of safety. To establish a robust defense, it is essential to fortify your backup repository, creating an impenetrable shield capable of thwarting ransomware attacks. Enter Blocky—a powerful addition to Veeam that fortifies and safeguards your backup data with an unbreakable, zero-trust architecture.

Blocky for Veeam is the unique Windows-specific solution that instantly transforms your backup repository into a WORM, creating an impenetrable barrier against ransomware corruption.

Blocky's "fingerprint" technology ensures only trusted and approved Veeam processes can modify or delete data, providing granular control and preventing unauthorized access. Installation takes only minutes in Windows environments, with no need for additional hardware or Linux.

Protect your backup data by adding Blocky to your security arsenal today and enjoy peace of mind. Every company is at risk, but with Blocky for Veeam, you can rest easy knowing your data is safe.

Visit booth B5 to see Blocky in action.

VMblog: Diving into your company's technology a bit more, can you give readers a few examples of how your offerings are unique? What are your differentiators?

Cerf:  Blocky is the ultimate ransomware solution for safeguarding Veeam backup repositories. With its innovative Windows filter driver technology, Blocky instantly transforms your Veeam backup repository into WORM (write once, read many), creating an impenetrable barrier against ransomware corruption. This technology hardens your Veeam backup environment and only permits approved and trusted Veeam processes to modify or delete data. Protect your Veeam backup data with Blocky and never worry about ransomware attacks again.

Blocky creates a unique "fingerprint" for each trusted Veeam process that accesses the Veeam backup repository, allowing for granular control and preventing any unauthorized operations. Furthermore, Blocky provides real-time, detailed event monitoring and reporting, which enables Veeam administrators to keep track of any activity and quickly detect any potential threats or anomalies.

One of the major advantages of Blocky is its seamless integration with the existing Windows backup server, making it a cost-effective solution with a smooth and straightforward deployment process specific for Veeam backup environments.

Overall, Blocky is a powerful and effective tool that is well-suited for organizations looking to enhance their Veeam backup and data protection strategies. Its unique features and capabilities, coupled with its ease of deployment, make it a must-have for any Veeam environment looking to safeguard their data against ransomware attacks.

VMblog: What does your partnership with Veeam look like? How does your product fit within the Veeam ecosystem?

Cerf:  As a Veeam Ready partner, GRAU Data offers Blocky worldwide - the essential add-on to protect your Veeam Windows environment against ransomware attacks. Blocky's installation takes just minutes and instantly turns Veeam into a hardened, zero-trust environment.  

VMblog: Can you give us a sneak peek as to what you will be showing off at your booth this year?

Cerf:  Stop by booth B5 for a live demo of Blocky. Witness firsthand how our innovative Windows filter driver technology transforms your backup repository into a WORM, creating an impenetrable barrier against ransomware corruption. Plus, don't forget to enter our daily raffle for a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

For those attending virtually, experience the power of Blocky for Veeam from the comfort of your office by visiting us online at www.BlockyforVeeam.com/VeeamON23. Sign up for a free 60-day trial, watch informative videos, and enter our daily raffle. 

VMblog: What are some of the big challenges that you believe VeeamON attendees are facing in 2023? And how does your company help solve them?

Cerf:  Ransomware attacks will continue to be a significant challenge for businesses in 2023. It's not a matter of if, but when a company will be hit by a ransomware attack, and the impact can be severe. GRAU Data recognizes that security solutions alone cannot fully protect against ransomware, and that backup and recovery strategies must also be a top priority for businesses. With the unique capabilities of Blocky, businesses can rest assured that their backup data is secure and impenetrable. Blocky's ability to run on native Windows servers means that businesses can save costs and reduce operational overhead, without the need for extra servers or Linux.

VMblog: What is it about VeeamON that makes you want to sponsor?

Cerf:  VeeamON offers a unique opportunity to connect with Veeam customers in-person, which makes it an ideal event to sponsor. No other event provides such a focused and concentrated audience of Veeam users, making it an ideal forum to showcase our innovative solutions and connect with potential clients.

VMblog: Attendees are ready to once again throw some amazing tchotchke into their swag bags. Are you giving away anything special at this event?

Cerf:  Everyone can register each day of the show for the Blocky raffles and there will be multiple winners every day. We are at booth B5 and online www.BlockyforVeeam.com/VeeamON23.

We have a show special 25% off for any order received prior to June 30th.

David Marshall

David Marshall has been involved in the technology industry for over 19 years, and he's been working with virtualization software since 1999. He was able to become an industry expert in virtualization by becoming a pioneer in that field - one of the few people in the industry allowed to work with Alpha stage server virtualization software from industry leaders: VMware (ESX Server), Connectix and Microsoft (Virtual Server).

Through the years, he has invented, marketed and helped launch a number of successful virtualization software companies and products. David holds a BS degree in Finance, an Information Technology Certification, and a number of vendor certifications from Microsoft, CompTia and others. He's also co-authored two published books: "VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center" and "Advanced Server Virtualization: VMware and Microsoft Platforms in the Virtual Data Center" and acted as technical editor for two popular Virtualization "For Dummies" books. With his remaining spare time, David founded and operates one of the oldest independent virtualization news blogs, VMblog.com. And co-founded CloudCow.com, a publication dedicated to Cloud Computing. Starting in 2009 and continuing all the way to 2016, David has been honored with the vExpert distinction by VMware for his virtualization evangelism.