VMblog:  To kick things off, give VMblog readers a quick overview of the company.

Anthony Cusimano:  Object First was founded by the co-founders of Veeam-Ratmir Timashev and Andrei Baronov, and delivers the best storage for Veeam. We created Ootbi (out-of-the-box immutability), a ransomware-proof appliance purpose-built for Veeam that is secure, simple, and powerful.

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?

Cusimano:  In an era where data is the lifeblood of organizations, safeguarding it has become paramount. The need for modern, resilient backup and recovery systems is more significant than ever, especially in the face of rising cyber threats like ransomware. With backups being the primary target of ransomware attacks now, VeeamON attendees will be most interested in looking at storage solutions that help ensure ransomware resilience at all costs, and our product Ootbi does just that by delivering a ransomware-proof storage target that was purpose-built for Veeam backup data.

VMblog:  Diving into your company's technology, can you give readers a few examples of how your offerings are unique?  What differentiates your technology from others in the market? What unique benefit can Veeam users expect by integrating your solution?

Cusimano:  

1. The Best Storage is Secure
Ootbi was built to support Zero Trust principles - including Veeam's recommended Zero Trust Data Resilience (ZTDR) architecture, which assumes that individuals, devices, and services attempting to access company resources are compromised and should not be trusted. 

Ootbi follows Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommendations and embodies the principles of "Security by design and -Default." Ootbi utilizes S3 Object Lock to enable immutability and runs its storage software on a hardened Linux operating system with a "zero access to root" policy. 

2. The Best Storage is Simple
Ootbi is an object storage appliance built for backup and, even more specifically, for Veeam. It takes less than 15 minutes to configure, requires zero security and Linux expertise, and no additional setup or namespace adjustment is needed at the Veeam layer when scaled.

3. The Best Storage is Powerful
Ootbi is an object storage appliance built for the backup use case and, even more specifically, for Veeam and Veeam Instant Recovery. Capacity and performance scale linearly when adding additional nodes, supporting backup speeds up to 4.0 gigabytes per second with up to half a petabyte of storage space. Ootbi was designed to empower Veeam Backup & Replication and supports Veeam's standard block size and encryption by default.

VMblog:  Can you tell us a bit about your partnership with Veeam? How do your technologies integrate and complement Veeam's solutions to offer additional value to Veeam users? Or how does your technology enhance the Veeam experience?

Cusimano:  Regarding how Object First fits in the Veeam ecosystem, we see the data world as two distinct technology layers: the data management layer (backup, recovery, and data orchestration) and the storage layer, where the data will live perpetually. Veeam is the largest data management platform on the planet, but because Veeam is a software-only company, it must rely on storage partners to deliver the hardware storage layer. Object First has created the best storage platform to complement Veeam's data management platform. We see ourselves as the glove that fits perfectly on Veeams hand, staying in lockstep with their developments and building a solution that only works with the biggest and best data management vendor.

VMblog:  Looking ahead, how do you see your partnership with Veeam evolving to address upcoming industry trends and user needs?

Cusimano:  Ootbi only works for Veeam. Our development team works tirelessly to ensure our customers (who are all Veeam customers) have nothing less than a smooth experience as Veeam continues to update and grow its platform. Our laser focus on delivering a solution for a single vendor grants us experience and expertise for our development as we continue to grow and follow the trends Veeam sets forth. We were day one supporters of version 12's SOS API, and we will continue to deliver the best storage product that is "day one ready" for all of Veeams latest and greatest features.

VMblog:  VeeamON is a great place for attendees to explore new technologies. What exciting demonstrations will you have at your booth to grab their attention? What will you be showing off?

Cusimano:  Our booth will showcase the power of our backup storage appliance, Ootbi (Out-of-the-box immutability). Due to our product's incredible simplicity, our demos can showcase the entire user experience from start to finish in under 15 minutes, so we urge everyone who is frustrated with their storage experience or needs a more secure place to store their Veeam backup data to swing by our booth and check out one of our demos, you may also catch us during one of our trivia rounds where we are giving away Lego Star Wars kits to the winner every few hours!

VMblog:  VeeamON is known for its focus on innovation. Do you have any new product launches or announcements planned for the show?

Cusimano:  We can't confirm or deny anything yet, but I'll drop a hint; we have something special in store for you. Come and see us at booth #G2 to find out.

VMblog:  If you were giving the keynote presentation at VeeamON 2024, what would your topic be about?

Cusimano:  If we were giving a keynote, our entire presentation would be about the importance of security and why every Veeam admin needs to be versed in Zero Trust Data Resilience (ZTDR).  Unfortunately, backup admins have to wear more hats now due to the looming threat of ransomware, and ZTDR is the only real solution for securing backup software and backup storage. Fortunately, implementing ZTDR isn't difficult, and showing it off in a keynote means that every viewer would walk away with the knowledge they'd need to stay resilient.

VMblog:  Is your company involved with any breakout sessions at the show?  If so, can you tell us about it?

Cusimano:  Our breakout session expands on the previous keynote question! Jason Garbis, author of Zero Trust Data Resilience, will join Veeam customer Zach Young from Centerbase and Anthony Cusimano of Object First to lead a panel discussion about the importance of securing the entirety of your backup infrastructure, from software to storage.

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

Cusimano:  If we haven't made it clear thus far, we are pretty obsessed with security, so our swag has to match that vibe. We are giving away Object First-branded TSA-approved locks, and we think it's the perfect swag to pair with travelers at a conference. Our bright orange color might not stop eyes from locking onto your luggage, but the lock itself will do just what Ootbi does for Veeam backup data: keep it secure. 

VMblog:  What key takeaway do you want Veeam users and attendees to remember after visiting your booth at VeeamON?

Cusimano:  That backup storage must be as secure, if not more, than your backup software and remains the last defense against ransomware. Ootbi is not the best storage for Veeam because Veeam founders made it; it's the best storage for Veeam because it prioritizes the Veeam user experience from start to finish and seeks to ensure that no matter the attack, they can always recover their data.