Symantec Backup Exec 2012 received positive reviews for simplifying the backup process and introducing an intuitive user interface. Reviewers praised the improved focus on backing up systems rather than individual jobs. The new interface was seen as a significant improvement over prior versions. Customers reported that the server-centric paradigm and simplified workflows made configuration and management easier. While some initial feedback was negative towards the new design, later updates and betas addressed issues and won back dissatisfied users.

1. BE 2012 Feedback
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3. BE 2012 Awards to Date
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4. Awards and Reviews
• IT Pro says:
“It was a brave decision by Symantec to take such a well
established product and completely revamp it. However, it’s a
decision which has paid off. By shifting the focus from a job-based
to a systems-based approach, Backup Exec 2012 makes the whole
process simpler and the new console provides a wealth of easily
accessible information.”
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5. Reviews
• Seach Data Backup
“Backup Exec has changed a lot in the 2012 version. As is often
the case with software upgrades, there is a learning curve.
However, some of the changes make certain tasks more intuitive
and Symantec has simplified some tasks..”
The upgrade gives you quite a few different workflow options:
• Back Up to Disk
• Back Up to Disk and the Convert to Virtual Machine
• Back Up to Disk and Simultaneously Convert to Virtual Machine
• Back Up to Disk and then Archive
• Create a Synthetic Backup
• Only the options that apply to your environment will appear on the list of choices.
For example, if you do not have a tape drive, then you won’t see any tape-related
options appear on the list.
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6. Awards and Reviews
• PC Magazin Germany Says:
“The new interface is impressive as it is easy to use and intuitive.
After the initial start the software guides you automatically to the
installation procedure of the storage space that is needed for the
backup.”
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7. Awards and Reviews
• CRN Says:
“Worlds away from its predecessor in ease of use”
Symantec/Veritas came on strong in Backup
and Recovery Software, moving up from fourth
place and showing improvement in every
subcategory: technical, support and financial.
Solution providers gave the company its
highest margin of victory in scalability, where it
beat second-place Microsoft by nearly 4
points.
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8. Awards and Reviews
• PC Pro Predicts:
That the new interface will “simplify and streamline the entire
backup process”.
“this new version really does simplify backup and recovery processes
immensely.”
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9. Awards and Reviews
• MSExchange.org
2012 Winner of Readers Choice Awards
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10. Product Review: David Strom
BackupExec 2012
“Symantec’s 2012 version has a complete user
interface makeover that vastly simplifies the
backup and recovery process, making it easier
to automate backup and even save copies to
cloud-based storage. There are major
improvements to protect virtualized machines
too.” “Symantec’s backup service is easy to setup, can
support multiple computers and keep track of
previous file versions, includes protection for
BE.CLOUD both Windows desktops and Servers, and is
reasonably priced cloud-based backup for small
businesses at $7 per GB per year.”
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11. Awards and Reviews
Gartner 2012 Backup Magic Quadrant:
“The new task-oriented user interface and the
broad VMware and Hyper-V file and application
support, are often highlighted as being strong
features in Backup Exec 2012”
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12. Awards and Reviews
• Storage Newsletter Survey
• “Symantec, with its NetBackup and Backup Exec platforms,
swept the Backup Software for VMs brand leader survey.”
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13. Customers Speak Out: SearchHealthIT.com
• Gynecological Oncology Group
– “GOG chose Symantec BackupExec to solve numerous issues -- including
having two backups of the same files, which wasted time and created
storage bloat -- that were caused by running physical and virtual server
data in one backup..”
• One crucial feature you should make sure a backup system
includes is the ability to restore or convert a backed-up physical
server to a virtual machine within the backup software.
• "I think that's something that can drop your DR window
substantially, and that's a feature we utilize in our DR plan
now," Gould said. "The few of the systems that are physical
right now, we would plan on bringing them up in a virtualized
configuration as a part of a DR scenario."
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14. What are they saying about Backup Exec 2012?
Partner Feedback What they liked…
The radical new GUI at first seems 'too different', but after you use it (like MS's Ribbon), it actually is very intuitive, efficient and powerful.
Redacted
Partner The new design concept is a welcome change from the increasingly "bolted-on" feeling of 2010 and prior versions.
Names
I like how the jobs are all associated with the one server in a way that makes more logical sense, and is easier to manage. The other major
feature I like so far is the ability to backup directly to a virtual system while also backing up to tape … I foresee a situation where we are doing
regular backups of physical servers into a virtual environment for disaster recovery.
I liked the simplicity of the product. It will take me some time to get used to but for the sake of my department that never uses this software, I
believe the look and feel will benefit them greatly.
We like the new look and feel of the interface. Even those who didn't use BE in the past warmed up to 2012 quickly.
The interface is much more streamlined than in previous versions. It takes fewer steps to configure backups.
Really like the new BE interface and is very easy to use and configure. The Bare metal recovery, B2V and also P2V is something good to have in
this release.
I like the new paradigm of focusing on servers. Loved to finally see reports in PDF format!
Am very impressed with the new way of handling disk storage, much simpler.
The new interface is terrific!!! Not only is it easier to navigate, but it is more logical structure for finding information.
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15. Customers Compliment BE via Social
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16. Customers Compliment BE via Social
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17. Detractors Becoming Promoters
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18. Detractors Becoming Promoters
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19. Bulbous’ Feedback
“I started this thread because I, like many of you, was extremely dissatisfied with my initial
impression of BackupExec 2012. My particular areas of concern were the new GUI and the "server-
centric" paradigm shift.
This thread has gotten pretty large with most of you echoing my sentiments and adding many of
your own.
Let me tell you, unequivocally, that Symantec has read these comments and has heard our pain
loud and clear. They just flew some of us down to Orlando to meet with the team personally, to
voice our greivances.
People, just hang in there. Some positive changes have taken place already with the release of
Service Pack 1 earlier this week. Many, many more are in the works now - things like a return of
the familiar "Job Monitor" page that we all rely on.
The server-centric concept is not going away. However, a system is being developed that lets you
handle a sequence of backup jobs like a single entity - pretty much how we used to.
I came to Orlando fairly disgruntled, but I am leaving confident that Symantec is on the right track,
and that new releases of BackupExec are once again going to be better than they were before.
For anyone that's still ticked off, if you get a chance, I would recommend that you participate in
the upcoming beta for the next revision. I guarantee you will be much happier with it than with
what you saw in the original release.”
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