Morning Tech Keynote and Day 2 Keynote highlights – AI-Powered Data Protection Unveiled

Day Three kicked off with a bang at the Technology Keynote, where Veeam’s executives rolled out visionary announcements that blend cutting-edge AI with data resilience. The energy in the room was palpable as attendees realized these aren’t just incremental updates – they mark a new era for Veeam. Two highlights in particular had everyone talking:

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  • Anthropic Claude Integration: Veeam announced a new integration with Anthropic’s Claude AI model, effectively injecting intelligence into data protection workflows. This integration is built on Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard allowing AI systems to tap into backup data securely. “We’re not just backing up data anymore – we’re opening it up for intelligence,” explained Niraj Tolia, Veeam’s CTO. In practice, you can leverage natural language AI to search and analyze your backups in previously impossible ways. For instance, organizations can now:
    • Query backups with plain English to quickly discover and retrieve documents or records.
    • For faster insights, summarize archived communications (like old support tickets or emails).
    • Automate compliance checks and e-discovery across protected data.
    • Enrich internal AI assistants (think Chatgpt-like copilots) with enterprise-specific context drawn from backup data.

In short, Veeam is transforming its backups from passive insurance into an active wellspring of enterprise intelligence. This pivotal shift in Veeam’s AI roadmap turns data protection into a “foundation for smarter decision-making” and richer insights. It positions Veeam as a “universal bridge” between secure backup stores and AI platforms, including Claude and any custom LLMS a customer uses. The keynote clarified that this integration is part of Veeam’s broader AI vision to simultaneously make data AI-ready, portable, and protected.

  • Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft Entra ID: The keynote shifted to securing the identity layer. Veeam introduced Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft Entra ID, a new enterprise-ready SaaS backup solution for Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) that makes protecting identities effortless. This came with bold promises: an all-in-one, pre-hardened service to safeguard your Entra ID users, groups, and application registrations without the usual management headaches.

Key features of Veeam’s Entra ID protection were outlined in the session, underscoring the platform’s focus on security and simplicity​:

    • Proactive Protection: Enhanced visibility into changes and potential threats within Entra ID, helping ensure business continuity and compliance. (Think of it as having an early warning system for suspicious account activity in your directory.)
    • Effortless Recovery: One-click restore for Entra ID entries – users, groups, attributes, or even application registrations – all with reliable precision. Recovery is swift and straightforward if someone accidentally deletes a critical user or misconfigures a policy.
    • Fully Managed Resilience: A secure, expert-managed backup service with unlimited storage, you offload maintenance, updates, and security fixes to Veeam’s cloud. It’s truly set-and-forget for the admins, but with the peace of mind that everything is backed up and ready to be recovered.

This announcement hit home for a lot of us. After all, identity is the new perimeter – protecting Entra ID (which controls access to countless apps and services) is now as critical as protecting databases. A cited stat from Futurum was shared: 1 in 5 organizations report credential compromise or account takeover as a top security incident impacting their business. That drew some knowing nods in the audience. Veeam’s answer is to make identity recovery as seamless as recovering a file. And the best part? Veeam Data Cloud for Entra ID is available now, so attendees were already buzzing about trying it when they returned to the office.

The overarching theme from the keynote was clear: “Radical resilience” (a phrase Veeam loves) through innovation. Whether injecting AI for smarter operations or covering new cloud services like Entra ID, Veeam is pushing the envelope on what data protection means in 2025. As a long-time Veeam user, I felt that familiar mix of excitement and FOMO—excitement to deploy these new toys and FOMO that others might beat me to it!

Deep Dive: Hands-On with the New Veeam Software Appliance (Beta)

After the keynote adrenaline, I dove into a highly anticipated breakout session: a deep dive on the Veeam Software Appliance. This was right up my alley, since I love anything that promises to simplify deployment. The session did not disappoint – in fact, it left me thinking, “Why didn’t we have this years ago?”

What is the Veeam Software Appliance? It’s a pre-built Veeam Backup & Replication server packaged with its own operating system. Veeam has combined a hardened Linux OS (Rocky Linux 9.x) with the Veeam backup software into a single installable image. The result is an ISO file you can boot on virtually anything – a physical server, a VM, or even in the cloud – and get a fully configured backup appliance running in minutes. Freedom of choice remains (you can still install VBR on Windows or Linux manually if you want), but this is a game-changer for those who crave simplicity. Anton Gostev, Veeam’s Chief Product Officer, shared that many customers have been asking for “simpler implementation, built-in security from day one, and less management work” around backups. The Software Appliance is Veeam’s answer to that call.

From the demo and discussion, a few things stood out:

  • Ridiculously Easy Deployment: Installing the appliance looked as easy as installing a fresh OS – because that’s essentially what it is, with Veeam already on board. You boot from the ISO, follow a short setup, and your Veeam backup server is up. No separate OS install, no hunting for dependencies or configuring settings manually. It’s all pre-configured, including the network and management console. For VMware folks, Veeam even offers it as a ready-to-go virtual appliance image. It felt like the backup equivalent of plugging in a new router – minimal fuss. As someone who’s spent too many late nights tweaking backup server setups, I was smiling ear to ear.
  • User-Friendly Management: Even though the appliance runs on Linux under the hood, you don’t need to be a Linux guru to use it. The presenters emphasized a simple web interface for all admin tasks, so you can manage the appliance without touching a command line. It’s all in a clean UI, from setting IP addresses and time zones to managing backup jobs. They said it’s “designed for people without Linux knowledge”. (Cue a sigh of relief from Windows-only admins in the room.) During the demo, the speaker navigated the web console to show how one can check appliance health, configure storage, and even update the system – all with clicks, no code. It was intuitive and sleek, aimed at making life easier for IT generalists.
  • Pre-Hardened Security: One of the applause moments (yes, we geeks applaud for security) was when they highlighted how secure-by-default this appliance is. Since Veeam is packaging the whole stack, they’ve already baked in best practices. The appliance has SELinux enforced and other hardened settings to shrink the attack surface dramatically. Unnecessary services like SSH are disabled out of the gate. You don’t get root access by default on the appliance, even as an admin. Specific sensitive actions require a separate security officer’s approval following a zero-trust model. Multi-factor authentication is mandatory for admin login, and SAML SSO is conveniently available. All of these were called out in the session as part of Veeam’s “secure by design” philosophy. The takeaway: the appliance isn’t just easy, it’s safely easy – you get a fortified backup environment immediately, without having to harden it yourself. As someone who frets about ransomware targeting backups, I appreciated this focus.

Perhaps the best news for those itching to try it: the Veeam Software Appliance just entered beta and is already available for testing. Veeam is keeping the beta somewhat controlled (you need to contact your rep to get access, possibly), but it’s out there, so general availability might not be far off. The session crowd peppered the speaker with questions – everything from “Can it run in AWS?” (yes, any cloud VM that boots an ISO) to “What about existing deployments?” (you can stick with those; the appliance is an optional alternative). Veeam is treading carefully not to force anyone’s hand. Still, many of us in the room were already daydreaming about replacing some legacy backup VMS with this polished appliance. Sign me up for faster deployment, less maintenance, and no trade-off in flexibility! The deep dive impressed me with how much work Veeam put into streamlining deployment without dumbing anything down. If this is the future of data protection appliances, count me in.

Poolside Recharge at Agave Bar & Grill (Marriott Marquis)

By late afternoon, with my brain happily full of new tech knowledge, I decided it was time to give it a rest and enjoy a bit of San Diego’s sunshine. I wandered to the Agave Bar & Grill at the Marriott Marquis (our host hotel) for a much-needed break. This outdoor restaurant is right by the marina and pool, and it’s got a relaxed Baja California cantina vibe – just what I needed after a hectic day of sessions.

Let me say, the Agave Bar & Grill staff are absolute gems. Despite the place being busy with conference folks, the servers were super friendly, quick with recommendations, and genuinely seemed to enjoy the influx of geeks in green Veeam shirts. I snagged a comfy spot with a view of the harbour, and on the waiter’s suggestion, started off with their Mai Tai. (Yes, I realize a tequila bar might nudge you toward margaritas – and they have an authentic menu, given their one-of-a-kind tequila selection – but I was in a tropical cocktail mood!). That Mai Tai was out of this world – perfectly balanced, not too sweet, with a smooth punch of rum that made me instantly imagine I was on island time—one of the standout Mai Tais I’ve had outside of Hawaii.

For food, I couldn’t resist the carne asada quesadillas, and they turned out to be the ideal choice. Picture this: tender grilled steak with melty cheese and pico de gallo, all tucked in a crispy tortilla, with avocado crema on the side. It was heaven on a plate. This felt like a gourmet feast after a day of convention center snacks. Each bite had that smoky, savoury kick you only get in San Diego, and I may or may not have let out an audible “mmm” on the first taste. Between the satisfying food, the ocean breeze, and the laid-back live music strumming from a corner of the patio, I felt completely recharged. A couple of fellow attendees were at the following table, and we cheered our drinks when we realized we’d all been in the same morning session. It’s incredible how a great venue can turn strangers into friends – by the end of the hour, we were swapping business cards and selfie-taking like old buddies.

Massive shoutout to the Agave staff for making us techies feel right at home. They were attentive but never intrusive – my water glass never went empty, and when they saw our VeeamON badges, they joked, “So, is this your version of spring break?” We all laughed, and honestly, it did feel a bit like a mini vacation. This little interlude at Agave Bar & Grill was precisely what I needed: a taste of San Diego’s hospitality and flavour, and a moment of relaxation to balance the conference intensity. If you’re ever at the Marriott Marquis San Diego, do yourself a favour and grab a Mai Tai and quesadilla by the pool – trust me.

Party Preview – VeeamON Takes Over NOVA Nightclub

As the sun set, the buzz around VeeamON shifted to tonight’s big event. There’s a sense of giddy anticipation because Veeam has rented out NOVA Nightclub exclusively for us. You read that right: NOVA SD, one of downtown San Diego’s hottest clubs, is going Veeam green tonight!

For those unfamiliar, NOVA is not just any nightclub; it’s a 22,000-square-foot mega-venue in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. The place is legendary in local nightlife circles. A couple of fun facts I learned (because I had to Google it while waiting for my elevator): NOVA opened in early 2022 in the location that used to house the famous Omnia club. It was taken over and reimagined by Insomniac Events, the masterminds behind Electric Daisy Carnival, and Tao Group. So you know, they brought some serious clubbing pedigree. They kept the vibe ultra-modern – an expanded main dance floor, indoor-outdoor spaces, and state-of-the-art sound and lighting production everywhere. It’s a raver’s paradise and hosts typically some of the world’s top DJS on weekends. (The grand opening featured EDM heavyweights like RL Grime and Deadmau5, and they’ve had everyone from Tiësto to Steve Aoki tearing up the decks since.)

Walking by the club earlier, I could see why it’s the crown jewel of San Diego clubs. Even from the outside, you feel the bass humming. There’s a massive neon NOVA sign and an aura that something exciting will happen. Knowing that tonight it’s all ours – no crowded public, just VeeamON attendees – makes it even more epic. It’s like we have a private concert in a venue built for thousands. The organizers hinted at a surprise DJ set and special green-themed cocktails inside (Veeam does love its green). I have my fingers crossed for some VIP lounge access or swag stations – who knows! One thing’s sure: with the combination of a high-tech club and hundreds of data geeks ready to let loose, tonight will be one for the books.

I’m particularly excited because networking on the dance floor is different from networking in conference halls. There’s already talk among my new friends about forming a “Veeam conga line” at some point. Given the enthusiasm (and maybe the Mai Tais talking), I wouldn’t be surprised! More seriously, it’s cool that Veeam invests in these social events. It recognizes that conferences are as much about community and camaraderie as they are about tech sessions. By renting out a venue like NOVA, Veeam says, “thank you for being part of our family – now go have a blast.” And we intend to! I’ve got my neon-green glow stick ready and my dancing shoes on.

As I write this, I’m about to head out to the club – the night is young, and so are our spirits. The plan is to immerse myself in the beats, enjoy a few drinks (in moderation… or not, since tomorrow morning’s session mercifully starts a bit later), and make memories with this fantastic community of Veeam ON attendees.

Final Reflections: Tech, Community, and Looking Ahead

Reflecting on Day Three, I’m struck by the perfect balance the day achieved: insightful tech innovations in the morning, deep learning in the afternoon, and relaxed bonding in the evening. It’s a testament to the VeeamON experience – it’s not just about product announcements or training, but also about enjoying the journey with peers. From the groundbreaking AI integrations and identity protection solutions, to the hands-on look at a simplified future of deployment, to clinking glasses with new friends by the marina, it’s been a day to remember.

And the best part? We’re not done yet. As I gear up for the NOVA Nightclub party and think about it, I feel satisfaction and eagerness. Satisfaction because VeeamON has already delivered so much value—I have pages of notes and ideas to implement when I’m back at work—and eagerness because there are still more connections to make and lessons to learn before the event wraps up.

If the first three days are any indication, tomorrow will likely bring its surprises and highlights. Maybe a sneak peek at Veeam’s roadmap, a final inspirational keynote, or a hearty farewell breakfast with fellow attendees swapping stories of the night before. Whatever comes, I’m here for it.

Day Three was one for the books, and as I head into the San Diego night, I’m grateful for the knowledge gained, the people met, and the memories forged. Here’s to an epic party tonight, and an even brighter tomorrow. Cheers!

Thanks,

Dave Kawula / Microsoft MVP / Veeam Vanguard