Commvault Review: Pros, Cons, Features, and Pricing

Q: How does Commvault ensure data security and compliance?

Commvault provides robust data encryption and access controls to protect your sensitive information. It supports compliance with industry standards like GDPR and HIPAA, offering tools to manage data retention and audits. Your team can use its detailed reporting features to ensure compliance and track data protection activities.

Q: Can Commvault handle multi-cloud environments?

Yes, Commvault supports multi-cloud and hybrid environments, allowing you to manage and protect data across different cloud platforms, on-prem data centers, and SaaS applications. It integrates with major cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, providing a unified view of your data. This capability helps your team streamline data management across various environments.

Q: What type of customer support does Commvault offer?

Commvault offers comprehensive customer support, including phone, email, and live chat options. You can also access an extensive knowledge base and training resources to assist your team. Dedicated account managers are available to help with specific issues, ensuring you get the support you need.

Q: How scalable is Commvault for growing businesses?

Commvault is highly scalable, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes, especially those anticipating growth. It can handle increasing data volumes without compromising performance or security, partly due to advanced data management techniques like deduplication. Your team can expand its use of Commvault as your data needs grow, ensuring consistent protection.

Q: Does Commvault offer disaster recovery solutions?

Yes, Commvault provides disaster recovery solutions to help your team quickly restore operations after an unexpected event. It includes automated failover and failback capabilities, minimizing downtime and data loss. This ensures that your business can recover swiftly and maintain continuity.

Q: How does Commvault handle data backup and recovery?

Commvault offers reliable data backup and recovery solutions that support various environments, including virtual, physical, and cloud. Your team can schedule regular backup jobs and access data quickly when needed. Commvault backup solution ensures that you can restore data efficiently, reducing potential disruptions.

Q: Is there a learning curve when using Commvault?

While Commvault offers extensive features, new users might experience a learning curve. However, the company provides detailed documentation, training sessions, and support to help your team get accustomed to the system. With time and resources, your team can efficiently utilize its functionalities.

Q: What kind of reporting and analytics does Commvault provide?

Commvault offers comprehensive reporting and analytics features that provide insights into your data management activities. You can generate detailed reports to monitor data protection, compliance, and system performance. This helps your team make informed decisions and optimize data management strategies.

Commvault is a CTO data security software built for enterprises that need to protect, recover, and govern data across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. I'd mainly consider it if you're managing complex, heterogeneous infrastructure where backup, cyber resilience, and compliance reporting all need to work together in one platform. Compared to Veeam, Commvault gives you broader coverage across diverse workloads—including mainframes, cloud-native applications, and SaaS platforms—rather than a solution that's primarily optimized for virtual machine protection.

Commvault Evaluation Summary

Commvault is an enterprise data security platform offering scalable backup and recovery solutions.

Pricing

Pricing upon request
30-day free trial

Why Trust Our Software Reviews

Commvault Overview

In my opinion, Commvault is a solid choice for data security, especially for large enterprises with complex needs. Its core and standout features, like comprehensive data protection and scalability, set it apart from many competitors. Although it's not the easiest to use and can be pricey, the robust support and effective onboarding process help mitigate these issues. Commvault shines in environments where data integrity and compliance are paramount, such as in finance and healthcare. While smaller businesses might find the cost prohibitive, larger organizations will appreciate the comprehensive functionality and integration capabilities of this data protection solution.

pros

Reliable data protection across various environments.
Strong customer support.
Excellent scalability for growing data needs, including endpoint management.

cons

You might find the interface complex and less intuitive.
Steep learning curve during setup.
May require significant resources for optimal performance.

Is Commvault Right For Your Needs?

Who Would be a Good Fit for Commvault?

Commvault is a great fit for large enterprises and sectors like finance and healthcare that need advanced data protection. If your work involves handling large volumes of sensitive data, Commvault’s robust backup and recovery features ensure data integrity and compliance. Its scalability means you can grow without compromising security, making it ideal for organizations with expanding data needs.

Large Enterprises

Commvault's scalability and data protection features suit large companies managing vast amounts of data.
Financial Institutions

Its compliance and security measures are perfect for finance teams handling sensitive financial information.
Freelancers

Commvault ensures data integrity and security, crucial for protecting patient records.
IT Departments

It offers reliable backup and recovery solutions, ideal for IT teams focused on data integrity.
Data Managers

Commvault's comprehensive data protection tools help data managers maintain secure data environments.
Government Agencies

With strong compliance features, Commvault is a good choice for government sectors requiring strict data security.

Who Would be a Bad Fit for Commvault?

Commvault might not be suitable for small businesses or startups with limited budgets and simple data protection needs. Its complex features and higher resource requirements can overwhelm teams not equipped to handle such robust systems. If your work involves straightforward data management tasks, you might find Commvault's comprehensive capabilities unnecessary and costly.

Small Businesses

The cost and complexity of Commvault can be excessive for small teams with basic data needs.
Startups

New companies might find Commvault's extensive features and pricing out of reach for their initial phases.
Freelancers

Individual professionals don’t need the broad data protection tools Commvault offers.
Non-Tech Savvy Teams

Teams lacking technical expertise may struggle with Commvault's intricate setup and interface.
Educational Institutions

Schools with limited budgets might find Commvault's pricing and features unnecessary for their data needs.
Local Nonprofits

Small nonprofits could find Commvault's advanced features and costs beyond their requirements.

Our Review Methodology

How We Test & Score Tools

We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.

Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.

Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)

The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.

Standout Features (25% of final scoring)

Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.

We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.

Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)

We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.

Onboarding (10% of final scoring)

We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.

Customer Support (10% of final scoring)

We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.

Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)

Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.

Value for Money (10% of final scoring)

Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.

Core Features

Data Backup and Recovery: Commvault provides reliable data backup and recovery, ensuring your data is safe and easily restorable. It stands out by supporting various environments, from virtual to physical.

Data Encryption: You get strong data encryption, protecting your sensitive information from unauthorized access. This feature helps maintain compliance with industry standards.

Disaster Recovery: Commvault's disaster recovery tools enable your team to quickly restore operations after an unexpected event. It offers automated failover and failback, minimizing downtime.

Snapshot Management: You can manage your data snapshots efficiently with Commvault's intuitive tools. This feature allows for quick recovery points, giving you more control over your data.

Data Archiving: Commvault helps you store historical data securely, freeing up space and optimizing your storage. It's perfect for long-term data retention needs.

Reporting and Analytics: With Commvault's reporting and analytics features you can get important insights into your data, thereby helping you make informed decisions.

screenshot - Commvault Review: Pros, Cons, Features, and Pricing — Commvault delivers reliable backup and recovery across physical and virtual environments.

Standout Features

Scalability: Commvault's scalability ensures it grows with your organization, handling increasing data volumes effortlessly. It's ideal for businesses anticipating rapid growth.

Comprehensive Support: You benefit from Commvault's strong customer support, available to assist with any issues your team encounters. This feature ensures smooth operation and peace of mind.

Ease of Use

Commvault offers a comprehensive set of features, but its interface can be complex and less intuitive for new users. Your team might face a learning curve, especially during the initial setup and configuration. However, once you get accustomed to it, the powerful functionalities and detailed control become more apparent. Compared to other solutions, the depth of its features might seem daunting, but the robust support helps ease the transition for your team.

Onboarding

Commvault's onboarding process can be challenging for newcomers due to its complex feature set. However, the company provides extensive support and resources to ease this transition. You’ll find detailed documentation, training sessions, and responsive customer support to help your team get up to speed. While the initial setup might take time, these resources ensure that you gain value from the software efficiently and effectively.

Customer Support

Commvault offers strong customer support, which many users appreciate for its responsiveness and thoroughness. Your team can rely on various support channels, including phone, email, and live chat, ensuring you get the help you need promptly. The availability of dedicated account managers and detailed online resources further enhances the support experience. This comprehensive assistance helps your team resolve issues quickly and keeps your operations running smoothly.

Integrations

Commvault integrates with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Darktrace, Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, Entrust, Google Chronicle, VMWare, and Microsoft Sentinel.

Commvault also offers an API and connects with third-party integration tools to expand its capabilities, making it ideal for software engineers who manage complex IT workloads.

Value for Money

Commvault's pricing can be on the higher side, which might make it less appealing for smaller businesses. However, the extensive features and robust support can justify the cost for larger organizations that need comprehensive data protection. Commvault offers a demo for those who want to evaluate the software before committing.

Operational Recovery: Offers basic data protection and recovery features.

Autonomous Recovery: Includes advanced recovery capabilities with AI-driven insights.

Cyber Recovery: Provides enhanced security features and ransomware response services.

Commvault Specs

2-Factor Authentication
Access Management
Anti-Virus
API
Audit Trail
Bug Tracking
Calendar Management
Customer Management
Dashboard
Data Export
Data Import
Data Visualization
Email Integration
External Integrations
File Sharing
File Transfer
Firewall
Google Apps Integration
Inventory Tracking
Malware Protection
Multi-User
Network Device Performance Monitoring
Network Traffic Monitoring
Network Visualization
Notifications
Project Management
Remote Access
Risk Assessment
SAP Integration
Scheduling
Software Integration
Third-Party Plugins/Add-Ons
Ticket Management

Commvault FAQs

How does Commvault ensure data security and compliance?

Can Commvault handle multi-cloud environments?

What type of customer support does Commvault offer?

How scalable is Commvault for growing businesses?

Does Commvault offer disaster recovery solutions?

How does Commvault handle data backup and recovery?

Is there a learning curve when using Commvault?

What kind of reporting and analytics does Commvault provide?

Commvault Company Overview & History

Commvault, headquartered in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, is a leader in data management, providing solutions for data protection, backup, recovery, and compliance. Serving over 100,000 organizations, Commvault's platform supports industries like healthcare, finance, and government. Known for its commitment to data security and resilience, the company has been recognized as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for 14 consecutive years. Commvault's focus on innovation and sustainability is evident in its comprehensive service offerings and high customer satisfaction rates.

Commvault Major Milestones

1988: Originated as a development group within Bell Labs.

1996: Became an independent entity after a spin-off from AT&T Network Systems.

2006: Listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

2019: Launched Metallic, its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) backup and recovery brand.

2019: Acquired Hedvig, enhancing cloud-native data management capabilities.

2021: Achieved over 100,000 customer organizations globally.

2023: Featured in the CRN Storage 100 as a top data protection vendor.