Sanjay Poonen, CEO of Cohesity, recently described the Veritas-Cohesity merger as a transformative step toward creating a leader in AI-driven data security and management. With the deal set to close by the end of this month , the industry is bracing for what could be a major shake-up in how we think about backup and recovery. This isn’t just a simple joining of forces, it’s a clear signal that data protection is evolving, and fast.
So, what does this merger mean for the wider world of backup and recovery? How will it impact vendors, MSPs, and, most importantly, the businesses relying on these tools to stay resilient in the face of constant cyber threats?
A Combined Force to Be Reckoned With
When two major players like Veritas and Cohesity come together, it’s more than just adding one plus one. Veritas brings decades of enterprise expertise, while Cohesity like Rubrik has built its reputation on modernising data management with AI and cloud-native approaches. Together, they aim to deliver a comprehensive solution to tackle ransomware, simplify recovery, and handle the growing complexity of hybrid environments.
This merger could redefine what enterprises expect from a backup vendor. By combining Veritas’ robust legacy systems with Cohesity’s modern tools, the duo could potentially offer the “complete package” for data protection. It’s not just about storing data anymore, it’s about making sure you can access and restore it in ways that are fast, secure, and seamless.
Ripples Across the Vendor Landscape
For competitors like IBM, Rubrik, Veeam, and Dell, the stakes just got a whole lot higher. With Veritas and Cohesity poised to dominate a significant chunk of the market, other vendors will need to double down on differentiation. This could mean accelerating development of unique features, like deeper integrations or even the aquisition of innovative third party vendors in the security and data resilience space.
Interestingly, this merger might also push innovation forward. When the big players raise the bar, others tend to follow suit or risk being left behind.
An Opening for MSPs
Managed service providers (MSPs) could stand to benefit from this consolidation. The newly merged Veritas-Cohesity entity will likely offer a more expansive suite of tools, giving MSPs a chance to deliver enhanced services to their clients. On the flip side, MSPs that remain vendor-neutral have an opportunity to step in and provide alternatives to customers wary of being tied to a single, now-larger provider.
The Risks to Watch
Of course, big mergers come with challenges. Integrating two companies isn’t always smooth sailing, and there’s a real possibility of short-term disruption for existing customers. Will product roadmaps align? Will support remain consistent? These are the kinds of questions that keep IT and Security teams up at night.
And then there’s pricing. While combining forces might lower costs in theory, larger market share can sometimes lead to price increases, especially for enterprises that are heavily invested in either Veritas or Cohesity’s ecosystems.
What This Means for Users
For businesses, this merger could bring a lot of positives: a more cohesive (pun intended) set of tools, better AI-powered features, and potentially stronger ransomware recovery options. But it’s also a time to stay cautious. Diversifying your data protection strategy across multiple vendors or solutions might still be the smartest move in a world where change is the only constant.
The Veritas-Cohesity merger isn’t just a corporate milestone. It’s a reminder that backup and recovery are evolving, and everyone from vendors to users needs to stay agile to keep up. This could be the start of something transformative, but only time will tell if it delivers on its promise.