Organizations face increasing pressure to improve their data protection and security strategies, which makes the integration between Veeam Data Platform and Hitachi Vantara Virtual Storage Platform (VSP) even more important for cyber resilience. With the release of the Hitachi Vantara Plug-in for Veeam Backup & Replication Universal Storage API (USAPI) version 2.2 (as detailed in Veeam KB4191), new capabilities are now available to further enable Hitachi VSP customers to defend against ransomware, streamline operations, and maximize data availability.
What's New in Hitachi Vantara USAPI Plug-in Version 2.2
Released in December 2025, USAPI Plug-in v2.2 introduces several key enhancements:
· Support for Veeam Backup & Replication v13.0.1 on Linux or Windows: Ensures compatibility with the latest Veeam platform for ongoing innovation and security.
· Immutable Snapshots: Now, you can create immutable storage snapshots on supported Hitachi VSP arrays, a crucial feature for ransomware defense. Veeam Backup & Replication orchestrated snapshots can be locked, ensuring that protected restore points cannot be altered or deleted until their immutability period expires.
· Support for VSP One Block High-End Platform: Broader hardware compatibility, including the newest high-performance storage from Hitachi.
These improvements build on the foundation of previous plug-in releases, aiming for deeper integration, greater cyber resilience, and operational efficiency. The journey to USAPI Plugin v2.2 saw the introduction of several major features, as chronicled in the latest Hitachi-Veeam white paper:
· Backup from Storage Snapshots
- Primary and Secondary Arrays: Offload backup and replication I/O from production VMs to Hitachi VSP storage snapshots for minimal production impact.
- Secondary Array Snapshots: Leverage Global-Active Device (GAD) or TrueCopy synchronous replication to back up from secondary (remote) snapshots, ensuring zero impact on primary workloads.
· Snapshot Orchestration and Retention
- Automate periodic creation and retention of storage snapshots (e.g., hourly), supplementing traditional backups with frequent restore points for granular rollback.
· Veeam Explorer for Storage Snapshots
- Restore full VMs, files, or application items directly from storage snapshots, dramatically reducing RTOs and enabling granular recovery scenarios.
· On-Demand Sandbox for Storage Snapshots
- Instantly start and test VMs from storage snapshots, supporting use cases like patch testing, malware analysis, and forensics without impacting production.
Cyber Resilience in Action
The combination of Veeam and Hitachi Vantara delivers a formidable cyber resilience platform. Customers can benefit from orchestrated, immutable, application-consistent snapshots, fast and reliable recovery, and flexible storage options-all managed through Veeam's familiar interface.
The Hitachi Vantara Plug-in v2.2 is a significant step forward. Whether you're seeking better ransomware protection, or improved operational efficiency, this integration is a cornerstone of modern cyber resilience.
#DataProtection#Veeam------------------------------
Mark Polin
Senior Solutions Architect, Product Management Alliances
Veeam Software
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