FalconStor Software announced a comprehensive upgrade of its suite of storage virtualization and data protection solutions. The upgrade, Version 7, offers data solutions needed to optimize disaster recovery, legacy backup solutions, disk based backup and faster recovery of essential applications and systems.

The features upgraded in version 7 include support for VMware vSphere, VMware VAAAI, VMware vStorage APIs for storage array integration, file interface de-duplication systems for capacity optimized storage solutions, a virtual tape library, a network storage server for storage virtualization, and a continuous data protector. The update also integrates VMware’s vCenter Site Recovery Manager with FalconStor range of products. I/O performance of the products has also improved to provide better storage environments.

Speaking on the upgrade, Fadi Albatal, vice president of worldwide marketing for FalconStor, said  “Legacy backup and recovery methods are severely challenged as the pressing demand for IT service availability is compounded by shrinking budgets and complexities caused by remote offices and mobile users. With V7, FalconStor’s data protection solutions have been optimized to deliver a holistic approach to backup and recovery that helps data centers of all sizes overcome obstacles to continuous service and data availability.”

The FalconStor data protection and storage virtualization solutions are designed for fault tolerance of data in the event of data corruption, hardware failure and natural disaster. With this update, the company aims to be a leading provider of future ready cloud-based data protection solutions.

The evolution of cloud computing has enabled companies to offer data de-duplication, data encryption and integration solutions to overcome loss, impress data security, and lower costs.  FalconStor’s been building out its partnerships as well as its products, and has recently brought in two high profile executives from HP.

VMware’s vSphere also continues to gain support, with companies like FlashSoft and HotLink adding their own form of product integration, as VMware continues to build out its monetization efforts around licensing.