Protégé

Basic Information

HYCU Protégé is a multi-cloud data protection platform designed for backup, recovery, migration, and disaster recovery across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. It functions as a Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS) solution, offering a cloud-native approach to safeguarding enterprise data.

• Model: Multi-Cloud Data Protection Platform
• Version: Continuously updated as a SaaS offering.
• Release Date: General availability announced on December 11, 2019. HYCU Protégé for Microsoft Office 365 was generally available on February 10, 2021.
• Minimum Requirements (for HYCU virtual machine/backup controller):
  • 4 CPU cores
  • 4 GiB RAM
  • Data disk size at least twice the RAM
• Supported Operating Systems/Platforms:
  • On-premises: Nutanix AHV, VMware ESX, Windows physical servers.
  • Public Cloud: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Azure Government Cloud.
  • Supported Applications: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Active Directory, Oracle Database, Nutanix Files, Microsoft SQL Failover Cluster, SAP HANA, Nutanix Volume Groups.
• Latest Stable Version: As a SaaS solution, updates are continuous and managed by the vendor.
• End of Support Date: Managed continuously as part of the SaaS model.
• End of Life Date: Managed continuously as part of the SaaS model.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Managed continuously as part of the SaaS model.
• License Type: Proprietary. Available through authorized global partners. Core HYCU Protégé functionality may ship with HYCU Data Protection licenses, with specific services like data migration and disaster recovery priced per VM.
• Deployment Model: Cloud-hosted, on-premises (via virtual appliance), and web-based. Delivered as a fully managed Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS) solution.

Technical Requirements

HYCU Protégé's technical requirements primarily pertain to the virtual appliance acting as the backup controller, designed for a lightweight and efficient footprint within hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

• RAM: A minimum of 4 GiB RAM is required for the HYCU virtual machine (backup controller).
• Processor: A minimum of 4 CPU cores is required for the HYCU virtual machine (backup controller).
• Storage:
  • The minimum data disk size for the HYCU virtual machine is at least twice its RAM.
  • Supported backup targets include NAS (NFS/SMB) such as Nutanix Files, ExaGrid, DataDomain, Quantum.
  • Cloud/Object storage targets include Azure, Amazon S3, Nutanix Acropolis Object Storage Services, Cloudian, Scality, and other S3-compliant storage.
  • iSCSI targets like Nutanix Volumes and Nutanix Mine are also supported.
  • WORM-enabled object storage is supported on Azure (Blob), Google Cloud (Google Cloud Storage – GCS), and AWS S3 for enhanced immutability.
• Display: Not a primary requirement for the backend data protection solution, as management is typically web-based.
• Ports: Network connectivity is essential for the virtual machine. Specific firewall rules are necessary, especially in cloud environments, to allow on-premises client connections to restored services. For Linux VMs, SSH access and local firewall configuration are required. For Windows VMs, RDP access and Windows firewall configuration are needed.
• Operating System: The solution supports data protection for workloads running on various platforms, including Nutanix AHV, VMware ESX, and Windows physical servers on-premises, as well as virtual machines and services within AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Azure Government Cloud.

Analysis of Technical Requirements: HYCU Protégé is engineered to be resource-efficient, with modest requirements for its virtual appliance. Its broad support for diverse storage targets, including object storage with WORM capabilities, underscores its flexibility and focus on modern cloud architectures and ransomware protection. The emphasis on network configuration highlights the importance of proper integration within complex hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures.

Support & Compatibility

HYCU Protégé offers extensive compatibility and continuous support, reflecting its design as a multi-cloud, SaaS-delivered data protection platform.

• Latest Version: As a Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS) offering, HYCU Protégé is continuously updated by the vendor, ensuring users always have access to the latest stable features and security enhancements.
• OS Support:
  • On-premises: Nutanix AHV, VMware ESX, Windows physical servers.
  • Public Cloud: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Azure Government Cloud.
  • Supported Applications: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Active Directory, Oracle Database, Nutanix Files, Microsoft SQL Failover Cluster, SAP HANA, Nutanix Volume Groups.
• End of Support Date: Support is continuous and managed by HYCU as part of the SaaS subscription model, eliminating traditional end-of-support dates for specific software versions.
• Localization: The platform supports multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Italian.
• Available Drivers: For virtual machine migration within Nutanix ESXi clusters or vSphere environments, the Nutanix VirtIO 1.1.4 or later driver package is required.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status: HYCU Protégé demonstrates strong compatibility across leading on-premises virtualization platforms and all major public cloud providers, including government cloud environments. Its SaaS delivery model ensures continuous updates and support, simplifying management for users. The multilingual support enhances its global usability. The specific driver requirement for certain migration scenarios indicates a focus on application consistency and seamless workload mobility.

Security Status

HYCU Protégé integrates robust security features and adheres to multiple compliance standards, emphasizing data integrity and protection against modern threats like ransomware.

• Security Features:
  • End-to-end encryption for data in-transit and at-rest, utilizing TLS 1.2 and AES256.
  • Native in-transit and at-rest data encryption, particularly for tenant-specific networks.
  • Support for FIPS-2 certified AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS).
  • Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and two-factor authentication using time-based one-time passwords (OTP) and FIDO protocol compliant authenticators.
  • Integration with Active Directory, LDAP, and LDAPS for organizational authentication.
  • Role-based Access Control (RBAC) for granular permissions at global and tenant levels.
  • Network segmentation and black-box architecture.
  • WORM (Write Once, Read Many) enabled object storage support for Azure (Blob), Google Cloud (GCS), and AWS S3 to ensure data immutability.
  • Simplified security credential management through integration with external credential stores like CyberArk Conjur.
  • Tenant-based data security, isolating backups and metadata in dedicated backend databases for each tenant.
  • Policy-driven data protection to enforce consistency and compliance.
• Known Vulnerabilities: HYCU maintains a security advisories page, providing responses to identified vulnerabilities such as CVE-2024-6387 RegreSSHion, XZ Utils, OpenSSH, and Curl and libcurl.
• Blacklist Status: No information regarding blacklist status is publicly available in the provided data.
• Certifications:
  • FIPS 140-2 certified.
  • NIAP Certification, meeting stringent U.S. Federal procurement requirements (CNSSP 11) for use in U.S. National Security Systems (NSS).
  • Compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, PDPA (Singapore), Australia Privacy Act.
  • Backup storage compliance with SOC 1, 2, and 3, ISO27001, FedRAMP, FISMA, DIACAP, DOD CSM Levels 1-5.
• Encryption Support: Comprehensive encryption includes TLS 1.2 and AES256 for data in-transit and at-rest. It also supports customer or provider-generated PKI certificates.
• Authentication Methods: Supports Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), two-factor authentication (OTP and FIDO), Active Directory, LDAP, and LDAPS integration.
• General Recommendations: HYCU recommends using dedicated primary storage targets for backups, disallowing unauthorized network access to backup shares, and considering encrypted high-speed connections (peered connections, site-to-site VPN) or HTTPS/TLS over the public internet. It advises against permitting internet access to servers, emphasizes admin workstation hygiene, and suggests selecting storage targets with anti-ransomware features. A policy-driven approach to data protection is also recommended.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating: HYCU Protégé exhibits a high overall security rating. Its comprehensive approach to data protection includes strong encryption, multi-layered authentication, and granular access controls. Adherence to numerous international and governmental compliance standards, coupled with NIAP certification, underscores its suitability for sensitive environments. The emphasis on WORM storage and integration with external credential management systems directly addresses modern ransomware threats. Proactive security advisories indicate a commitment to continuous improvement and transparency in vulnerability management.

Performance & Benchmarks

HYCU Protégé focuses on delivering efficient and rapid data protection operations, particularly in recovery scenarios and multi-cloud environments.

• Benchmark Scores: Specific numerical benchmark scores are not explicitly provided in the available data.
• Real-world Performance Metrics:
  • Achieves aggressive Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) for Microsoft 365 with constant journaling of emails.
  • Offers efficient and fast incremental backups through native API integration, such as with Isilon REST APIs.
  • Demonstrates rapid recovery capabilities, with reported reductions in ransomware recovery times from 16 days to 16 minutes.
  • Promotes "1-click simplicity" for backup, migration, and disaster recovery operations, indicating streamlined processes.
  • Highlights quick deployment and operational metrics for Microsoft 365: 4 minutes to set up, 3 minutes to discover, 2 minutes to protect, and 1 minute to backup.
  • General ease of use metrics include: 4 minutes to get started, 3 minutes to discover, 2 minutes to protect, 1 click for backup/migration/DR, and a 0 learning curve.
• Power Consumption: As a software-defined, cloud-native solution, direct power consumption metrics are not applicable. It leverages the underlying infrastructure of on-premises hardware or public cloud providers.
• Carbon Footprint: Direct carbon footprint metrics for the software are not provided. Its cloud-native architecture can contribute to optimized resource utilization within cloud data centers.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • Recognized as a "Visionary" in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup and Recovery Software Solutions (2022) and the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Backup and Data Protection Platforms (2025).
  • Achieves an industry-leading Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 91+, indicating high customer satisfaction compared to competitors.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status: HYCU Protégé excels in operational efficiency and recovery speed, particularly in critical ransomware recovery scenarios. Its "1-click" and rapid deployment metrics underscore its ease of use and ability to quickly establish data protection. While specific numerical benchmarks are not detailed, its strong performance in real-world recovery and high customer satisfaction (NPS) ratings, coupled with consistent recognition by Gartner, position it as a high-performing solution in the data protection market.

User Reviews & Feedback

User feedback for HYCU Protégé generally highlights its strengths in usability and support, while also pointing out areas for potential enhancement.

• Strengths:
  • Ease of Use: Users frequently praise HYCU Protégé for its simplicity, quick backups, and effortless integration into existing systems. It is described as easy to set up and having a low learning curve.
  • Customer Support: The customer support provided by HYCU is consistently commended for its excellence and quick resolution of issues.
  • Reliable Backups: Users highlight the reliability of its backup capabilities, making data management seamless and efficient.
  • Integration: The product is noted for being well-integrated with various platforms.
  • Multi-Cloud/Multi-Tenant Capabilities: The ability to protect and manage data across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, including multi-tenancy for service providers, is a significant strength.
• Weaknesses:
  • Feature Limitations: Some users note limited features or a lack of essential features, such as insufficient support for incremental backups or missing tools, requiring improvements and additions.
  • Reporting and Scheduling: Concerns have been raised about the lack of automated emailed reports and limited scheduling options in some instances.
  • Configuration Complexity: Certain configurations, such as SMTP alerts for Office 365 TLS integration, may require command-line interface (CLI) knowledge, and the upgrade process might involve manual file renaming.
  • Permissions for Restore: Restoring files back to a VM may require the service account to have full VM Admin rights.
  • Deduplication: Older versions reportedly lacked built-in deduplication for backups when storing to a SAN/NAS not part of the Nutanix cluster.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS): Ideal for organizations seeking comprehensive backup and recovery solutions across cloud and on-premises environments.
  • Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Data Management: Suited for environments requiring data migration, disaster recovery, and ransomware protection across diverse cloud platforms.
  • Microsoft 365 Protection: Specifically designed for comprehensive data protection of Microsoft 365 services, including email, SharePoint, OneDrive, Groups, and Teams.
  • Service Providers: Its multi-tenancy, self-service, and role-based access control features make it well-suited for service providers hosting multiple customers.
  • Ransomware Protection: Recommended for organizations prioritizing robust ransomware recovery capabilities and immutable storage.

Analysis: HYCU Protégé is highly regarded for its user-friendliness, strong customer support, and reliable core backup functionalities, particularly in multi-cloud and multi-tenant contexts. While some users desire a broader feature set and more streamlined advanced configurations, its strengths make it a compelling choice for organizations prioritizing ease of use, robust data protection, and effective ransomware recovery in complex IT landscapes.

Summary

HYCU Protégé is a comprehensive multi-cloud data protection platform delivered as a Data Protection as a Service (DPaaS) solution. It offers robust backup, recovery, migration, and disaster recovery capabilities across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, including on-premises hypervisors (Nutanix AHV, VMware ESX, Windows physical servers) and major public clouds (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Azure Government Cloud).

Key Strengths: The platform excels in its ease of use, with a low learning curve and "1-click simplicity" for critical operations like backup, migration, and disaster recovery. Its SaaS delivery model ensures continuous updates and managed support, simplifying IT operations. Security is a paramount feature, incorporating end-to-end encryption (TLS 1.2, AES256, FIPS 140-2), multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, and WORM-enabled immutable storage to combat ransomware threats effectively. HYCU Protégé demonstrates strong real-world performance, significantly reducing ransomware recovery times and achieving aggressive RPOs. Its multi-tenancy features are particularly beneficial for service providers, enabling efficient management of diverse customer environments. High customer satisfaction, reflected in an industry-leading NPS of 91+, and consistent recognition as a "Visionary" by Gartner, further underscore its market position.

Weaknesses: While generally praised, some users have noted areas for improvement, including a desire for a more extensive feature set, more straightforward configuration for certain advanced alerts, and enhanced built-in deduplication for non-Nutanix storage targets in older versions.

Recommendations: HYCU Protégé is highly recommended for enterprises and service providers seeking a modern, cloud-native data protection solution that simplifies management across complex hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures. Its strong security posture, rapid recovery capabilities, and focus on ransomware protection make it an excellent choice for organizations prioritizing data resilience and compliance. While some minor feature or configuration enhancements could improve the user experience further, its overall strengths in usability, performance, and support position it as a leading asset in enterprise asset management for data protection.

Information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.