Microsoft’s Data Protection Manager 2007 promises an alternative to snapshots or Continuous Data Protection. Specifically, DPM 2007 provides item-level restores for Exchange and SQL Server databases and allows up to eight roll-back points per day. Microsoft-only shops and most mainly-Microsoft shops will want to short-list this product when it becomes available in late 2007.

DPM 2006: It’s a Start

System Center Data Protection Manager 2006 (DPM 2006) launched Microsoft into the backup software realm, but provided features mainly oriented in simple environments and small enterprises with basic file-backup needs. DPM does not presently support non-Microsoft products, such as Oracle, Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise.

DPM 2006 (now in SP1) creates centralized disk-based backup for file servers. Key features include: