If you use Veeam Backup & Replication to protect your on-premise infrastructure, you already know how powerful it is. But are your backups truly safe if they only exist in one location? That is where Veeam Cloud Connect comes in.
Veeam Cloud Connect is a built-in feature of Veeam Backup & Replication that allows you to send backup copies to an offsite cloud repository – without the need for a VPN, additional infrastructure, or complex firewall changes. It is the simplest way to achieve a proper 3-2-1 backup strategy.
How Veeam Cloud Connect Works
Veeam Cloud Connect creates a secure, encrypted connection between your local Veeam server and a Veeam Cloud Connect service provider like SSE. Here is the process:
- You add the cloud repository – In your Veeam console, you simply add the cloud provider credentials. No VPN tunnel needed.
- Veeam handles the rest – Your backup jobs copy data to the cloud using WAN-accelerated, end-to-end encrypted transfers.
- Your data is stored securely – Backups are stored in the providers infrastructure with encryption keys that only you control.
- Restore when needed – Full VM restore, bare-metal recovery, or granular file-level restore directly from the cloud repository.
Why You Need Offsite Backup
Local backups protect you from hardware failures and accidental deletion. But they cannot protect you from:
- Ransomware – Modern ransomware targets backup files first. If your backups are on the same network, they get encrypted too.
- Natural disasters – Fire, flood, or power surges can destroy both your servers and your local backup storage simultaneously.
- Theft – Physical theft of equipment means losing both production data and backups.
- Site-wide failures – A building-level outage takes down everything, including your backup infrastructure.
The 3-2-1 backup rule states: keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 copy offsite. Veeam Cloud Connect is the easiest way to achieve that offsite copy.
Veeam Cloud Connect vs. Other Offsite Options
There are several ways to get backups offsite. Here is how Veeam Cloud Connect compares:
| Feature | Veeam Cloud Connect | Manual FTP/SFTP | AWS S3 / Azure Blob |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPN Required | No | No | No |
| Native Veeam Integration | Yes | No | Partial (Object Storage) |
| WAN Acceleration | Built-in | No | No |
| End-to-End Encryption | Yes | Transfer only | Configurable |
| Bare-Metal Restore | Yes | No | No |
| Setup Complexity | 5 minutes | 30+ minutes | 1+ hours |
| Predictable Pricing | Per-GB flat rate | Per-GB | Variable (egress fees) |
What to Look for in a Veeam Cloud Connect Provider
Not all Veeam Cloud Connect providers are the same. When choosing a provider, look for:
- Transparent per-GB pricing – No hidden egress fees or bandwidth charges. You should know exactly what you pay.
- WAN acceleration included – This dramatically reduces backup transfer times, especially for large initial seeds.
- European data centers – If you need GDPR compliance, your data must stay in Europe.
- 24/7 monitoring – A good provider monitors your backup jobs and alerts you if something fails.
- Flexible retention – You should be able to keep as many restore points as your storage allows.
- No lock-in – Monthly billing with no long-term contracts.
Veeam Cloud Connect Pricing
Pricing for Veeam Cloud Connect varies by provider. At SSE, plans start at $25/month for 1 TB of cloud backup storage with WAN acceleration, end-to-end encryption, and 48-hour money-back guarantee included.
For businesses with larger requirements, custom plans are available up to 100 TB with volume discounts.
How to Set Up Veeam Cloud Connect
Setting up Veeam Cloud Connect takes about 5 minutes:
- Open Veeam Backup & Replication console
- Go to Backup Infrastructure → Service Providers
- Click Add Service Provider
- Enter the providers hostname and port (provided by SSE after signup)
- Enter your credentials
- Select the cloud repository
- Create a new backup copy job targeting the cloud repository
That is it. No VPN configuration, no firewall rules, no additional software. Veeam handles the secure connection automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Veeam Cloud Connect secure?
Yes. All data is encrypted end-to-end using AES-256 encryption. The encryption key is controlled by you – even the cloud provider cannot access your backup data.
Do I need a VPN for Veeam Cloud Connect?
No. Veeam Cloud Connect uses its own secure SSL/TLS connection. No VPN tunnel is required, and no firewall changes are needed on your side.
What can I back up with Veeam Cloud Connect?
Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V), physical servers (Windows, Linux), workstations, databases, and file shares. Full bare-metal recovery is supported.
How long does the initial backup take?
It depends on your data size and internet speed. With WAN acceleration enabled, initial seeds are significantly faster. For very large environments, SSE offers physical seed import.
What happens if my local backups are destroyed?
You can restore directly from the cloud repository. Full VM restore, bare-metal recovery, and granular file-level restore are all supported directly from the offsite copy.
Conclusion
Veeam Cloud Connect is the simplest and most reliable way to get your Veeam backups offsite. No VPN, no complex setup, no hidden costs. If you are already using Veeam Backup & Replication, adding a cloud repository through a Veeam Cloud Connect provider like SSE takes minutes and gives you real protection against ransomware, disasters, and data loss.
Ready to protect your backups? View SSE Cloud Backup Plans starting at $25/month, or contact our team for a custom solution.
