In short: Hornetsecurity VM Backup, formerly Altaro VM Backup, backs up and replicates Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware and Proxmox virtual machines from one console. It comes in Standard, Unlimited and Unlimited Plus editions as a perpetual licence per host with a Software Maintenance Agreement, or as a monthly subscription per backed-up VM, which is offered on Unlimited Plus only.
What VM Backup is
VM Backup is Hornetsecurity's backup and replication software for virtualised servers. It began life as Altaro VM Backup; Hornetsecurity bought Altaro and renamed the product, so older licences, documentation and forum posts still use the Altaro name.
It protects Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware and Proxmox hosts from a single console, and every edition also includes physical server backup. Backups go to local storage, to an Offsite Backup Server at another site, or, on Unlimited Plus, to cloud storage: Microsoft Azure, Amazon S3, Wasabi, Backblaze B2 or Impossible Cloud Storage. Unlike the Microsoft 365 services, VM Backup is software you install and run on your own infrastructure.
Editions compared
| Feature | Standard | Unlimited | Unlimited Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot backups, flexible scheduling, compression | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| File-level restore, restore to a different host, clone restore | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sandbox restore and backup verification | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offsite backup over WAN or internet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offsite backup over LAN or local connection | No | Yes | Yes |
| Physical server backup | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hyper-V cluster (CSV) and vCenter support | No | Yes | Yes |
| Boot from backup, Exchange item-level restore | No | Yes | Yes |
| Grandfather-father-son archiving, multiple offsite locations | No | Yes | Yes |
| Augmented Inline Deduplication, cross-platform restore | No | Yes | Yes |
| Backup encryption | Offsite only | Primary and offsite | Primary and offsite |
| Cloud backup and immutable cloud storage | No | No | Yes |
| WAN-optimised replication, continuous data protection | No | No | Yes |
| Central Control Panel, REST API history export, auto-protect new VMs | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Azure Stack HCI support | No | No | Yes |
With continuous data protection, backups can run as often as every five minutes, and cross-platform restore lets you restore a VMware VM onto Hyper-V or the reverse, which is useful when moving between hypervisors.
How it is licensed
VM Backup has two licensing models:
| Model | Unit | Editions | Updates and support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perpetual | Per host, unlimited sockets and VMs | Standard, Unlimited or Unlimited Plus | Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA); the first year is included with a new licence |
| Monthly subscription | Per backed-up VM per month | Unlimited Plus only | Included in the subscription |
A perpetual licence is a one-off purchase, but support, updates and version upgrades depend on a current SMA. Renewing the SMA before it lapses is the simplest route, because Hornetsecurity applies stricter terms to agreements that have already expired; we track the renewal date for you. The monthly subscription suits estates that change size or where you prefer an operating cost to an upfront purchase.
Hornetsecurity also offers a free edition for up to two VMs per host, which can be a starting point for very small sites.
Requirements and deployment
VM Backup is Windows software: it installs on a Windows machine that can reach your hosts, and a separate management console can connect to one or many VM Backup installations. The Offsite Backup Server, installed at a second site on Windows Server, receives backup copies over a LAN or WAN connection. We check the current system requirements against your hosts and hypervisor versions before you buy.
Cloud backup on Unlimited Plus uses your own storage account, and immutable cloud backup means copies cannot be changed or deleted by anyone for a set period. A fully featured 30-day trial is available if you want to test it against your own hosts first.
Who it suits and how we help
VM Backup suits organisations with on-premises Hyper-V, VMware or Proxmox servers, including multi-site organisations that want replicas at a second location for faster recovery. If your data is mostly in Microsoft 365, 365 Total Backup is the better fit; many organisations use both. See server and endpoint backup for alternatives.
We count your hosts and VMs, recommend perpetual or monthly licensing and the right edition, and keep track of SMA renewals so updates and support do not lapse. Ask us for a quote.
How Forever Systems supplies your software licences
Forever Systems Ltd supplies business software subscriptions to UK organisations from one account, with one monthly invoice and a UK team who know the products.
- The right edition first time: we check what you need before you buy, so you are not paying for features you will never use
- Monthly or annual terms where the vendor offers them, and help timing renewals and commitments
- Licence changes handled for you: add or remove users, upgrade editions and true-up without starting a new contract
- Deployment and support from engineers who run these products every day, not just a reseller account
- Consolidated billing and renewal reminders so nothing lapses unexpectedly
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations of all sizes.
Need a licence quote or a second opinion on your renewal?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
Is Hornetsecurity VM Backup the same as Altaro VM Backup?
Yes. Hornetsecurity acquired Altaro and renamed Altaro VM Backup as Hornetsecurity VM Backup, so older licence paperwork and documentation may still show the Altaro name.
What is the difference between VM Backup Unlimited and Unlimited Plus?
Unlimited Plus adds cloud backup and immutable cloud storage, WAN-optimised replication, continuous data protection, the central Control Panel, Azure Stack HCI support and automatic configuration of newly discovered VMs. It is also the only edition available as a monthly subscription.
Do I need a Software Maintenance Agreement?
On a perpetual licence, yes, if you want updates, version upgrades and technical support. A new perpetual licence includes the first year, after which the SMA is renewed. The monthly subscription includes support and upgrades.
Does VM Backup support Proxmox?
Yes. Hornetsecurity lists Proxmox alongside VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V as supported platforms for VM Backup.