Also known as: Veritas NetBackup, Symantec NetBackup.
At a glance
| Supported databases | Oracle, SQL Server, SAP HANA, SAP on Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB; DynamoDB, RDS for SQL Server, Aurora PostgreSQL |
| Backup types | Full, differential and incremental; SQL Server transaction log backups; Oracle RMAN backups |
| Point-in-time recovery | Yes for SQL Server (point in time or log mark); other engines through their native log tools |
| Compression and encryption | Media server deduplication; encryption options |
| Storage targets | Disk, deduplication pools, NetBackup appliances, cloud object storage, tape |
| Retention and automation | Policy-based schedules, SQL Server Intelligent Policies, retention per copy |
| Restore options | Database, instance and point-in-time restores; single recovery point restores |
| Deployment | Self-hosted primary and media servers (Linux or Windows), appliances, cloud |
| Licensing | Front-end terabytes (capacity), perpetual or subscription; quote |
NetBackup suits large enterprises, especially existing Veritas customers, that need agent-based protection for Oracle, SQL Server, SAP HANA and other databases across data centres and clouds, with appliances and tape. Ownership changed to Cohesity in December 2024; the product continues with 11.x releases and Helios management, and pricing is by front-end terabyte via quote.
Overview
NetBackup is a long-running enterprise backup platform, owned in turn by Veritas, Symantec, Veritas again and, since 10 December 2024, Cohesity, which took over Veritas's enterprise data protection business including NetBackup, NetBackup appliances and Veritas Alta data protection. A NetBackup domain has a primary server, media servers and clients on Linux or Windows, and can use NetBackup appliances, disk, deduplication pools, cloud storage and tape. Version 11.1 was followed by 11.2, which Cohesity announced on 2 June 2026; the upgrade guide was last updated 28 May 2026.
Database protection uses dedicated agents: NetBackup for Oracle (RMAN-based), Microsoft SQL Server (full, differential and transaction log backups with point-in-time and log mark restores), SAP (including SAP HANA and SAP on Oracle), PostgreSQL, MySQL and MongoDB (standalone, replica set and sharded clusters, with Ops Manager support added in 11.0.0.1). NetBackup 11.1 added incremental backups for Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon RDS for SQL Server and Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. Cohesity manages NetBackup and DataProtect together through its Helios console.
Key features
- Database agents for Oracle, SQL Server, SAP HANA, SAP on Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL and MongoDB
- SQL Server transaction log backups with point-in-time and transaction log mark restores (full recovery model)
- PaaS database protection with incremental backups for DynamoDB, RDS for SQL Server and Aurora PostgreSQL (11.1)
- Media server deduplication, NetBackup appliances, cloud storage and tape targets
- Front-end terabyte capacity licensing with usage reporting through nbdeployutil
- Management through Cohesity Helios alongside DataProtect
Integrations and ecosystem
Pros and cons
Pros
- Mature agents for Oracle, SQL Server and SAP HANA used in large enterprises
- Point-in-time restores for SQL Server down to a transaction log mark
- Wide choice of storage targets, including tape and dedicated appliances
- Capacity licensing counts only the first copy of protected data
Cons
- Ownership and branding changed in December 2024; some documentation still carries Veritas names
- Capacity pricing grows with protected data and is quote-only
- A multi-tier architecture (primary, media servers, clients) that needs experienced administrators
Pricing
NetBackup is licensed mainly by capacity: the NetBackup 11.2 administrator's guide says fees are based on front-end terabytes (FETB) of protected data, with partial terabytes rounded up and only the first copy of a backup counted. Cohesity's NetBackup licence terms (April 2026) describe a Capacity Edition metered by Front End Terabytes or Front End Terabytes Plus and a Platform Base Complete Edition on the same meter, offered as perpetual or subscription licences. Cohesity publishes no list prices, so pricing is by quote through Cohesity or partners such as HPE.
Pricing checked on the vendor's official page on 7 November 2026. Prices change; confirm before buying.
Who it is best for
Large enterprises and existing Veritas customers that run Oracle, SQL Server and SAP HANA at scale and want agent-based backups with tape and appliance options.
Typical use cases
- Agent-based Oracle RMAN and SQL Server backups across many data centres
- SAP HANA protection through the NetBackup for SAP agent
- Restoring SQL Server to a point in time or a transaction log mark
- Long-term retention on tape or cloud storage for compliance
- Incremental protection of DynamoDB and RDS for SQL Server on AWS
Who should look elsewhere
- Small teams that mainly protect VMs, where Veeam or NAKIVO are simpler.
- Teams that want a SaaS-first product without running backup servers: see Cohesity DataProtect as a service or AWS Backup on AWS.
Verdict
NetBackup remains a capable enterprise backup platform with deep database agents and broad storage options, now developed by Cohesity. Existing customers have a clear path through 11.x and Helios; new buyers should compare it with Cohesity's own DataProtect and with Commvault, and get the front-end terabyte quote early.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns NetBackup now?
Cohesity. It completed its combination with Veritas's enterprise data protection business, including NetBackup, NetBackup appliances and Veritas Alta data protection, on 10 December 2024. The remaining Veritas businesses became Arctera.
Is it called Veritas NetBackup or Cohesity NetBackup?
Cohesity markets it as Cohesity NetBackup; the documentation on docs.cohesity.com simply says NetBackup, and older pages still say Veritas NetBackup. It is the same product line.
How is NetBackup licensed?
Mainly by capacity in front-end terabytes of protected data, with partial terabytes rounded up and only the first copy counted. Licences can be perpetual or subscription, and prices are by quote.
Does NetBackup support point-in-time restore for SQL Server?
Yes. With databases in the full recovery model, NetBackup backs up transaction logs and can restore to a point in time or to a transaction log mark.
Sources
- NetBackup 11.2 Administrator's Guide: how capacity licensing works
- NetBackup 11.2 Upgrade Guide
- NetBackup 11.1 for SQL Server: recover a single recovery point
- Cohesity blog: NetBackup 11.2
- Cohesity blog: NetBackup 11.1
- Cohesity press release: combination with Veritas enterprise data protection business
Checked November 2026.
Listed in: Database Backup & Recovery.
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