Technical University of Munich secures scalable BaaS with LRZ and Scality ARTESCA

Backing up business-critical data isn’t just a precaution; it’s a must for modern organizations. From safeguarding against accidental deletions to defending against malicious threats, a robust data protection strategy is essential. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) understood this reality and moved to strengthen the security and reliability of its Microsoft 365 backups. They turned to their long-term IT services provider, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ), to develop a robust, on-prem backup solution that could safeguard their data from every potential threat.

Stephan and his team outlined the task: a new Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) system that would require a robust server, stable and cyber-resilient object storage, and best-in-class backup and recovery software. It also had to be designed for easy scalability to accommodate growing data volumes.

LRZ had a solid starting point, given their strong existing relationship with backup and recovery experts at Veeam. However, they were missing a robust storage backend to ensure the secure, long-term retention of their customer’s Microsoft 365 data.

Scality ARTESCA cyber-resilient S3 object storage software

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365

Deployed on a single industry-standard server

LRZ carefully evaluated the market’s leading object storage providers to find a solution that met their high standards for security, scalability, and operational efficiency. They quickly ruled out one open-source vendor due to limited scalability and insufficient security features. Another enterprise solution also failed to meet expectations. That’s when they turned to Scality, a trusted leader in software-defined S3 object storage. ARTESCA stood out for its combination of cyber-resilient architecture, ease of deployment, and strong compatibility with Veeam. With built-in CORE5 capabilities for data immutability and end-to-end protection, ARTESCA aligned perfectly with LRZ’s goals for secure, scalable Backup-as-a-Service delivery.

LRZ opted for a solution that combined ARTESCA with Veeam’s backup software (Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365), all deployed on a single on-prem HPE server. The deployment process was smooth, with the entire system installed and operational within a day, allowing LRZ to immediately provide the much-needed service to their customer.

One of the standout benefits for LRZ is how little day-to-day effort ARTESCA requires. The system runs reliably with minimal manual intervention, allowing Stephan and his team to shift attention away from routine storage management and toward higher-value IT priorities. The solution was also able to meet LRZ’s performance expectations — handling large-scale M365 backups smoothly and without disruption, even in a multi-user university environment. Throughout the entire process, Stephan has found Scality’s hands-on support invaluable.

New Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) secures TUM’s critical business data

Service is ready to scale to other universities

With Scality’s support, LRZ swiftly established a new BaaS offering for TUM. Apart from securing critical data for an important customer, they have peace of mind that they’re protected against increasingly sophisticated threats.

The success of this implementation has prompted LRZ to consider scaling the service to the next level. They’ve offered the M365 BaaS service to other Bavarian universities, and there are concrete plans to onboard two of them. Looking ahead, they’re considering offering ARTESCA-powered S3 storage as a direct service to customers thanks to its compatibility with leading backup ISVs.

As a busy IT leader, Stephan values ARTESCA’s reliability and stability. With just 1–2 hours of maintenance required per month, Stephan and his team can spend less time managing storage — and more time driving meaningful projects.

For Stephan, Scality has been a true partner in launching and expanding their BaaS service — laying the foundation for continued growth across the region.

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