Veeam 100 Prague: Community, Innovation, and Lifelong Friendships
Another year, another incredible Veeam 100 gathering—and once again, Prague provided the perfect backdrop for what has become one of the most valuable professional communities I'm part of. As I reflect on this year's event, I'm reminded why the Veeam Vanguard program isn't just about early access to technology or product influence—it's about belonging to something genuinely special.
The Heart of It All: Community
Let me be direct: if you're a Veeam customer wondering whether pursuing Vanguard status is worth it, the answer is an unequivocal yes. But not for the reasons you might initially think.
Yes, the technical access is incredible. Yes, having direct lines to product management matters. But what makes Veeam 100 invaluable is the community itself. These aren't just professional contacts, they're lifelong friends. When I have a challenging customer scenario, an architecture question that keeps me up at night, or need to understand how others are approaching a particular use case, I have a group of deeply knowledgeable peers I can reach out to at any time.
That's the real superpower of this community: instant access to collective wisdom from people who genuinely care about helping each other succeed.
Prague: More Than Just a Venue
There's something about Prague that makes it the perfect setting for V100. The city's blend of historic beauty and modern vibrancy mirrors what Veeam has become a company with deep roots in data protection that's constantly evolving and pushing forward. Walking the cobblestone streets between sessions, grabbing coffee (and other beverages) with fellow Vanguards in centuries-old cafes, discussing the future of data resilience with friends against the backdrop of Prague, these moments matter.
The city isn't just a venue; it becomes part of the experience. It gives us space to connect as people, not just professionals, and those conversations over Czech beer often lead to the most valuable insights.
V13: The Platform Matures
For those who've followed my writing, you know I've been bullish on Veeam's platform evolution since V13's initial release. This year's V100 gave us deeper insight into where the platform is heading, and I'm even more excited.
The appliance updates particularly caught my attention. As someone who works extensively with infrastructure customers, the continued refinement of Veeam's appliance strategy addresses real-world deployment challenges I see daily. The focus on simplified operations without sacrificing flexibility shows that Veeam is listening to how customers want to consume backup and recovery solutions.
VDC: A New Direction Worth Watching
The discussions around Veeam Data Cloud (VDC) signal an important evolution in Veeam's strategy. What impressed me most wasn't just the technical roadmap. Now, I know this is a big change. But , Veeam does seem dedicated to building VDC in a way that respects how enterprises actually operate: hybrid by necessity, multi-cloud by reality, and pragmatic by requirement.
As someone who helps customers navigate cloud strategies alongside on-premises investments, seeing Veeam lean into this hybrid reality with genuine product commitment is encouraging. These aren't just marketing slides the product teams are deeply engaged in making this vision real.
The Partnership Conversation
One of the privileges of V100 is direct access to Veeam's product management team. This year, I had valuable conversations about how Pure Storage and Veeam can deepen our partnership. These weren't surface-level discussions. We got into the details of how our joint customers are evolving their data protection strategies, where integration touchpoints matter most, and how both organizations can better support the field teams serving these customers.
This is the kind of strategic dialogue that benefits everyone: Veeam gets direct customer perspective through partners like me, partners get insight into product direction, and ultimately customers get better solutions. It's ecosystem collaboration at its best.
Bringing Vanny Home
This year, I had the honor of bringing Vanny “The” Vanguard home with me. For those unfamiliar, Vanny is the physical mascot that travels among Vanguards, representing our community wherever she goes. It's a small thing, but it symbolizes something important: we're ambassadors for a community that genuinely cares about data protection, customer success, and supporting each other.
Vanny will be making appearances at various events over the coming year, and I'm excited to share the Vanguard story with customers, partners, and anyone interested in what makes this community special.
Should You Join?
If you're a Veeam customer who's passionate about data protection, actively engaged in the community, and interested in having real influence on product direction—absolutely. But come for the right reasons. Come because you want to contribute, learn, and build lasting professional relationships. Come because you believe in the power of community.
The technical benefits and product insights are substantial, but they're secondary to the relationships you'll build. The question you can ask at 2 AM when a customer has a critical issue. As V100 members are all over the world. The discussion about architecture patterns that saves you weeks of trial and error. The friend who understands exactly what you're dealing with because they've been there too.
That's what V100 gave me again this year in Prague. That's what being a Veeam Vanguard means to me.
And that's why, I will be working hard to return next year, as I know I'll be once again community that has fundamentally shaped my professional journey.
Are you a Veeam customer interested in learning more about the Vanguard program? Reach out—I'm always happy to share more about the experience and what the journey involves.