Backup Exec’s phase-out is disruptive, but it’s also a rare chance to escape the “data hostage” situation that they pioneered. Choose wisely, and you can trade yesterday’s backup solution for a modern option built for today’s threats. But choose the wrong replacement, and you risk staying trapped in the same cycle of vendor lock-in and ransomware vulnerability. Here are the three non-negotiable factors to ensure you truly own your data for the long haul.