Shipping endpoint backup & recovery to businesses worldwide.

Introduction

Goals

The new product, Zmanda Endpoint Backup (ZEB) a.k.a Sentinel, is a cloud-based SaaS data backup and recovery solution designed for enterprise environments. It addresses the needs for secure, efficient, and scalable data management, offering features like end-to-end encryption, data deduplication, and ransomware protection.

Target Audience and Stakeholders:

The target audience includes enterprises of various sizes, particularly those looking for modern, clod-based, easy-to-manage data protection solution. Key stakeholders involved were partners from Dell, BETSOL's CEO, directors and senior directors. Additionally, feedback from QA testers and alignment with the development team were crucial in refining the final product design.

Problem Statement:

While Zmanda provides comprehensive backup and disaster recovery solutions, it lacks a tailored endpoint backup option for SMBs, along with a cloud-based management portal for IT admins. There is a clear need for a scalable, easy-to-manage, and secure endpoint backup solution that fits the unique needs of small and medium businesses.

Research and Planning

Research was an iterative process throughout product planning and GTM.

Feasibility and Planning:

Initiated with a feasibility study by senior leadership and myself, we mapped out essential user flows and feature sets for a go-to-market (GTM) strategy. Using agile methodology, we established detailed project timelines and milestones for iterative development and refinement.

Scope and Timeline:

Defined by aligning business objectives with user needs, the project timeline was crafted around key phases including wireframe completion, design finalization, user testing rounds, internal launch and the launch schedule.

Opportunity Identification

Research and Insights:

Preliminary market research, including competitor analysis and partner feedback, particularly from Dell, highlighted a significant need for a standalone product like ZEB. This partnership potential with Dell, poised to integrate ZEB into millions of systems globally, underscored the vast scale and impact of the product.

User Persona Identification:

Identified primary users as IT administrators familiar with similar platforms like O365 and Azure Active Directory, which guided the user-centric design of ZEB's interface and workflows to ensure familiarity and ease of use.

Design Process

Design Principles:

Anchored in human-centered design principles, the project prioritized user needs and accessibility, adhering to WCAG Level A standards. Agile methodologies facilitated iterative design cycles, allowing rapid incorporation of user feedback.

Prototype Development:

Continuous collaboration with IT and product management ensured alignment of the design with technical capabilities and business goals. Initial internal launches helped refine the core design elements before finalizing the comprehensive design system for scalable feature development.

Launch Strategy and Execution

Market Introduction:

Executed through targeted marketing campaigns, partnerships, with Dell, and extensive social media coverage to maximize outreach and product uptake. Early access for existing customers and stakeholders was also provided to generate buzz.

User Onboarding:

Supported by comprehensive documentation, online tutorials, and dedicated customer support to ensure a smooth user transition and strong market adoption.

Accessibility Standards

Major feedback from initial launch was the lack of an accessibility standard certification.

Audits

• The product was audited for WCAG Level A standards and design inconsistencies post launch.
• The results were documented and prioritized in upcoming sprints and Program Increments.

Outcome

Results:

The project led to significant increases in conversion rates and user engagement, with a 2x overall return on investment (ROI) and Zmanda conversions showing remarkable improvement.

Impact on Users and Business:

The collaboration with Dell ensured all XPS laptops would include the consumer version of ZEB, setting a new standard in data management solutions adopted by Dell.

Impact