5 key features to look for in a network backup software

1. Automated backup scheduling

Manual backups don’t scale. Even the most disciplined admin can miss a backup and you usually don’t notice until you actually need it. That’s why automated scheduling is one of the most critical features in any network backup software: it guarantees that every device configuration is captured consistently, without human intervention.

Strong backup scheduling should include:

• Flexible scheduling options for devices and groups.
• Event-based triggers that capture changes immediately.
• Automatic verification to ensure backups are valid.
• Alerts and reporting when a backup fails.

How Network Configuration Manager helps: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager takes automation further. Beyond recurring and event-driven backups, it also validates backups, integrates compliance checks, and even identifies firmware vulnerabilities; keeping your configurations not only backed up but also secure and audit-ready.

2. Instant and bulk backup capabilities

When a new ACL, VLAN, or firewall rule goes wrong, waiting until the next scheduled job isn’t an option. And in environments with thousands of devices, backing them up one by one simply isn’t practical. That’s why an effective network backup solution should offer both instant backups for emergencies and bulk backups that cover entire device groups in a single operation.

The essentials here are:

• One-click, on-demand backups for critical scenarios.
• Bulk jobs across device groups or entire sites.
• Backup summaries with success/failure details.

How Network Configuration Manager helps: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager provides both instant backups for individual devices and bulk backup options for entire groups. With built-in job reporting and bandwidth-aware execution, you can protect configurations before major rollouts or upgrades; without slowing down your network.

3. Change management and rollback

A single wrong command can bring down a business-critical app. Without visibility, you don’t know what changed, who changed it, or how to undo it.

Key capabilities to expect:

• Real-time detection of configuration changes.
• Version history and line-by-line comparisons.
• Baselines and golden configurations for reference.
• Quick rollback to a previous working version.

How Network Configuration Manager helps: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager automatically tracks every configuration change across your devices, highlights differences side by side, and alerts you instantly if something goes wrong. With predefined baselines and one-click rollback, you can recover from failed changes in minutes; keeping outages from becoming full-blown incidents.

4. Enterprise-grade security and governance

Backups are as sensitive as the live configurations themselves. If they’re not properly secured, they can expose your entire network blueprint to misuse or tampering. That’s why a reliable network backup solution must treat backup data with the same rigour as production systems.

A secure approach should include:

• Encryption in transit and at rest.
• Role-based access control (RBAC).
• Immutable audit logs for compliance.
• Integration with MFA, SSO, and directory services.

How Network Configuration Manager helps: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager safeguards configuration data with enterprise-grade encryption, enforces RBAC to restrict access, and maintains tamper-proof audit trails. With built-in support for compliance checks and authentication integrations, Network Configuration Manager helps you stay secure and audit-ready without adding complexity.

5. Scalability and multi-vendor support

Modern networks aren’t uniform. A single environment might use Cisco switches at the core, Palo Alto firewalls at the edge, and Juniper or Fortinet devices at branch sites. Add remote offices into the mix, and managing backups at scale quickly becomes a serious challenge. That’s why scalability and broad vendor support are essential in any network backup solution.

Scalable network backup tools usually offer:

• Wide support for network devices and vendors.
• Distributed architecture for large environments.
• Templates to standardize configurations across platforms.
• API integrations with monitoring and ITSM tools.

How Network Configuration Manager helps: ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager supports an extensive list of vendors and device families, scales seamlessly from small teams to global enterprises, and integrates directly with IT workflows. With multi-vendor coverage and centralised control, Network Configuration Manager ensures configuration backups remain consistent and reliable everywhere in your network.

Look no further, ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager has all the features that you need and more!

Choosing the right network backup software isn’t about ticking feature boxes; it’s about ensuring your network is always recoverable, secure, and compliant. The five capabilities we’ve covered: automation, bulk backups, change visibility, enterprise-grade security, and scalability, are what separate a reliable solution from a risky one.

ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager brings all of these together in a single platform. It helps you eliminate manual errors, recover from failed changes in minutes, protect sensitive data, and scale seamlessly across multi-vendor environments. In short, it is designed for admins who need confidence that their networks can withstand mistakes, audits, and growth.

Download a 30-day free trial or schedule a free demo today and see how easy it is to take control of your network configuration backups before the next outage hits.