I recently had the opportunity to complete Veeam’s Veeam Data Platform: Scale, Automate, Secure (Veeam Recovery Orchestrator) self-paced training, available via Veeam University Pro.
I’ve typically preferred a classroom-led approach, so I was curious to see how I’d fare with a self-paced format. And because VRO isn’t something I use day to day, it felt like the perfect chance to step back and explore the product’s features and capabilities with fresh eyes.
What surprised me about self-paced training
So, how did the self-paced format hold up in practice? I went in with an open mind and no real plan for how I was going to tackle it.
First impressions were positive: the sign-up process was simple, with several payment options available and the ability to apply discount/voucher codes.
From there, logging in and accessing the course content was straightforward.
Once I got started, my initial reservations faded quickly. I found the self-paced format genuinely beneficial: I could fit the content around my schedule, with a few longer sessions over a weekend. My biggest concern was losing momentum in a ‘pick-it-up-as-you-go’ course, but it became one of the best parts no more feeling drained after a full day of absorbing information. The short, focused modules also made it easier for me to retain what I’d learned.
Would I choose self-paced training again? Yes. In fact, self-paced learning now underpins most Veeam certifications with the VBR course still available in an instructor-led format (as well as self-paced).
And with that out of the way, here’s what the VRO course itself was like.
What the VRO course is like?
With the format covered, let’s get into the part you’re probably here for: the actual training.
The training itself was excellent. It was delivered by Tim Myers of Tsunati, who provide Veeam’s self-paced training courses. The content was split into manageable chunks some very short, with the longest modules around 20 minutes.
That structure made it easy to fit the training in and spot natural places to pause and take a break.
In total, there were 13 major sections, with regular knowledge checks throughout.
By the end of the course, I felt I had a solid understanding of the product and where it can add value, especially the real-world use cases it’s designed for.
After completing the course, you receive a certificate and a badge to confirm completion, but the real value is what you can take back into your day-to-day work.
My biggest takeaways (and why they matter)
So, coming out the other side, here’s what I’m confident I can do now:
- Configuring and deploying Veeam Recovery Orchestrator, setting up infrastructure, recovery locations, permissions, and server settings with clarity and confidence.
- Have the skills to automate and streamline disaster recovery plans, reducing manual effort and errors with well‑documented, repeatable workflows.
- Use Orchestrator to test recovery regularly without disrupting operations, simulating failover scenarios and validating readiness in a safe, controlled way.
- Manage recovery across systems and applications from a centralized platform, improving consistency, speed, and reliability.
In short: if you want to automate recovery, test your plans safely, and bring structure and consistency to disaster recovery workflows, this course gives you the skills to do it with confidence.
For me, because we don’t use VRO day to day, this course was a great way to see it in action, understand the full potential of the solution, and uncover features and, more importantly, use cases that could justify introducing it for production workloads.
If you work with Veeam regularly, Veeam University is a must-have subscription to upskill your workforce and, just as importantly, help people get certified.
