Technical Review by
Craig MacAlpine
Endpoint backup solutions protect data on laptops, desktops, and remote devices against hardware failure, theft, and ransomware, with automated, centrally managed protection that does not rely on user action. Endpoint data is frequently the least-protected category in enterprise environments, and recovery without a backup is often impossible. We reviewed the top platforms and found Datto Endpoint Backup, Acronis Cyber Protect, and Carbonite Recover to be the strongest on automation reliability and recovery granularity.
Protecting distributed endpoints is now harder as workforces fragment across remote locations, branch offices, and home networks. Cloud storage costs rise with scale. Ransomware hits endpoints and spreads across your network before backups can help. Legacy endpoint backup tools assume on-premises infrastructure you don’t have anymore.
You need an endpoint backup solution that deploys silently, requires minimal ongoing administration, and keeps costs predictable as your user count grows. The challenge is that solutions vary dramatically. Some sacrifice speed for cost. Others require heavy infrastructure investment. A few automate backup but make recovery a tedious, manual process. Getting it wrong means either wasting money on unused features or discovering too late that restoration takes hours when you need minutes.
We evaluated 7 endpoint backup solutions across deployment simplicity, backup speed, recovery reliability, ransomware protection, and operational overhead. We evaluated each for how well they integrate with RMM platforms, support cross-platform environments, handle bandwidth constraints, and scale across hundreds or thousands of endpoints. We also reviewed customer feedback to understand where vendor promises diverge from field experience.
This guide gives you the testing insights and decision framework to select an endpoint backup solution that protects your data without creating operational headaches.
Endpoint backup is automated, centrally managed protection for the data on your laptops, desktops, and remote devices. Instead of trusting each user to copy their files somewhere safe, the backup tool runs quietly in the background, capturing changes and storing them in the cloud or a central location. If a device is lost, stolen, encrypted by ransomware, or simply fails, IT can restore the files, or the whole machine, without the user having lifted a finger. It matters because endpoint data is often the least-protected part of a business, and once a laptop is gone, anything that was only stored there is gone too.
Endpoint backup platforms deploy a lightweight agent, ideally silently through RMM or group policy, that captures file-level or image-based backups using changed-block tracking and incremental-forever schedules to keep network and storage impact low. Source-side deduplication and compression cut the volume sent over constrained or intermittent connections, while bandwidth throttling protects production links. Recovery breadth ranges from individual file restore to full bare-metal recovery to similar or dissimilar hardware. Ransomware resilience comes from immutable or air-gapped storage, behavioral detection, and isolated recovery points, and mobile-workforce features add remote wipe and device location for lost or stolen hardware. When evaluating, weigh platform coverage (Windows, macOS, Linux), deployment and administrative overhead, restore speed under real conditions, deduplication efficiency, and whether the platform is cloud-native SaaS, on-premises, or hybrid.
Here is how the 7 platforms compare on the capabilities that matter most for endpoint backup.
| Product | Best For | Platform Coverage | Immutable Backups | Bare-Metal Recovery | Deduplication |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Datto Endpoint Backup
|
MSPs protecting distributed endpoints
|
Windows, macOS
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Acronis Cyber Protect
|
Unified backup and threat protection
|
Windows, macOS
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Carbonite Recover
|
Silent, mobile-friendly deployment
|
Windows, Mac, servers
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Commvault Backup And Recovery
|
Enterprise complexity at scale
|
Windows, broad workloads
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Dell Avamar Data Protection Software
|
Distributed deduplication at scale
|
Physical, virtual, cloud
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Druva inSync Enterprise Endpoint Data Backup
|
Cloud-native, infrastructure-free backup
|
Windows, macOS (SaaS)
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Veeam Endpoint Backup
|
Straightforward Windows protection
|
Windows only
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
We evaluated 7 endpoint backup solutions across deployment simplicity, backup and recovery speed, ransomware protection, deduplication efficiency, and operational overhead. We combined hands-on testing with market research and customer feedback to validate vendor claims against real-world performance. This guide was written by Mirren McDade, Senior Journalist and Content Writer at Expert Insights, with technical review by Craig MacAlpine, CEO and Founder, and is updated quarterly. Read our full methodology
Datto Endpoint Backup is a cloud-native backup solution built for MSPs protecting distributed Windows and macOS endpoints without on-premises hardware. The direct-to-cloud architecture sends incremental backups straight to Datto’s cloud with AES-256 encryption and immutable storage. We think this is one of the strongest options for MSPs managing remote workers and small offices where hardware-based backup isn’t practical.
MSPs consistently praise the straightforward agent install and the reliable, hands-off operation once running. Support gets positive marks for responsiveness. Something to be aware of is that initial backups can take longer than expected, particularly on machines with limited or inconsistent uptime windows. The cloud-only design also means there’s no local backup option when faster restores are the priority.
We think Datto Endpoint Backup works best for MSPs with distributed endpoints where appliance logistics create headaches. The immutable storage provides strong ransomware protection by default, and competitive pricing makes it worth evaluating for remote-heavy environments. If your clients need hybrid local and cloud backup, this isn’t the right fit.
Best for mid-size to larger organizations consolidating their protection stack
Acronis Cyber Protect bundles backup, anti-malware, and endpoint management into a single agent and console. It targets mid-size to larger organizations that want to consolidate their protection stack rather than manage separate tools. We were impressed by the depth of the unified approach, which eliminates the agent sprawl that comes with running separate backup and security products.
Customers praise the single-pane-of-glass management and measurable reductions in downtime. MSPs appreciate handling backup, XDR, and anti-malware without juggling vendors. Something to be aware of is that the learning curve hits hard when onboarding new features, and support response times can lag during complex implementations according to customer feedback.
We think Acronis Cyber Protect works best for organizations ready to invest in a unified platform and willing to handle initial complexity. The single-agent approach is a real advantage if your team currently manages separate backup and security tools. If your team lacks bandwidth for a steeper rollout, lighter alternatives exist.
Best for teams wanting hands-off endpoint protection for mobile workforces
Carbonite Recover is an automatic endpoint backup solution built for organizations with distributed and mobile workforces. It handles Windows, Mac, and server environments with centralized management and silent deployment. We think this is a solid option for teams that want hands-off endpoint protection without heavy administration.
Users consistently praise the hands-off operation and intuitive interface. Technical and pre-sales support gets positive marks for helping teams configure things correctly from the start. Something to be aware of is that restore speeds frustrate some customers, even on solid network connections. Advanced disaster recovery features may require higher licensing tiers.
We think Carbonite Recover works well for SMBs and mid-market teams needing automated endpoint protection without heavy administration. The silent deployment and remote wipe features are strong selling points for mobile-first workforces. If fast restores matter more than anything else, evaluate alternatives.
Best for large organizations with complex mixed environments
Commvault Backup And Recovery is an enterprise-grade platform covering virtual machines, databases, containers, applications, and endpoints from a single console. It targets larger organizations with complex environments that need consolidated visibility and policy-driven automation. We think this is one of the strongest options for enterprises with significant data protection workloads across mixed infrastructure.
Long-term customers praise the disk space gains from metadata-based deduplication and the flexibility in managing VM workloads. Vendor support and pricing negotiations get positive marks from established accounts. Something to be aware of is that first-time setup and cloud configuration require significant time and expertise investment, and the interface presents a steep learning curve for teams new to the platform.
We think Commvault fits organizations with significant data protection workloads and IT teams ready to invest in configuration. The single-console management across VMs, databases, containers, and endpoints is a real advantage at scale. If your environment is straightforward or your team is lean, lighter solutions exist.
Best for organizations invested in Dell infrastructure prioritizing proven reliability
Dell Avamar is an enterprise backup platform covering physical, virtual, and cloud environments with integrated deduplication at its core. It scales from endpoint protection up to petabyte-class enterprise deployments. We think the platform is best suited for organizations already invested in Dell infrastructure or those prioritizing proven reliability over newer capabilities.
Long-term users praise the reliability and recovery speed across large environments. Dell EMC support consistently gets positive marks for responsiveness and expertise. Organizations running petabyte-scale operations report stable, predictable backup behavior. Something to be aware of is that the platform architecture and interface show their age compared to newer backup solutions, and feature innovation lags behind competitors focused on modern cloud-native capabilities.
We think Dell Avamar fits enterprises already invested in Dell infrastructure or prioritizing proven reliability over newer capabilities. The deduplication is really effective at reducing storage and bandwidth demands. But if your team values a modern interface and rapid feature development, evaluate alternatives.
Best for organizations wanting cloud-native endpoint protection
Druva inSync is a cloud-native endpoint backup solution built for mobile and distributed workforces. It runs entirely as SaaS on AWS infrastructure, eliminating on-premises infrastructure from the equation. We think this is a strong option for organizations wanting endpoint protection that stays invisible to end users while giving IT full visibility and control.
Customers praise the intuitive interface and straightforward setup process. Support gets strong marks for responsiveness and follow-through on issues. Something to be aware of is that the pure SaaS architecture limits options for organizations requiring on-premises or hybrid control. Organizations with complex compliance requirements may need additional configuration effort.
We think Druva inSync fits organizations prioritizing ease of deployment and minimal end-user disruption. The self-service restore capability and consumption-based pricing are strong selling points for growing teams. If you need granular on-premises control or hybrid architectures, evaluate other options.
Best for Windows-focused environments valuing reliability
Veeam Endpoint Backup protects Windows desktops and laptops with image-based backups that capture entire systems or selected volumes and folders. It fits organizations wanting straightforward endpoint protection without complex infrastructure. We think this is a dependable option for Windows-focused environments that value reliability over extensive feature sets.
Customers consistently describe Veeam as a vendor that delivers what it promises. The sales team gets credit for straightforward, no-nonsense product presentations. Performance runs stable, and restorations work reliably when needed. Something to be aware of is that Windows-only coverage limits usefulness for mixed-OS or Mac-heavy environments.
We think Veeam Endpoint Backup works well for organizations standardized on Windows endpoints who want reliable, scheduled protection. The combination of image-based backup and flexible recovery makes it a dependable workhorse. If you need cross-platform coverage or advanced customization, broader solutions exist.
Endpoint backup is usually priced per device or per user per month, and most of these vendors quote based on endpoint count and features. None publish a clear list price for endpoint backup in the live material, so expect pricing to depend on device count, retention, and whether backup is bought standalone or bundled with security. Contact each vendor for a scoped quote.
| Product | Starting Price | Billing | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Datto Endpoint Backup
|
Contact for quote
|
Per endpoint, via MSP partners
|
|
|
Acronis Cyber Protect
|
Contact for quote
|
Per workload, subscription
|
|
|
Carbonite Recover
|
Contact for quote
|
Per device, subscription
|
|
|
Commvault Backup And Recovery
|
Contact for quote
|
Subscription
|
|
|
Dell Avamar Data Protection Software
|
Contact for quote
|
Capacity / perpetual
|
|
|
Druva inSync Enterprise Endpoint Data Backup
|
Contact for quote
|
Consumption-based
|
|
|
Veeam Endpoint Backup
|
Free edition; paid contact for quote
|
Per device / subscription
|
|
Once you've shortlisted an endpoint backup platform, these are the steps we recommend to protect distributed devices without creating operational headaches.
Agents you can push centrally, without disrupting users, are what make backup viable across hundreds or thousands of endpoints.
Laptops with intermittent connectivity are where backups stall, so confirm incrementals and changed-block tracking keep them current.
Windows-only tools leave Mac and Linux endpoints exposed, so confirm coverage before standardizing on one product.
Recovery is the point of backup, so confirm you can restore files quickly and rebuild a failed device to similar or dissimilar hardware.
Ransomware reaches endpoints first, so copies an attacker cannot delete are essential to a clean recovery.
Source-side deduplication and throttling keep backups from saturating remote and branch connections and control cloud storage cost.
Remote wipe and device location reduce the risk from stolen or misplaced laptops, beyond just recovering the data.
Per-device and consumption pricing scale very differently, so project the bill at your expected headcount before committing.
At-a-glance backup health across all endpoints, ideally in your existing monitoring tools, is what catches silent failures.
A backup is only proven once you have restored from it, so rehearse endpoint recovery regularly to confirm it works.
No single endpoint backup solution works for every organization. Your choice depends on whether you’re an MSP, an IT team managing mixed platforms, or an enterprise needing consolidation across endpoints and servers.
If you’re an MSP managing distributed endpoints without on-premises hardware, Datto Endpoint Backup delivers appliance-free cloud protection. Immutable storage defends against ransomware, and RMM integration enables fast rollout across clients.
If consolidating backup, anti-malware, and endpoint management into one agent matters, Acronis Cyber Protect bundles them together. For hands-off operation across mobile-first workforces, Carbonite Recover deploys silently through policy-based installation.
If you’re managing endpoints alongside VMs, databases, and containers at enterprise scale, Commvault Backup And Recovery provides single-console management, while Dell Avamar delivers variable-length deduplication for storage and bandwidth efficiency in large, Dell-centric deployments.
If you want cloud-native simplicity without on-premises infrastructure, Druva inSync runs entirely as SaaS. For straightforward Windows endpoint protection, Veeam Endpoint Backup remains a dependable workhorse.
Read the individual reviews above to dig into deployment specifics, recovery capabilities, ransomware protection, and the trade-offs that matter for your infrastructure.
Security and safety for endpoints is extremely important to businesses due to the number of endpoints within an organization, and the potential severity of a breach. Few organizations could function efficiently – or at all, in many cases – without access to laptops, workstations, tablets, smartphones etc., – each one of these is an endpoint. Endpoint backup saves copies of important data that can be revisited if something happens to the original data. It is a bit like clicking the “undo” button once something has been deleted.
Endpoint backup ensures that all data from the endpoint is accessible in the event of data being lost, stolen, damaged, or otherwise unusable. It could be that a hard drive fails, a natural disaster occurs, or there is an accidental deletion. Each of these could result in you losing valuable data and being unable to continue business operations as normal. Not only does an organization have to account for the loss of data, but there will also be an impact on productivity, and extra resources will be needed to get things back on track. They may need to repeat workloads and contact customers before they can continue. With backup solutions, the impact of a data loss is mitigated.
Backup solutions begin by scanning your environment and recording the information. This data is then transferred to a secondary storage location, as you see fit. It could be that this is a cloud storage area, or a physical storage center. There are benefits to both storage areas – it is worth checking with compliance bodies if they have any expectations for your environment.
Once the data has been saved, you can forget about it. That is, until you need it. If a cyber event does occur, you can access the information you have saved, and reinstate it. Most backup solutions give you the ability to restore single files, groups of documents, or entire systems. These can be uploaded to the original area, or a new one.
Historically, endpoint protection meant utilizing signature-based antivirus at each endpoint, but today’s more sophisticated malware has surpassed this level of and is capable of bypassing traditional AV solution.
Today a multifaceted approach is highly recommended, which should include things like MFA, network access control, and advanced anti-malware software. But even with all these solutions in place an endpoint backup solution is needed to fully round out endpoint security.
Time to recover is a key metric in any endpoint security plan, and an effective endpoint backup solution can help to ensure organizations have that necessary recovery time and can carry on with operation with as little disruption as possible.
Endpoint backups solutions may vary in terms of functionality, with each solution having their own features regarding automation, validation, security, and recovery process. But generally, any endpoint backup solution you employ should provide comprehensive file protection for every device, typically with a centrally managed portal for configuration and an easy, straightforward way to restore backups quickly.
Some key features to look out for in an endpoint backup solution include:
Full Backups: This is the most basic and complete form of backup is, as the name suggests, where complete copies are made of all data. The entirety of the data on your system is stored security, with the primary advantage of ensuring that a complete copy of all data is readily available. This is the most time and storage intensive form of data backup, but also the most comprehensive. When you need to recover data, you can restore an entire system from a single backup.
Incremental Backups: An incremental backup means copying only the data that has been altered since the last full backup. This means that is will only be a partial backup. When used in conjunction with a full backup, or multiple previous incremental backups, organizations will have a comprehensive record of their data. Since this is only a partial backup it is a less time consuming process so organizations can run this type of backup more often. Organizations might end up having to restore from multiple different backups to gain a complete picture.
Differential Backups: These ae very similar to incremental backups, except they will record all alternations made to data since the original full backup. Differential backups require more space and time to complete than incremental backups, although less than full backups, but means you will only have to deal with two backup copies which is a lot easier to manage, while still providing a comprehensive copy off the data. As you are restoring from two records, this type of backup is less storage intensive and faster than incremental backups.
Further reading on backup and recovery from Expert Insights — buyers' guides, comparison articles, and platform-specific shortlists.
Joel is the Director of Content and a co-founder at Expert Insights; a rapidly growing media company focussed on covering cybersecurity solutions.
He’s an experienced journalist and editor with 8 years’ experience covering the cybersecurity space. He’s reviewed hundreds of cybersecurity solutions, interviewed hundreds of industry experts and produced dozens of industry reports read by thousands of CISOs and security professionals in topics like IAM, MFA, zero trust, email security, DevSecOps and more.
He also hosts the Expert Insights Podcast and co-writes the weekly newsletter, Decrypted. Joel is driven to share his team’s expertise with cybersecurity leaders to help them create more secure business foundations.
Craig MacAlpine is CEO and Founder of Expert Insights. Before founding Expert Insights in August 2018, Craig spent 10 years as CEO of EPA Cloud, an email security provider that rebranded as VIPRE Email Security following its acquisition by Ziff Davis, formerly J2Global (NASDAQ: ZD) in 2013.
Craig is a passionate security innovator with over 20 years of experience helping organizations to stay secure with cutting-edge information security and cybersecurity solutions.
Using his extensive experience in the email security industry, he founded Expert Insights with the singular goal of helping IT professionals and CISOs to cut through the noise and find the right cybersecurity solutions they need to protect their organizations.