Best 10 Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) Solutions For Business (2026)
We reviewed 10 BaaS platforms on recovery speed, retention policy depth, and how well each handles ransomware scenarios. Here’s what we found.
Written by
Joel Witts
Technical Review by
Laura Iannini
Quick Summary
Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) is a cloud-delivered model in which a third-party provider manages backup infrastructure, storage, and recovery on behalf of the customer. Ransomware that destroys backup infrastructure before encrypting production data is a known attack pattern, and BaaS protects against it by keeping backup management off-premises. We reviewed the top 10 BaaS platforms and found Datto SIRIS, Acronis Cyber Protect, and AWS Backup to be the strongest options for most organizations.
Ransomware changed everything about backup strategy. You can’t just have files in the cloud anymore. You need verified recovery, immutable backups, and speed when seconds matter. The market fragmented accordingly. Cloud-native solutions, hardware appliances, unified platforms handling endpoints and SaaS, managed services through partners. Pick wrong, and you’re either paying for features you don’t use or missing critical coverage during the attack that actually matters.
The real problem isn’t finding a backup solution. It’s finding one that fits your infrastructure type, covers your specific workloads, supports your recovery time objectives, and doesn’t add operational burden that your team can’t handle. Some solutions compete on simplicity for teams without backup expertise. Others target enterprises with complex multicloud requirements. Still others focus on specific workloads like Microsoft 365 or Salesforce. Get the fit wrong, and you’re either dealing with gaps when recovery matters or managing too much complexity during maintenance.
We evaluated 10 backup-as-a-service solutions, evaluating each for recovery speed, ransomware protection, workload coverage, ease of management, and pricing. We reviewed customer feedback and deployment patterns to identify where vendor claims diverge from operational reality. What we found: the gap between promised recovery times and actual performance under pressure can be substantial. Several platforms that look comparable in feature lists behave very differently when you actually need them.
This guide gives you the testing insights and decision framework to choose a backup solution that verifies recovery works before disaster strikes.
Our Recommendations
Your decision hinges on platform scope and operational requirements.
- Best For Comprehensive Solutions: Datto SIRIS instant virtualization lets you run servers directly from backup appliances during outages.
- Best For Specialized Needs: Acronis Cyber Protect single agent handles backup, antivirus, anti-ransomware, and patch management without separate deployments.
- Best For Platform Diversity: AWS Backup native integration across AWS services eliminates agent deployment and third-party tool management.
- Best For Enterprise Scale: CloudAlly for Microsoft 365 covers shared mailboxes, resource mailboxes, public folders, and teams data beyond standard user accounts.
- Best For Targeted Use Cases: Cohesity DataProtect helios provides single-pane-of-glass management for physical appliances, cloud, and saas workloads.
Datto SIRIS is a backup and disaster recovery platform built for MSPs and IT teams managing physical and virtual infrastructure. It combines local backup appliances with cloud replication for fast recovery during hardware failures or full site outages. We think this is one of the strongest options for MSPs needing verified recovery with instant virtualization capabilities.
Datto SIRIS Key Features
Datto SIRIS provides instant virtualization that lets you run servers directly from backup appliances when primary infrastructure goes down. Automated screenshot verification confirms every backup is bootable without manual testing, giving you actual proof your recovery points work. Immutable cloud storage with Cloud Deletion Defense auto-restores backups if someone tries to delete them, which matters during ransomware incidents targeting backup infrastructure. Two-factor authentication is mandatory, not optional. A multi-tenant dashboard lets MSPs monitor multiple devices and clients from one view.
What Customers Say
Customers consistently praise recovery speed and backup reliability. The web dashboard gets positive feedback for making it easy to check backup status across clients. Direct access to technical support rather than tiered call centers gets high marks. Something to be aware of is that local storage fills up faster than expected if retention policies aren’t tuned properly. The interface can feel overwhelming initially when managing advanced settings across multiple devices.
Our Take
We think Datto SIRIS fits MSPs managing diverse client environments and mid-market companies with complex infrastructure. The instant virtualization and screenshot verification give you confidence that recovery actually works before you need it. The pricing runs higher than basic backup tools, but verified recovery and live disaster support justify the investment.
Strengths
- Instant virtualization runs servers directly from backup appliances during outages
- Automated screenshot verification confirms every backup is bootable
- Immutable cloud storage with auto-restore prevents ransomware from destroying backups
- Direct 24/7 technical support without tiered escalation
Cautions
- Users report local storage fills up quickly without careful retention policy tuning
- Reviews note the interface feels complex when configuring advanced settings across devices
Acronis Cyber Protect
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud merges backup and endpoint security into a single agent, eliminating the need to run separate tools for data protection and threat defense. It covers ransomware, malware, and data loss scenarios from one console with AI-based threat detection. We think this is a strong option for MSPs and mid-market organizations looking to consolidate backup and security under one platform.
Acronis Cyber Protect Key Features
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud delivers continuous data protection, vulnerability assessments, patch management, and behavioral threat detection through a single agent deployment. AI-based antivirus runs alongside anti-ransomware and anti-cryptojacking defenses, all tied to the same recovery infrastructure. Safe recovery protocols scan backup images for malware before restoration, preventing reinfection after an attack. Cloud disaster recovery and M365 backup expand protection beyond traditional endpoints. A multi-tenant dashboard handles MSP operations across multiple client environments.
What Customers Say
Customers highlight the single-agent deployment as a major advantage, reporting measurable reductions in downtime and operational overhead compared to running separate tools. The platform handles physical, virtual, cloud, and mobile workloads without requiring different management approaches. Something to be aware of is that the licensing structure feels complicated when adding advanced modules like XDR or extended detection capabilities. Dashboard navigation gets mixed feedback when switching between security and backup functions.
Our Take
We think Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud fits MSPs and mid-market organizations consolidating backup and security budgets. The unified approach reduces agent sprawl and simplifies vendor management. Organizations already running separate backup and endpoint tools should evaluate the cost savings and operational simplification.
Strengths
- Single agent handles backup, antivirus, anti-ransomware, and patch management
- Safe recovery scans backup images for malware before restoration
- Continuous data protection reduces RPOs compared to scheduled backup
- Covers physical, virtual, cloud, and mobile workloads from one console
Cautions
- Customers note licensing complexity when adding advanced modules like XDR
- Reviews mention dashboard navigation feels less intuitive between security and backup
AWS Backup
AWS Backup is a centralized backup service for AWS workloads, automating protection across EC2, RDS, S3, EBS, EKS, FSx, and other native services from a single console. It targets organizations already running infrastructure in AWS who want policy-based backup management without third-party agents. We think this is the natural choice for AWS-first environments wanting native integration without additional tooling.
AWS Backup Key Features
AWS Backup uses policy-based backup plans that apply schedules, retention periods, and compliance rules across multiple accounts and regions through AWS Organizations integration. Encryption is handled automatically, with backups stored in isolated vaults that prevent accidental deletion. Logically air-gapped vaults with multi-party approval added in 2025 protect against account compromise scenarios. Point-in-time recovery provides granular restore options for databases and file systems. Audit Manager tracks backup coverage and policy adherence across your entire AWS footprint for compliance reporting. Recent updates added EKS backup support without agents or add-ons.
What Customers Say
Customers consistently praise the ease of setup and native AWS integration. The centralized dashboard gets positive feedback for tracking backup jobs and restore activity across services. Something to be aware of is that costs can climb higher than third-party alternatives as data volume grows. The EC2 restore process requires manual reattachment of elastic IPs and security configurations.
Our Take
We think AWS Backup fits organizations whose infrastructure already lives in AWS and want native policy-based protection without additional tools. The 2025 addition of air-gapped vaults with multi-party approval strengthens the ransomware defense story. If your environment spans multiple cloud providers, dedicated multi-cloud backup tools offer broader coverage.
Strengths
- Native integration across AWS services eliminates agent deployment
- Policy-based plans apply schedules and retention across accounts and regions
- Logically air-gapped vaults with multi-party approval for ransomware defense
- Audit Manager tracks backup coverage against regulatory requirements
Cautions
- Users report costs climb higher than third-party alternatives at scale
- EC2 restores require manual reattachment of elastic IPs and security configurations
CloudAlly for Microsoft 365
OpenText CloudAlly Backup (formerly CloudAlly) automates backup for M365 workloads including Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and public folders from a single console. It covers data types that Microsoft’s native retention doesn’t protect, including shared mailboxes, resource mailboxes, and Teams conversations. We think this is a practical option for MSPs and mid-market organizations needing reliable M365 backup with unlimited retention and compliance certifications.
CloudAlly for Microsoft 365 Key Features
CloudAlly backs up shared mailboxes, resource mailboxes, public folders, and Teams data beyond standard user accounts. Restores go directly into user mailboxes in labeled folders for organized recovery. Storage flexibility supports Amazon S3, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform as restore targets. AES-256 encryption covers data at rest and in transit, with storage in global data centers you choose based on compliance requirements. ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance certifications are included. Bulk activation simplifies employee onboarding and offboarding at scale.
What Customers Say
Customers praise the ability to restore specific files or entire mailboxes quickly. Granular recovery works well, with individual emails restored directly into user mailboxes. Something to be aware of is that the mailbox billing structure is confusing and makes cost forecasting difficult. Auto-archiving of deleted mailboxes takes too long, creating situations where clients receive backup failure notifications before the system processes deletions.
Our Take
We think CloudAlly fits MSPs and mid-market organizations needing M365 backup with unlimited retention that covers the data types Microsoft’s native tools miss. The broad workload coverage across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams addresses the core protection gap. MSPs should model the billing structure carefully before committing.
Strengths
- Covers shared mailboxes, resource mailboxes, public folders, and Teams data
- Restores directly into user mailboxes in labeled folders
- Unlimited retention with flexible restore to AWS, Azure, or GCP storage
- ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance with global data center options
Cautions
- Customers note mailbox billing structure is confusing for cost forecasting
- Reviews flag deleted mailbox auto-archiving delays trigger unnecessary failure alerts
Cohesity DataProtect
Cohesity DataProtect is a data protection platform built for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, consolidating backup, recovery, and ransomware defense into one system. Following Cohesity’s merger with Veritas’ enterprise data protection business in December 2024, the combined entity is now the world’s largest data protection software provider. We think this is a strong option for enterprises with complex hybrid infrastructure wanting to eliminate backup silos under unified management.
Cohesity DataProtect Key Features
Cohesity DataProtect provides single-pane-of-glass management through Helios, covering physical appliances, cloud deployments, and backup-as-a-service from one console. Instant recovery from fully hydrated snapshots means you’re not waiting for data rehydration during restore operations. The platform handles VMware, M365, databases, and AWS workloads without requiring separate management tools. Immutable backups and AI-driven anomaly detection provide ransomware defense beyond basic snapshots. SLA-driven policies automate protection without manual intervention. Strong deduplication and compression reduce secondary storage costs.
What Customers Say
Customers praise the straightforward setup and intuitive interface. VM backups and restores run reliably, with test recoveries working without issues. Support is accessible through built-in chat for quick resolution. Something to be aware of is that the platform doesn’t automatically detect disabled user accounts, requiring manual removal from protection groups after repeated email alerts. Initial setup complexity requires careful planning for enterprise-scale deployments.
Our Take
We think Cohesity DataProtect fits enterprises with hybrid infrastructure needing consolidated backup across on-premises and cloud environments. The instant recovery from fully hydrated snapshots and unified Helios management are real differentiators. The pricing runs higher than basic backup tools, but operational efficiency justifies the cost for complex deployments.
Strengths
- Helios provides single-pane management for physical, cloud, and SaaS workloads
- Instant recovery from fully hydrated snapshots eliminates rehydration delays
- AI-driven anomaly detection and immutable backups for ransomware defense
- Strong deduplication and compression reduce secondary storage costs
Cautions
- Users report the platform doesn't auto-detect disabled accounts in protection groups
- Customers note initial setup requires careful planning for enterprise deployments
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Druva Data Security Cloud (the current branding for what the article lists as Data Resiliency Cloud) is a SaaS-native data protection platform covering endpoints, M365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and cloud workloads from a single console. Built entirely on AWS with no infrastructure to manage, it eliminates hardware, patching, and capacity planning. We think this is a strong option for organizations wanting to eliminate backup infrastructure while consolidating endpoint and SaaS protection under unified policies.
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud Key Features
Druva Data Security Cloud runs entirely as SaaS with no hardware to manage and no agents to maintain across platforms. The cyber resiliency dashboard provides real-time visibility into data anomalies and restore scan results, giving you confidence in recovery readiness. Automated backup scheduling, data deduplication, and policy-based management reduce operational overhead. End-to-end encryption, ransomware protection, and compliance certifications including SOC 2, HIPAA, and FedRAMP address security and regulatory requirements. A unified dashboard monitors backups, manages policies, and executes restores across all protected workloads.
What Customers Say
Customers consistently praise the intuitive interface and straightforward setup. Support gets strong marks for responsiveness and technical depth, with teams helping customize solutions around specific business requirements. Something to be aware of is that initial backups and large dataset restores can be slow due to cloud upload speeds. Role-based access controls and reporting customization lack granularity for detailed compliance workflows.
Our Take
We think Druva fits organizations eliminating backup infrastructure and consolidating endpoint plus SaaS protection under one platform. The cloud-native architecture and cyber resiliency dashboard are real differentiators. Teams needing on-premises control or fast recovery for very large datasets should evaluate hybrid alternatives.
Strengths
- Zero infrastructure deployment with no hardware, patches, or capacity planning
- Cyber resiliency dashboard provides real-time anomaly and restore visibility
- SOC 2, HIPAA, and FedRAMP compliance certifications included
- Single dashboard covers endpoints, M365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce
Cautions
- Reviews mention initial backups and large dataset restores run slowly
- Users note reporting customization lacks granularity for detailed compliance needs
HPE GreenLake for Backup and Recovery
HPE GreenLake for Backup and Recovery delivers policy-based data protection for hybrid environments through a SaaS console with consumption-based pricing. It combines on-premises and cloud workload backup under a pay-as-you-go model, eliminating upfront CAPEX. We think this is a practical option for organizations wanting cloud-like flexibility for backup infrastructure without migrating workloads or funding large hardware purchases.
HPE GreenLake for Backup and Recovery Key Features
HPE GreenLake for Backup and Recovery uses consumption-based billing measured by memory and storage, replacing upfront hardware purchases with monthly payments based on actual usage. The platform handles VMware VMs, MS SQL databases, block storage volumes, Amazon EBS, and EC2 instances from one console. HPE StoreOnce Catalyst technology delivers up to 8x storage efficiency. Air-gapped storage with encryption and dual authorization protects backups from ransomware. Retention periods extend up to 10 years. Offline restore capability lets you recover backups from an on-premises location without internet or cloud console access, which is valuable during ransomware scenarios.
What Customers Say
Customers praise the GUI-based backup configuration for simplifying operations compared to command-line approaches. The real-time monitoring portal helps teams track consumption and adjust resources. HPE-managed infrastructure reduces operational overhead, with monthly service meetings keeping teams informed. Something to be aware of is that support response times for critical issues get mixed feedback across customer reports.
Our Take
We think HPE GreenLake fits organizations needing flexible payment terms for backup infrastructure or wanting to eliminate CAPEX while maintaining on-premises control. The managed service model reduces operational burden for teams without deep backup expertise. Organizations needing SaaS workload backup alongside infrastructure protection will need additional tools.
Strengths
- Consumption-based pricing eliminates upfront CAPEX for backup infrastructure
- StoreOnce Catalyst delivers up to 8x storage efficiency
- Air-gapped storage with dual authorization for ransomware protection
- Offline restore works without internet or cloud console access
Cautions
- Customers report support response times for critical issues need improvement
- Reviews note monitoring lacks customization for disaster recovery scenarios
Rubrik Backup and Recovery
Rubrik Security Cloud (the current branding for Rubrik Backup and Recovery) is a unified data protection platform managing backups across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments through policy-driven automation. Immutable architecture prevents backup modification or deletion, providing strong ransomware defense. We think this is one of the strongest options for enterprises needing automated ransomware defense alongside fast recovery across complex infrastructure.
Rubrik Backup and Recovery Key Features
Rubrik Security Cloud uses SLA domain policies that automate protection across VMs, databases, applications, and files regardless of location, eliminating traditional backup scheduling complexity. Immutable architecture prevents backup modification or deletion at the storage layer. Fast recovery times restore data in minutes rather than hours. The API-first design integrates with existing tools and workflow automation. Cloud storage integration provides flexibility for long-term retention and disaster recovery. ML-powered threat analytics detect anomalies across stored data.
What Customers Say
Customers consistently praise the ease of use and reliability. Backup and restore operations complete quickly with minimal manual intervention. Support responds effectively when issues arise, and deployments run smoothly when working directly with the vendor. Something to be aware of is that the interface isn’t intuitive for everyone, particularly around integration with applications like Exchange 2019. Documentation for open-source environments needs improvement. Scaling costs run high with additional capacity.
Our Take
We think Rubrik Security Cloud fits enterprises prioritizing fast recovery and automated policy management across hybrid infrastructure. The immutable architecture and ML-powered threat analytics are real differentiators for security-conscious teams. Smaller organizations and budget-conscious teams should evaluate whether the investment matches their requirements.
Strengths
- Policy-driven SLA domains automate protection without manual scheduling
- Immutable architecture prevents backup modification for ransomware defense
- Fast recovery restores data in minutes rather than hours
- API-first design enables integration with existing tools and automation
Cautions
- Reviews flag the interface lacks intuitiveness for some application integrations
- Customers note scaling costs run high with additional capacity
Veeam Managed Backup & DR Services
Veeam delivers backup and disaster recovery services through its Cloud and Service Provider partner network, covering M365, public cloud workloads, virtual machines, and on-premises infrastructure. The universal licensing model simplifies billing across different workload types. We think this is a strong option for organizations wanting reliable, consistent backup performance across hybrid infrastructure with established service provider partnerships.
Veeam Managed Backup & DR Services Key Features
Veeam provides application-aware backups that capture complete application state rather than just file-level snapshots, ensuring restores come back clean without corrupted transactions. Policy-based automation handles protection workflows consistently with minimal manual intervention. Immutable backup options and detailed audit logs address compliance requirements for data integrity. The universal licensing model simplifies billing across different workload types and platforms. Agent installation requires just a few clicks to protect new systems. Partners undergo thorough verification to ensure technical competency.
What Customers Say
Customers consistently praise backup and recovery reliability. The platform handles VM backups well with strong performance and fast restoration times. Veeam’s sales approach gets positive feedback for being straightforward about product capabilities without overpromising. Something to be aware of is that setup complexity varies by use case, with some configurations feeling unintuitive when selecting specific backup objects. The UI experiences occasional sluggishness during large-scale repository operations.
Our Take
We think Veeam fits organizations wanting proven backup reliability across hybrid infrastructure with flexible delivery through managed service providers. The universal licensing and verified partner ecosystem deliver value for teams wanting managed backup without building internal expertise. Organizations needing self-managed backup with full control should evaluate Veeam Data Platform directly.
Strengths
- Application-aware backups capture complete application state for accurate recovery
- Universal licensing simplifies billing across workload types and platforms
- Policy-based automation handles protection with minimal manual intervention
- Verified partner network ensures technical competency and solution quality
Cautions
- Users report setup can feel unintuitive when selecting specific backup objects
- Reviews mention UI sluggishness during large-scale repository operations
Veritas Alta Backup as a Service
Veritas Alta Backup as a Service, now part of the combined Cohesity-Veritas organization following the December 2024 merger, is a fully hosted data protection platform covering physical, virtual, and multi-cloud workloads. It combines the security features of Veritas NetBackup with cloud-native delivery, eliminating infrastructure management overhead. We think this is a solid option for enterprises with complex multi-platform environments requiring proven backup technology without infrastructure ownership.
Veritas Alta Backup as a Service Key Features
Veritas Alta handles diverse workload types across on-premises, cloud, and SaaS environments with application-consistent backups supporting granular restore down to individual items. Air-gapped recovery vaults with immutability maintain virtual air gaps between production and backup storage for ransomware defense. Deduplication and compression reduce storage requirements and network overhead. Machine learning drives automated service updates, security patches, and anomaly detection without manual intervention. Centralized management across data centers eliminates tool sprawl for multi-site deployments.
What Customers Say
Customers praise the reliable recovery capabilities and long-term dependability, with some reporting 15-plus years of consistent performance across changing infrastructure. Fast recovery times and single-click file restoration simplify operations during data loss incidents. Something to be aware of is that configuration and initial setup complexity require experienced IT professionals. The learning curve is steep for teams without backup domain expertise. Licensing costs run high when adding storage capacity.
Our Take
We think Veritas Alta fits enterprises with complex, multi-platform environments requiring proven backup technology without infrastructure ownership. The air-gapped recovery vaults and long-term reliability are real differentiators. Organizations without experienced backup administrators should factor in the setup complexity and learning curve before committing.
Strengths
- Air-gapped recovery vaults with immutability for ransomware defense
- Application-consistent backups with granular single-click file restoration
- Proven long-term reliability with 15-plus years of consistent performance
- Deduplication and compression reduce storage and network overhead
Cautions
- Customers report setup complexity requires experienced IT professionals
- Reviews note licensing costs run high when scaling storage capacity
What To Look For: Backup Solution Evaluation Checklist
When evaluating backup-as-a-service solutions, we’ve identified eight critical criteria for selecting solutions that actually work when you need them.
- Recovery Speed and Verification: Can you recover in minutes or hours? Does the platform verify backups are bootable automatically? Do customers report actual recovery times matching promises? Is instant virtualization available if you need servers up immediately?
- Ransomware Protection: Are backups immutable or can they be modified/deleted? Does the platform detect ransomware attacks? Can it restore from points before infection? Is air-gapped storage available?
- Workload Coverage: Does it handle your specific mix of physical servers, VMs, cloud workloads, and SaaS applications? Are there gaps requiring separate tools? Can you manage everything from one console?
- Management Complexity: How intuitive is the interface? Can teams without deep backup expertise operate it? What’s the learning curve for daily operations?
- Deployment Flexibility: Do you need to buy hardware or can you start in the cloud? Can you shift workloads between on-premises and cloud? Is vendor lock-in a concern?
- Compliance and Reporting: Does it support your compliance frameworks? Can you generate audit-ready reports? Is data residency important for your regulatory requirements?
- Support During Disasters: Is support available 24/7 when you actually need recovery? Do you get direct access to technical experts or tiered support? Check third-party reviews for consistency.
- Total Cost of Ownership: Is pricing transparent or do surprise charges emerge? Does it scale predictably or do costs spike with recovery? Do you need to maintain internal infrastructure alongside the solution?
Weight these criteria based on your risk tolerance. Organizations in regulated industries should prioritize verified recovery and compliance reporting. MSPs should focus on multi-tenant capabilities and ease of management. Cost-sensitive teams should model TCO carefully including support and scaling costs.
How We Compared The Best Backup As-A-Service Solutions
Expert Insights is an independent editorial team that researches, tests, and reviews cybersecurity and IT solutions. No vendor can pay to influence our review of their products. Our Editor’s Scores are based solely on product quality. Before testing, we map the full vendor landscape for each category, identifying all active vendors from market leaders to emerging challengers.
We evaluated 10 backup-as-a-service platforms covering recovery speed, ransomware protection, workload coverage, management complexity, and cost structure. Each platform was assessed for deployment timelines, backup reliability, recovery time objectives, and disaster recovery capabilities. We evaluated restore operations to validate actual performance against promised metrics.
Beyond hands on testing, we conducted extensive market research across the backup landscape and reviewed customer feedback and recovery stories to validate vendor claims against operational reality. We spoke with product teams to understand architecture decisions, security implementations, and known limitations. Our editorial and commercial teams operate independently. No vendor can pay to influence our review of their products.
This guide is updated quarterly. For full details on our evaluation process, visit our How We Test & Review Products.
The Bottom Line
No single backup solution fits every organization. Your choice depends on infrastructure type, workload mix, and acceptable recovery time objectives.
If verified recovery and disaster recovery speed matter, Datto SIRIS delivers instant virtualization and screenshot verification. Multi-tenant portal works well for MSPs.
If consolidating backup and endpoint security simplifies your stack, Acronis Cyber Protect merges both functions in one agent.
If eliminating backup infrastructure appeals to your team, Druva Data Resiliency Cloud handles endpoints and SaaS workloads from a single cloud interface. Accept cloud-only performance characteristics.
If you manage hybrid infrastructure across on-premises and multiple cloud providers, Cohesity DataProtect unifies management across all environments.
If ransomware defense is your priority, Rubrik Backup and Recovery delivers immutable architecture with minutes-level recovery. Policy-driven automation reduces complexity. Scaling costs run high.
Read the individual reviews above to dig into recovery capabilities, workload coverage, and the trade-offs that matter for your infrastructure.
FAQs
Everything You Need To Know About Backup As-A-Service Solutions (FAQs)
Backup as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions are managed platforms that securely store regular data backups for your organization. Data is stored in a secure, third-party repository. This is typically cloud-based, but can be on-premises, or in a hybrid storage configuration. Data backups can be broad and could cover anything from backups of Microsoft 365 data, endpoint devices, files and images, or even entire network infrastructures, application workloads and data sets. Data stored in a BaaS solution should be regularly backed up, with the frequency of backups determined by your specific organization requirements.
It’s critical that all organizations have a robust disaster recovery and continuity plan, of which data backup has an integral part. Data loss or application outages can be hugely expensive, time consuming and lead to severe business disruption. Data loss can also lead to compliance violations in regulated industries, which can again be very expensive and damaging to brand prestige. With cyber-crime such as ransomware on the rise, having a comprehensive backup plan in place is very important for teams of all sizes.
BaaS has many benefits over running your own backups internally. It is typically more cost effective than running your own data storage, much easier to support and manage, and often solutions have expert support teams on hand to help you recover data when required. As third party tools, they are also more resilient to attacks like ransomware, which could impact your entire network, and jeopardize internal recovery plans. Typically, pricing is based on data storage usage, or on a per-user level.
Backup-as-a-Service tools integrate with applications, endpoints, and web accounts. This integration process will vary based on specific accounts and services being set up. For a typical cloud application, such as backing up Microsoft 365, the integration will take place via an API, and can be as quick as just a few minutes. Once the initial integration has taken place, admins must decide where the data will be stored and configure policies around how often backups will be taken. For some backup services, there may be more granular policies, such as specific apps or user groups.
Once the initial deployment process has been finalized, the BaaS service will take regular backups of your organization’s data. Backups may be full backups of all data, differential (just covering changes since the last full backup was taken), or incremental (only covering data that has changed since the last backup). Data is typically stored in a secure, encrypted repository and cannot be accessed unless restored. This is typically in the cloud, but could also be on-premises, or hybrid.
If a disaster occurs, admins should be able to quickly retrieve and restore data from the backup service. An important consideration to make is the granularity of the backups. For example, when restoring Microsoft 365 data, you may wish to restore just one user group or file structure. In the case of a ransomware incident, you may wish to restore a full network backup, before the point of the malware infection.
When choosing a BaaS solution, it’s important to consider your organization’s use cases and compliance requirements for storing data. Key questions to consider concern where your data needs to be stored, how frequently backups need to be made, and cloud vs on-premises storage options.
Key features to consider when choosing a data backup as-a-service solution include:
- Backup Frequency: Consider how often you need to back up your data, daily, weekly, hourly, etc. Also consider how much data is backed up every time, for example full daily backups, vs. incremental updates.
- Deployment: Ease of deployment for your applications and files is a key consideration. Deployment plans should be clear and straightforward, with confidence your original data will be kept secure at all stages.
- Recovery Plans: It’s important to have a clear disaster recovery plan in case things do go wrong. Ensure that backups are easily accessible and can be quickly rolled out when needed. Consider granular recovery options, for example if a specific file group needs to be restored.
- Security and Encryption: Ensure your backup provider is a reputable vendor with strong security controls, such as 256-bit encryption, multi-factor authentication, and user-based access controls.
- Data Compliance: It’s important to demonstrate compliance with general regulations such as GDPR. Organizations in regulated industries may also need to cover industry specific data protection protocols such as PCI-DSS. Ensure your backup provider meets your data compliance requirements.
- Data Storage Options: Consider your data storage requirements. Enterprise backup and data protection solutions may offer a range of cloud and on-premises storage options. It’s also important to consider where data will be stored geographically. For example, European businesses may wish to ensure cloud data is stored within EU-based servers.
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Written By
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.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is a Cybersecurity Analyst at Expert Insights. With deep cybersecurity knowledge and strong research skills, she leads Expert Insights’ product testing team, conducting thorough tests of product features and in-depth industry analysis to ensure that Expert Insights’ product reviews are definitive and insightful.
Laura also carries out wider analysis of vendor landscapes and industry trends to inform Expert Insights’ enterprise cybersecurity buyers’ guides, covering topics such as security awareness training, cloud backup and recovery, email security, and network monitoring. Prior to working at Expert Insights, Laura worked as a Senior Information Security Engineer at Constant Edge, where she tested cybersecurity solutions, carried out product demos, and provided high-quality ongoing technical support.
Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida.