Backup & Disaster Recovery

Best Tools for MSP Backup and BDR

A practical evaluation of BDR appliances, cloud backup platforms, and SaaS protection tools. Assessed for multi-tenant MSP operations, not single-site IT.

5 platforms compared Â· Updated Feb 2026

By MSP Workflows Team

Contents

1.Why Backup Tooling Is an Existential Decision for MSPs
2.Untested backups are not backups
3.What Every MSP Backup Tool Must Support
4.Test the recovery, not just the backup
5.Three Models for MSP Backup Infrastructure
6.Datto SIRIS / ALTO
7.Axcient x360Recover
8.Veeam Backup & Replication
9.Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud
10.Comet Backup
11.Platform Comparison at a Glance
12.How to Evaluate Backup Tools for Your MSP
13.Define your backup workflow first
14.Audit current backup coverage across all clients
15.Define RPO/RTO tiers for each client
16.Configure alerting and PSA ticket creation for failures
17.Schedule and document restore tests
18.Build a client-facing backup health report
19.Should MSPs use a BDR appliance or direct-to-cloud backup?
20.Is Axcient a good replacement for Datto?
21.Do MSPs need a separate tool for Microsoft 365 backup?
22.How should MSPs price backup services to clients?
23.What does immutable backup storage actually protect against?

Why Backup Tooling Is an Existential Decision for MSPs

Backup is the one area where a bad tooling decision can end your business. Not slowly, not through attrition. A single unrecoverable client outage can generate enough liability and reputation damage to put a small MSP under. The challenge is that backup tools all look similar in demos. They all claim to back up everything, recover quickly, and report reliably. The differences show up at 2 AM when a client's server dies and you discover that the backup chain has been silently corrupt for three weeks, or that the "cloud recovery" feature requires 18 hours to spin up a usable VM. Evaluate backup tools by what happens during a real recovery, not by what the dashboard shows during normal operations. If you haven't tested a bare-metal restore with the tool, you don't actually know if it works.

Untested backups are not backups

A backup that has never been restored is a hypothesis. Schedule restore tests quarterly for critical systems and document the results. If your backup tool makes restore testing difficult or time-consuming, that's a serious red flag. The tool should make testing easy enough that your team actually does it.

What Every MSP Backup Tool Must Support

✓Image-based backup with bare-metal restore capability
✓ Incremental backups with configurable RPO down to 15 minutes
✓ Local and cloud storage tiers with automated offsite replication
✓ Restore verification (automated screenshot or boot testing)
✓ Multi-tenant management from a single console
✓ Ransom-proof or immutable backup storage
✓ SaaS backup for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
✓ Granular recovery (file, folder, application, full system)
✓ PSA integration for backup failure ticketing
✓ Bandwidth throttling for sites with limited upload capacity

Test the recovery, not just the backup

During your evaluation, simulate a real disaster scenario. Restore a server to dissimilar hardware or a cloud VM. Time how long it takes from "disaster declared" to "users can work again." That number is your actual RTO. Compare it to what you promised the client.

Three Models for MSP Backup Infrastructure

MSP backup architectures generally fall into three models, and most shops end up running some combination. BDR appliance plus cloud is the traditional MSP approach. A physical or virtual appliance sits on the client's network, takes local backups at frequent intervals, and replicates to a cloud target. Local backups provide fast recovery. Cloud replication provides off-site protection. If the appliance dies, you can spin up workloads in the cloud (though performance varies). Datto SIRIS and Axcient x360Recover are the most established options here. Direct-to-cloud backup skips the local appliance entirely. The agent backs up directly to cloud storage. This works well for remote workforces, small sites without server rooms, and SaaS data. The tradeoff is that initial backups and full recoveries are limited by the site's upload and download bandwidth. Comet Backup and Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud are popular in this model. SaaS-specific backup protects Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other cloud applications. Native retention policies in these platforms are not backups. They're compliance features with significant limitations. A dedicated SaaS backup tool gives you independent control over retention, recovery, and legal hold.

Datto SIRIS / ALTO

Pricing model: Per-protected-device, appliance + cloud storageHosting: BDR appliance + Datto CloudIntegrations: Autotask PSA, IT Glue, Datto RMM, ConnectWise

Datto SIRIS is the most widely deployed BDR solution in the MSP channel. The appliance takes image-based backups with configurable intervals (as low as every 5 minutes for SIRIS, with configurable intervals for ALTO), replicates to the Datto Cloud, and supports instant local and cloud virtualization for disaster recovery. Screenshot verification runs automatically after each backup to confirm boot integrity. The management portal is multi-tenant and integrates tightly with Autotask and IT Glue. The ALTO line covers smaller sites at a lower price point. Under Kaseya ownership, pricing and contract practices have drawn criticism from the community, but the product itself remains the benchmark in the category.

Key features

·Proven instant virtualization for fast recovery
·Screenshot verification confirms backup integrity automatically
·Multi-tenant portal with strong PSA integration
·ALTO provides a lower-cost option for small sites
·Largest MSP install base with extensive community knowledge

Considerations

·Kaseya-era contract terms have frustrated many MSPs
·Premium pricing compared to alternatives
·Cloud recovery performance depends on bandwidth and VM sizing
·Appliance hardware refreshes add periodic capital expense

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Axcient x360Recover

Pricing model: Per-protected-device, appliance or direct-to-cloudHosting: BDR appliance + Axcient Cloud, or direct-to-cloud onlyIntegrations: ConnectWise, Autotask, major RMMs via API

Axcient x360Recover is the most direct Datto competitor and the destination for many MSPs migrating away from Kaseya's ecosystem. It supports both appliance-based and direct-to-cloud deployment models, which gives flexibility for sites where a local appliance isn't practical. AirGap technology provides chain-free backup storage that resists ransomware. AutoVerify runs automated restore tests. The management portal handles multi-tenant operations and includes compliance reporting. Axcient's pricing model is generally more transparent than Datto's, though per-device costs vary by storage consumption.

Key features

·Both appliance and direct-to-cloud deployment models
·AirGap provides ransomware-resistant backup storage
·Chain-free architecture eliminates backup chain corruption risk
·AutoVerify automated restore testing
·More transparent pricing than Datto

Considerations

·Smaller install base means fewer community resources
·Cloud virtualization performance can be inconsistent
·Some integrations are less mature than Datto's
·Direct-to-cloud model is bandwidth-dependent

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Veeam Backup & Replication

Pricing model: Per-workload licensing (socket or instance-based)Hosting: Self-managed; Veeam Cloud Connect for offsiteIntegrations: VMware, Hyper-V, AWS, Azure, NAS, Microsoft 365 (separate product)

Veeam is the enterprise backup standard that many MSPs adopt for its flexibility and depth. It handles virtual, physical, cloud, and NAS workloads with granular recovery options. Veeam Cloud Connect enables MSPs to offer BaaS (Backup as a Service) by hosting a cloud repository that clients replicate to. The management is powerful but complex. Multi-tenant operations require Veeam Service Provider Console, which adds a layer of configuration. Veeam works best for MSPs comfortable managing their own infrastructure who want maximum control over backup architecture.

Key features

·Industry-leading backup and recovery for virtual environments
·Veeam Cloud Connect enables MSP-hosted BaaS
·Granular recovery options down to individual application items
·Supports virtually every workload type
·SureBackup automated recovery verification

Considerations

·Multi-tenant management requires Service Provider Console
·Higher complexity than appliance-based solutions
·Self-managed infrastructure adds operational overhead
·Microsoft 365 backup is a separate product and license
·Licensing model has changed frequently

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Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud

Pricing model: Pay-per-GB, per-workload optionsHosting: Cloud (Acronis-hosted or partner-hosted)Integrations: ConnectWise, Autotask, cPanel, major RMMs

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud combines backup with endpoint security in a single agent, which appeals to MSPs looking to consolidate tools. The backup component handles image and file-level protection for physical and virtual workloads, with direct-to-cloud and local-to-cloud options. The multi-tenant management portal is functional. Where Acronis stands out is pricing flexibility: the pay-per-GB model works well for MSPs with variable storage needs. Where it struggles is recovery speed for large datasets (bandwidth-dependent) and the integration depth with PSA platforms compared to Datto or Axcient.

Key features

·Backup plus endpoint security in one agent reduces tool sprawl
·Pay-per-GB pricing scales with actual usage
·Supports both local and cloud backup targets
·Multi-tenant management portal included
·Broad workload coverage including mobile devices

Considerations

·Recovery speed is bandwidth-limited without local appliance
·PSA integration is less mature than Datto/Axcient
·Support responsiveness has drawn mixed reviews
·Agent resource consumption can be heavy on older hardware

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Comet Backup

Pricing model: Per-protected-device or unlimited with self-hosted serverHosting: Self-hosted server or Comet-hosted, BYO storage (S3, Wasabi, B2)Integrations: ConnectWise, Syncro, API for custom integration

Comet Backup is a self-hosted backup platform that appeals to MSPs who want full control over their backup infrastructure and storage costs. You run the Comet server on your own hardware or VM, bring your own cloud storage (Wasabi, Backblaze B2, AWS S3, or local storage), and manage everything through a multi-tenant web portal. The pricing model is radically different from appliance vendors: you pay a flat per-device license and control your own storage costs. This makes it very cost-effective at scale but requires you to manage the infrastructure yourself.

Key features

·Full control over storage and infrastructure
·Dramatically lower cost at scale vs appliance vendors
·BYO storage means you choose your own redundancy and location
·Multi-tenant portal with brandable client interface
·Active development with responsive team

Considerations

·Self-hosted means you own the infrastructure reliability
·No turnkey BDR appliance hardware (local backup requires self-managed infrastructure)
·Smaller community than established MSP backup vendors
·No built-in instant virtualization for disaster recovery
·Requires comfort managing your own backup infrastructure

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Platform Comparison at a Glance

Feature	Datto SIRIS	Axcient	Veeam	Acronis Cloud	Comet
Image-based backup	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Local BDR appliance	✓	✓	—	—	—
Instant virtualization	✓	✓	✓	✓	—
Cloud replication	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Automated restore verify	✓	✓	✓	~	—
Ransomware protection	✓	✓	✓	✓	~
Multi-tenant portal	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
SaaS backup (M365)	✓	—	✓	✓	—
PSA integration	✓	✓	~	~	~
Self-hosted option	—	—	✓	~	✓
BYO storage	—	—	✓	~	✓
Pricing model	Per device	Per device	Per workload	Per GB	Per device

How to Evaluate Backup Tools for Your MSP

Backup tool evaluations fail when they focus on features instead of recovery outcomes. Every vendor will tell you their product supports image-based backup, cloud replication, and multi-tenant management. The differences that matter show up during actual recovery scenarios. During your evaluation, run these three tests with real client data (not demo environments): First, perform a bare-metal restore to dissimilar hardware or a cloud VM. Time it from start to finish. That's your actual RTO. Compare it to what you've promised clients. Second, simulate a ransomware scenario. Can you restore to a point-in-time before the infection without restoring the infected files? How long does it take to identify the right restore point? Third, test a granular recovery. Restore a single Exchange mailbox, a single SQL database, or a single file from two weeks ago. If granular recovery requires restoring the entire backup first, that's a significant operational limitation. Also verify the vendor's reporting. Can you generate a single report showing backup health across all clients? If compliance reporting requires exporting data from multiple screens and assembling it manually, that's a hidden labor cost.

Define your backup workflow first

Before selecting a tool, document your backup requirements: RPO and RTO targets per client tier, retention policies, restore testing cadence, and escalation procedures for failed backups. A tool that supports a well-defined workflow will outperform a more powerful tool applied to an ad-hoc process. Start with our MSP backup workflow guide if you haven't formalized this yet.

Audit current backup coverage across all clients

Before changing tools, document exactly what is and isn't backed up across every client. Check for gaps: workstations with no backup agent, SaaS data with no protection, and servers excluded from backup policies. You can't fix what you haven't mapped.

Define RPO/RTO tiers for each client

Not every client needs the same recovery objectives. A law firm's document server needs 15-minute RPO. A small office's shared drive might tolerate 24-hour RPO. Tier your clients and match backup frequency to their actual requirements and what they're willing to pay for.

Configure alerting and PSA ticket creation for failures

A missed backup that goes unnoticed for two weeks is worse than no backup at all because it creates a false sense of protection. Configure your backup tool to create PSA tickets on any job failure, missed schedule, or storage threshold breach. Review backup health daily.

Schedule and document restore tests

Set a quarterly cadence for restore testing on critical systems. Document the actual RPO (data age at restore) and RTO (time to restore). Store the results alongside the client's backup documentation. This is also the evidence cyber insurance providers and auditors ask for.

Build a client-facing backup health report

Create a template that shows backup success rate, last successful backup date per system, restore test results, and storage consumption. Include it in quarterly business reviews. Clients who see their backup health regularly are more willing to invest in coverage gaps.

Should MSPs use a BDR appliance or direct-to-cloud backup?

For clients with servers and on-premises infrastructure, a BDR appliance provides faster recovery because the backup data is local. For remote-first companies, small offices, and SaaS-heavy environments, direct-to-cloud backup eliminates the need for on-site hardware. Many MSPs run both models depending on the client.

Is Axcient a good replacement for Datto?

Axcient x360Recover covers the same core use case as Datto SIRIS and is the most common destination for MSPs leaving the Datto/Kaseya ecosystem. The product is mature and the chain-free backup architecture is a genuine technical advantage. The tradeoffs are a smaller community, fewer integration partners, and some feature gaps in cloud virtualization compared to Datto. Run a side-by-side pilot before committing.

Do MSPs need a separate tool for Microsoft 365 backup?

Yes. Microsoft's native retention policies (litigation hold, recycle bin, versioning) are not backups. They don't protect against tenant-level compromise, admin-initiated deletion, or ransomware that encrypts SharePoint files through sync. A dedicated M365 backup tool gives you independent point-in-time recovery outside Microsoft's control.

How should MSPs price backup services to clients?

The most common model is per-device or per-server pricing that includes the backup license, storage up to a defined limit, daily monitoring, and a set number of restore tests per year. Charge separately for storage overages, emergency restores, and on-demand recovery outside the included tests. Make sure your margin covers the operational labor, not just the tool license.

What does immutable backup storage actually protect against?

Immutable storage prevents backup data from being modified or deleted for a defined retention period, even by someone with admin credentials. This protects against ransomware that specifically targets backup repositories (which is increasingly common) and against insider threats. Datto, Axcient, and Veeam all offer immutability features, though the implementation details vary.

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