Backup and disaster recovery

BCDR software backs up servers and workstations, usually as full disk images rather than individual files, so a failed machine can be restored or virtualised quickly instead of rebuilt from scratch. Most products combine a local backup appliance for fast on-site recovery with offsite or cloud replication for disaster scenarios where the site itself is lost. Ransomware detection, backup screenshot verification and application-aware backup for things like databases and mail servers are common add-ons. BCDR does not cover Microsoft 365 mailboxes, SharePoint or Google Workspace data; that is SaaS backup, a separate category with a different pricing model.

Pricing is typically per protected workstation or server per month, often at different rates for each, plus a charge per terabyte of storage retained, especially for offsite or cloud replication. Some vendors price per site instead, covering everything behind a local appliance under one fee. A local appliance itself, where one is required, is usually a separate hardware or lease cost on top of the software subscription.

Instant local or cloud virtualisation is the feature that determines how fast a client is back online after a failure, so check the stated recovery time rather than just backup frequency. Ransomware detection and any ransomware warranty offered are worth comparing closely, since warranty terms and payout caps vary widely between vendors. Bare-metal recovery, application-aware backup for databases and mail servers, and backup screenshot verification, an automated proof that a backup restores cleanly, all reduce the risk of finding out a backup failed only when you need it. VMware and Hyper-V support matters if any client runs a hypervisor rather than physical servers.

RMM integration lets a failed backup job show up as an alert in the same console technicians already monitor, rather than a separate dashboard nobody checks daily. Offsite or cloud replication needs to fit your own storage and retention policy, and if a local appliance is involved, plan for how it is monitored and updated alongside the endpoints it protects.

Ask what the ransomware warranty covers, whether it excludes certain causes of loss, and what the claims process looks like. Ask about the contract term, whether storage overage is billed automatically or requires a plan change, and what happens to backed-up data and any leased appliance hardware if you leave.

A small MSP with mostly workstation-heavy clients and no complex hypervisor environments can usually get by with a simpler cloud-first product and skip a local appliance. A larger MSP protecting multiple servers per client, including virtualised environments, typically needs the local appliance for fast recovery time plus offsite replication for disaster scenarios, and the application-aware backup that a database or mail server needs to restore cleanly.