Whether you are wading into the world of cloud backup for the first time or have long been a fan of the technology, finding the best cloud backup for business is no easy feat. There are so many different providers out there that it can seem overwhelming to compare them all. But you also don’t want to choose the first cloud backup provider you find. You want the best, but at the same time might not have the time to research and find the best. Luckily, we are here to help you.
We’ve combed through cloud backup providers, researched their features, and read way too many reviews. But, it was all in the name of finding the top three providers for cloud backup for business. And we did just that.
We’ve put together our ultimate list of cloud backup providers. Hopefully, you can use this list to find an online backup system that works for your organization.
Top Three Cloud Backup Providers for Business
There were many different elements we reviewed when evaluating various cloud providers. For instance, we wanted to make sure the cloud backup provider offered fast speeds and strong security if they were going to make it onto our lists. We also looked at the prices of the various backups in comparison to the features provided to make sure we saw value in the product. And, we also looked at special features that are unique to individual providers and extremely beneficial.
1. Acronis
It’s no surprise that Acronis made it to our number one slot, as we use Acronis with the majority of our clients. We were even named The Most Innovative Partner from Acronis this year based on using a higher amount of features than other MSPs. And that’s one of the reasons Acronis is so great — the product has a laundry list of useful features, many of which, organizations might even be unaware.
Acronis is a well-known backup provider, and deservedly so. Firstly, Acronis describes its business backup products as a “customizable backup and storage management solution for any system setup: physical servers, virtual machines, PCs, business-critical applications, and more.” With Acronis, you can back up more than 20 platforms — even Linux desktop, which is often unavailable with other services.
On top of that, it offers backup support for Android and iOS smartphones, which is an enormous benefit for businesses whose users collect data on their mobile devices.
One of the most significant advantages of Acronis is its superior ransomware protection. It will analyze your system in real-time and block any malicious attempts to alter or delete your data.
The drawback of Acronis, however, is that it can be a little more costly than other options. However, when you look at all of the features and benefits the service offers, it becomes clear that you get what you pay for. That’s why it earns the number one spot on our list of best cloud backup for business.
2. IDrive
When searching for the best cloud backup for business, IDrive for small businesses comes in second place. This placement is due to the fact that you can back up unlimited devices, along with the myriad of other great features packed into the product.
So, along with the whole unlimited devices thing, IDrive allows you to back up storage devices and physical and virtual servers, including Windows, Linux, Oracle, and VMWare.
Additionally, with IDrive, you can create a disk image of your hard drive. However, you can only use it to restore to the original hardware you used, not any new hardware like Acronis allows. But, like Acronis, mobile devices can also be backed up.
IDrive can be a cheaper alternative to other backup providers, which is great for smaller businesses or organizations with tight budgets. But one shortcoming of the service is that it doesn’t offer a plan that includes unlimited backup. The most backup space you will find in their highest tiered plan is only 12.5TB. Depending on your needs, this really could limit your use of your backup.
IDrive also charges you for overage fees, which can add up quickly. As a result, you might have to put in more manual work for your backup and pay close attention to your data and files to avoid extra costs.
3. Carbonite
Next up, we have another product that we at Executech have worked with extensively — it’s Carbonite! Carbonite is another excellent choice that will solve your business’s backup needs.
With Carbonite, you can back up an unlimited number of computers and external devices. However, to backup servers, you’ll need to shell out a little more money. The other two options we’ve talked about — Acronis and IDrive — give you unlimited backup for all your devices, meaning this might be a disadvantage of Carbonite for some companies.
Carbonite is compatible with Windows and Mac, but unfortunately, it does not work with Linux. So, if you are using Linux, Acronis or IDrive would be a better fit. As far as server backups go, Carbonite also doesn’t support VMWare like other options do.
Carbonite provides its customers versioning, with one exception — it doesn’t work with Mac. If your organization uses any Mac products, including mobile devices and tablets, this can be a problem.
In the end, Carbonite offers all of the basic storage and security features you’re likely to want in any cloud backup. However, it is missing some key features that its competitors are offering. Moreover, Carbonite is a more costly option than some other online backup providers. Because of this, we gave Carbonite the number three spot. It’s a great product, but there are some drawbacks you will want to consider before moving forward with the product.
Solved: Best Cloud Backup for Business
And that rounds out our top three picks for best cloud backup for business. We work mainly with Acronis, but the other two options are fantastic choices as well. It all comes down to what features are the most important to you and your organization and how much you are willing to pay. If you are looking for a less expensive option that still offers top-notch features, IDrive might be the service for you. If cost isn’t as big as a factor, but you are looking for specific features, we recommend you look into Acronis or Carbonite.
To learn more about cloud computing & backup, check out our Ultimate Guide To Cloud Computing!
