Construction companies and specialty contractors face unique data vulnerabilities—project files scattered across job sites, CAD drawings stored on multiple devices, and critical documentation that must survive equipment failures or ransomware attacks targeting the construction sector. IDrive Cloud Backup addresses the multi-device reality with unlimited PC, Mac, and mobile device support on personal plans, essential when project managers work from trucks, trailers, and home offices. If your priority is preventing ransomware reinfection during project recovery, Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud's ability to scan backup files for latent threats before restoration becomes operationally critical—a compromised restoration can halt an entire job site. Rubrik Data Backup & Recovery's immutable file system with Zero Trust architecture offers contractors the strongest protection against construction-targeted ransomware, though its steep learning curve may challenge smaller firms without dedicated IT staff. CloudAlly's data residency controls matter for international contractors who must comply with local data sovereignty requirements, but minimum user requirements can exclude micro-contractors. Commvault's FedRAMP High authorization becomes essential for government construction projects, while Cohesity's Microsoft 365 integration streamlines recovery of project communications and collaborative drawings.Construction companies and specialty contractors face unique data vulnerabilities—project files scattered across job sites, CAD drawings stored on multiple devices, and critical documentation that must survive equipment failures or ransomware attacks targeting the construction sector.Construction companies and specialty contractors face unique data vulnerabilities—project files scattered across job sites, CAD drawings stored on multiple devices, and critical documentation that must survive equipment failures or ransomware attacks targeting the construction sector. IDrive Cloud Backup addresses the multi-device reality with unlimited PC, Mac, and mobile device support on personal plans, essential when project managers work from trucks, trailers, and home offices. If your priority is preventing ransomware reinfection during project recovery, Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud's ability to scan backup files for latent threats before restoration becomes operationally critical—a compromised restoration can halt an entire job site. Rubrik Data Backup & Recovery's immutable file system with Zero Trust architecture offers contractors the strongest protection against construction-targeted ransomware, though its steep learning curve may challenge smaller firms without dedicated IT staff. CloudAlly's data residency controls matter for international contractors who must comply with local data sovereignty requirements, but minimum user requirements can exclude micro-contractors. Commvault's FedRAMP High authorization becomes essential for government construction projects, while Cohesity's Microsoft 365 integration streamlines recovery of project communications and collaborative drawings. CyberFortress brings two decades of contractor-focused experience with Veeam partnership credibility, though recent macOS client issues affect field teams using Apple devices. Carbonite's mature compliance framework suits regulated construction work, but storage caps of 250-500GB quickly become restrictive for firms handling large architectural files and project documentation. Contractors must balance robust protection capabilities against the operational complexity and storage limitations that can impact daily project workflows.
IDrive is a comprehensive cloud backup solution tailored for contractors, providing a secure space for storing all kinds of files from PCs, Macs, and mobile devices. Its industry-specific features such as robust data encryption, remote management capabilities, and unlimited device backup make it ideal for contractors who need to safeguard their project data and documentation.
IDrive is a comprehensive cloud backup solution tailored for contractors, providing a secure space for storing all kinds of files from PCs, Macs, and mobile devices. Its industry-specific features such as robust data encryption, remote management capabilities, and unlimited device backup make it ideal for contractors who need to safeguard their project data and documentation.
Best for teams that are
SMBs and contractors needing to back up unlimited PCs, Macs, and mobiles on one account
Cost-conscious businesses requiring both local disk image and cloud backup features
Remote teams needing simple, centralized management of distributed endpoints
Skip if
Large enterprises requiring instant virtualization or complex SLA management
Users demanding rapid live support response times or strict non-US data residency
Organizations needing advanced Linux server orchestration or heavy database agents
Expert Take
Our analysis shows IDrive offers a rare combination of versatility and depth, particularly with its 'Unlimited Devices' policy for personal plans, which stands in stark contrast to competitors that charge per computer. Research indicates the 'IDrive Express' service—a free physical courier option for bulk data transfer—effectively mitigates bandwidth limitations for large backups. Based on documented features, the inclusion of disk image backup and true archiving (where files aren't auto-deleted) makes it a robust disaster recovery tool rather than just simple file storage.
Pros
Unlimited devices per personal account
Free physical courier service (Express)
True Archiving (no auto-deletion)
Private key encryption option
Supports mapped drives & NAS
Cons
Steep renewal price hikes
Slow online restore speeds
Dated user interface
Cancellation process friction
Limited Linux GUI features
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.9/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.4
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of backup features, including image-based backup, file versioning, and physical disaster recovery options.
What We Found
IDrive offers a comprehensive suite including disk image backup, true archiving, file sync, and a unique physical courier service (IDrive Express) for rapid data transfer.
Score Rationale
The score is exceptional due to the inclusion of enterprise-grade features like disk imaging and physical drive shipment in personal plans, exceeding standard competitor offerings.
Supporting Evidence
IDrive retains up to 30 previous versions of all files backed up to the account. IDrive retains upto 30 previous versions of all files backed up to your account.
— idrive.com
The service supports true archiving, meaning files deleted from the computer are not automatically deleted from the cloud. Unless you have deleted a file from your account manually or through the automated Archive Cleanup process, you'll always have access to it.
— idrive.com
IDrive Express allows users to speed up data transfers via physical shipment of temporary storage devices, free once a year for Personal users. This service comes FREE for Express Backup, once a year for Personal users and thrice yearly for Team and Business users.
— idrive.com
Robust data encryption and remote management capabilities are outlined in the official product documentation.
— idrive.com
Documented unlimited device backup feature allows contractors to store data from multiple devices under a single account.
— idrive.com
9.3
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for consistent industry recognition, long-term market presence, and independent third-party validations.
What We Found
IDrive holds a dominant market position with 11 consecutive PCMag Editors' Choice awards and maintains critical compliance certifications like SOC 2 Type 2.
Score Rationale
The score reflects over a decade of consistent top-tier industry awards and verified compliance standards, establishing high trust.
Supporting Evidence
The company has achieved SOC 2 Type 2 certification through independent third-party auditing. IDrive has proudly achieved SOC 2 Type 2 certification through a rigorous evaluation conducted by an independent third-party auditing firm.
— idrive.com
IDrive has secured the PCMag Editors' Choice award for 11 consecutive years. IDrive® secures 11th consecutive PCMag Editors' choice award
— idrive.com
Recognized by PCMag as an Editors' Choice for online backup services.
— pcmag.com
8.6
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the ease of setup, interface design, restore speeds, and quality of customer support interactions.
What We Found
While setup is simple, the user interface is frequently described as dated or cluttered, and users report slow restore speeds for large datasets.
Score Rationale
The score is lowered by consistent user reports of an uninspiring interface and sluggish online restoration performance compared to competitors.
Supporting Evidence
Users have reported slow download speeds during restoration processes. IDrive slow backup usually happens due to slow internet, system limitations, or incorrect settings.
— multcloud.com
Reviews describe the interface as functional but lacking polish compared to modern standards. The software packages and various interfaces aren't the best, but they do the job without any fanfare.
— techradar.com
Real-time backup and versioning capabilities enhance user experience by protecting data against accidental deletion.
— idrive.com
8.7
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze cost-per-terabyte, renewal pricing policies, and the transparency of cancellation procedures.
What We Found
IDrive offers market-leading initial pricing for high storage caps, but is penalized for significant price hikes on renewal and friction in the cancellation process.
Score Rationale
Despite unbeatable introductory value, the score is capped due to documented steep renewal increases and difficult cancellation workflows.
Supporting Evidence
Users report significant price increases upon subscription renewal. The subscription fee was rising to $149 from $99 - starting at renewal in 2 weeks.
— reddit.com
Personal plans offer 5TB for approximately $69.65 for the first year, significantly undercutting competitors. 5 TB $99.50/year $69.65 first year.
— idrive.com
Pricing requires annual payment with no monthly billing option, limiting flexibility.
— idrive.com
9.1
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine encryption standards, privacy options like private keys, and regulatory compliance (HIPAA, GDPR).
What We Found
IDrive provides 256-bit AES encryption with an optional user-managed private key (zero-knowledge) and supports HIPAA compliance for business users.
Score Rationale
The availability of a private key option and comprehensive compliance certifications (HIPAA, SOC 2) justifies a high score.
Supporting Evidence
The service supports HIPAA compliance, making it suitable for healthcare data protection. IDrive demonstrates a commitment to protecting user data... IDrive is HIPAA compliant.
— paubox.com
IDrive uses 256-bit AES encryption with an optional private key known only to the user. Transfer and store data with 256-bit AES encryption and optional key.
— idrive.com
9.5
Category 6: Platform Versatility & Device Support
What We Looked For
We evaluate the range of supported operating systems, devices, and NAS integrations available under a single plan.
What We Found
IDrive stands out by supporting unlimited devices (PC, Mac, Mobile) on personal plans and offering robust Linux and NAS support.
Score Rationale
This category scores near-perfect because IDrive allows unlimited device backups on a single personal account, a rarity in the industry.
Supporting Evidence
IDrive provides dedicated backup apps for Synology, QNAP, and Linux devices. Transfer bulk data from your Linux machines or Synology, QNAP, Asustor, and Netgear NAS devices
— idrive.com
The Personal plan allows backup of unlimited PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices to a single account. Backup unlimited PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads and Android devices to a single account.
— idrive.com
Integration with popular platforms like Microsoft 365 is documented in the company's integration directory.
— idrive.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
The desktop user interface is frequently criticized for being dated, cluttered, and less intuitive than modern competitors.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Users report significant price hikes (up to 65%) upon subscription renewal and difficulties cancelling auto-renewal without risking immediate data deletion.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is a versatile solution tailored to the needs of contractors, offering data protection, cybersecurity, and endpoint management. It effectively addresses the unique industry needs such as safeguarding sensitive project data, ensuring business continuity in the event of a disaster, and protecting against cybersecurity threats.
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is a versatile solution tailored to the needs of contractors, offering data protection, cybersecurity, and endpoint management. It effectively addresses the unique industry needs such as safeguarding sensitive project data, ensuring business continuity in the event of a disaster, and protecting against cybersecurity threats.
CYBER RESILIENT
Best for teams that are
MSPs or businesses seeking a unified platform for backup, cybersecurity, and management
Organizations wanting AI-based ransomware protection integrated directly into backup
Service providers needing to manage multiple clients from a single pane of glass
Skip if
Users seeking a standalone, lightweight backup tool without bundled security features
Businesses preferring to buy perpetual licenses directly rather than subscription/service
Simple environments where antivirus and backup are preferred as separate layers
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud stands out by effectively merging data protection with cybersecurity, addressing the critical 'reinfection loop' issue where restored backups reintroduce malware. Research indicates it achieves perfect detection scores in independent testing (AV-TEST, VB100) while offering a massive ecosystem of over 300 integrations. This unified approach simplifies the MSP stack, though it comes with a steeper learning curve and higher price point than basic backup tools.
Pros
Unified backup, security, and management agent
100% malware detection in independent labs
Scans backups to prevent reinfection
Native integrations with 300+ MSP tools
Flexible Per-GB or Per-Workload pricing
Cons
Web console interface can be slow
Higher cost than standalone backup tools
Steep learning curve for new users
Complex licensing with multiple add-ons
Support response times vary
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.8/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.3
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of features, workload support, and the integration of core functionalities like backup and security.
What We Found
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud unifies backup, disaster recovery, AI-based anti-malware, and endpoint management into a single solution, supporting diverse workloads including Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile devices.
Score Rationale
The score is high because the product uniquely converges backup and cybersecurity, offering features like 'verify-then-restore' that are distinct in the market, though complexity prevents a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
Includes forensic backup capabilities and safe recovery features. By activating a special 'Forensic Mode' in the product, memory dumps and full HDD images on a sector level can be collected.
— assets.cloud.im
Supports 20+ workload types including physical, virtual, cloud, and mobile. Protects more than 20 workload types including physical, virtual, cloud, and mobile.
— enterprisestorageforum.com
Combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint management in one agent. Simplifies protection with one agent, one interface, and one license, reducing TCO and providing comprehensive, streamlined protection.
— acronis.com
9.5
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for independent certifications, third-party audit results, and industry adoption rates.
What We Found
The platform holds extensive certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA) and consistently achieves perfect scores in independent lab tests like AV-TEST and VB100.
Score Rationale
The score is exceptional due to a flawless track record in recent independent security tests (100% detection) and a comprehensive list of compliance certifications.
Supporting Evidence
Used by over 20,000 service provider partners globally. We work with about 20,000 service provider partners across the globe.
— youtube.com
Maintains ISO 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA compliance certifications. ISO/IEC 27000 series; ISO 9001; SOC 2; PCI DSS; IEC 62443-4-1; IT-Grundschutz; Cyber Essentials Plus... HIPAA; PHIPA
— acronis.com
Achieved 100% detection rate in AV-TEST evaluations. Protection against 0-day malware attacks... 100%.
— av-test.org
8.6
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the ease of management, interface performance, and the learning curve for new users.
What We Found
While the 'single pane of glass' console centralizes management, users report interface slowness and a steep learning curve due to the sheer volume of features.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by documented performance issues with the web console and the complexity inherent in such a feature-rich platform.
Supporting Evidence
Centralized management streamlines operations for MSPs. Users highlight the centralized management feature of Acronis Cyber Protect, streamlining organization-wide backup and security operations.
— g2.com
Users report slow performance in the management console. Users experience slow performance with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, particularly in the interface for new users.
— g2.com
24/7 support availability documented in customer support policies.
— acronis.com
8.4
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing models, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness relative to features.
What We Found
Acronis offers flexible Per-GB or Per-Workload models, but the total cost can be high compared to standalone tools, and the licensing structure with multiple 'Advanced' packs is complex.
Score Rationale
The score reflects the trade-off between flexibility and cost; while the models are versatile, the 'expensive' perception and complex add-on structure lower the value score.
Supporting Evidence
Users cite high costs compared to basic backup solutions. Users find the pricing structure to be expensive compared to other basic backup solutions on the market.
— g2.com
Offers both Per-Workload and Per-GB pricing models. Per-workload model: Billing is based on the total number of workloads... Per-GB model: Billing is based on the total cloud and local storage used.
— support.atera.com
9.6
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine specific security features, malware detection rates, and compliance tools tailored for MSPs.
What We Found
The platform excels with AI-driven anti-ransomware, vulnerability assessments, and the ability to scan backups for malware before restoration to prevent reinfection.
Score Rationale
This category receives a near-perfect score due to 100% lab detection rates and unique capabilities like scanning backup files for latent threats.
Supporting Evidence
Achieved 100% detection with 0 false positives in VB100 testing. Acronis joined the latest round of Virus Bulletin's annual VB100 certification testing and achieved a perfect score—a 100% detection rate with zero false positives.
— acronis.com
Scans backups for malware to ensure safe recovery. Users can scan full disk backups at a centralized location... to find potential vulnerabilities and malware infections, thus ensuring a malware-free backup for a malware-free restore.
— acronis.com
9.2
Category 6: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for the depth of third-party integrations with RMM, PSA, and other MSP tools.
What We Found
Acronis boasts over 300 integrations, including deep native connections with major MSP platforms like ConnectWise, Datto, and Kaseya.
Score Rationale
The extensive library of native integrations and the open API ecosystem make it highly adaptable for MSP environments, justifying a top-tier score.
Supporting Evidence
Native integration with major RMM/PSA tools like ConnectWise and Autotask. Native integration with Kaseya, Autotask, ConnectWise Automate, ConnectWise Manage, cPanel, Atera, CloudBlue, Wasabi, HostBill, Odin, Plesk, RackNap, and WHMCS.
— acronis.com
Integrates with over 300 third-party solutions. With over 300 integrations, the Acronis Ecosystem gives MSPs peace of mind... From RMMs and PSAs to cybersecurity and cloud.
— youtube.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Some users cite poor customer support response times and communication issues during downtime.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
The pricing structure is perceived as expensive compared to standalone backup competitors, and the licensing of multiple 'Advanced' packs adds complexity.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Rubrik's Instant Data Backup and Recovery Software is a robust SaaS solution designed for contractors who need secure, automated protection for their cloud, virtual, and physical data. The software's easy restoration feature is tailor-made for contractors who need to minimize downtime in the event of data loss, ensuring business continuity and customer satisfaction.
Rubrik's Instant Data Backup and Recovery Software is a robust SaaS solution designed for contractors who need secure, automated protection for their cloud, virtual, and physical data. The software's easy restoration feature is tailor-made for contractors who need to minimize downtime in the event of data loss, ensuring business continuity and customer satisfaction.
RAPID RECOVERY
USER-FRIENDLY
Best for teams that are
Large enterprises prioritizing immutable backups and ransomware recovery warranties
Organizations with complex hybrid cloud environments requiring zero-trust security
IT teams needing to automate data protection policies across massive datasets
Skip if
Small businesses or contractors with limited IT budgets and simple infrastructure
Users seeking a simple 'set and forget' tool without enterprise-grade complexity
Organizations that do not require advanced cyber-resilience or anomaly detection
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Rubrik redefines the category by treating backups as a security asset rather than just storage. Research indicates its 'Zero Trust' architecture, featuring a natively immutable file system and logical air-gapping, provides superior defense against ransomware compared to traditional bolt-on security measures. We are particularly impressed by the documented $10M ransomware recovery warranty, which signals immense confidence in their product's resilience. While pricing is a noted barrier, the combination of automated SLA policies and rapid mass recovery capabilities makes it a premium choice for enterprises prioritizing cyber resilience.
Pros
Native immutable file system (Atlas)
$10M Ransomware Recovery Warranty
Zero Trust architecture with air-gap
Rapid mass recovery of VMs
Gartner Leader for 5 consecutive years
Cons
High cost compared to competitors
Complex licensing structure
Limited reporting and analytics customization
Steep learning curve for advanced features
Limited support for some niche databases
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.6/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.9
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of backup features, automation capabilities, and support for diverse workloads across hybrid environments.
What We Found
Rubrik delivers policy-driven automation via SLA domains and broad support for physical, virtual, and cloud workloads, though some users note limitations in reporting and specific database integrations.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to its robust 'set it and forget it' SLA automation and immutable architecture, but held back slightly by documented gaps in granular reporting and niche database support.
Supporting Evidence
The platform supports a wide range of workloads including VMware, Hyper-V, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and SaaS apps like Microsoft 365. Rubrik delivers broad support for industry leading databases running on-premises and in the cloud... Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SAP HANA, Cassandra, MongoDB.
— rubrik.com
Rubrik simplifies backup with a single console to manage data across cloud, onsite, and data centers using automatic incremental forever immutable backups. Rubrik provides a simple, scalable appliance built for hybrid cloud... Automatic incremental forever immutable backups – ensure that your backups are protected.
— rubrikdr.co.uk
9.4
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry recognition, market leadership status, and verified customer sentiment from reputable third-party sources.
What We Found
Rubrik is a dominant market leader, recognized as a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader for five consecutive years and boasting a 96-97% willingness-to-recommend rate from enterprise users.
Score Rationale
A near-perfect score is justified by its consistent top-tier analyst rankings (Gartner Leader 5x) and successful recent IPO, signaling immense market trust.
Supporting Evidence
Gartner Peer Insights data shows a 96% willingness to recommend score, outperforming competitors like Veeam and Cohesity in specific metrics. Rubrik also has a higher willingness to recommend score (96% of our customers would recommend our product to a friend or colleague)
— rubrik.com
Rubrik has been named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup and Recovery Software Solutions for five consecutive years. Rubrik is Named a Leader, Positioned Furthest in Vision for Fifth Consecutive Year in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™
— rubrik.com
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of setup, intuitiveness of the management interface, and the quality of technical support.
What We Found
Users widely praise the 'Apple-like' simplicity of the UI and the policy-based automation, though some report a learning curve for advanced features and occasional UI complexity.
Score Rationale
The score reflects strong praise for its modern, clean UI and 'set it and forget it' simplicity, deducted only for specific complaints about the complexity of advanced configurations.
Supporting Evidence
The platform allows for fast setup, with some users reporting being able to spin up VMs in minutes. In a demo, we started up a hundred virtual machines in just 12 minutes, highlighting its quick and reliable performance
— aws.amazon.com
Users appreciate the intuitive interface which simplifies data management and reduces the need for manual intervention. Users appreciate the ease of use with Rubrik's intuitive interface and simplified management for data protection.
— g2.com
8.1
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing structures, total cost of ownership, and transparency regarding licensing terms.
What We Found
Rubrik is consistently described as a premium, expensive solution with a complex licensing model that can be difficult for smaller organizations to navigate.
Score Rationale
This is the lowest scoring category because multiple sources cite high costs and complex licensing as significant barriers, despite the high value provided.
Supporting Evidence
Comparisons often highlight Rubrik as costing a 'small fortune' compared to competitors like Veeam. Rubrik and Cohesity cost a small fortune compared to Veeam
— reddit.com
Users frequently mention that Rubrik is expensive and the pricing structure can be confusing. Users find Rubrik to be expensive, creating confusion with its pricing structure and feature inclusions.
— g2.com
9.6
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine the architecture for Zero Trust principles, immutability, air-gapping, and compliance certifications.
What We Found
Rubrik's 'Zero Trust' architecture with a natively immutable file system (Atlas) and logical air-gapping is the industry gold standard for securing backup data against ransomware.
Score Rationale
The score is exceptional because the product is architected from the ground up for security (Zero Trust), rather than having it bolted on, offering true immutability.
Supporting Evidence
The architecture includes a logical air gap and enforces Zero Trust principles like MFA and role-based access control. At the core of Rubrik Zero Trust Data Security is a purpose-built file system that never exposes backup data via open network protocols.
— rubrik.com
Rubrik uses a custom-built immutable file system (Atlas) that prevents data from being modified or deleted by ransomware. Rubrik's uniquely immutable filesystem natively prevents unauthorized access or deletion of backups
— rubrik.com
We look for specific features aiding recovery from attacks, such as mass recovery, threat hunting, and warranty offers.
What We Found
Rubrik offers a unique $10M ransomware recovery warranty and specialized tools for mass recovery and threat hunting, distinguishing it from standard backup solutions.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored by the industry-unique $10M warranty and documented capabilities to recover thousands of VMs rapidly, proving high resilience.
Supporting Evidence
The platform features 'Mass Recovery' to instantly recover hundreds of applications and data sets. Rubrik enables safe recovery of hundreds of VMs or tens of thousands of files to a clean state, within minutes
— rubrik.com
Rubrik offers a warranty of up to $10 million for recovery expenses if protected data cannot be recovered after an attack. Rubrik offers up to $10M ransomware recovery warranty for customers in the event they can't recover Rubrik protected data after a ransomware attack.
— rubrik.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Some users find the user interface non-intuitive for finding specific information and note a steep learning curve for advanced features.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
CloudAlly specifically addresses the needs of construction companies by providing reliable and secure backup and recovery solutions. Its robust security measures safeguard your critical data from cyber threats, while its easy recovery options ensure minimal downtime in case of data loss.
CloudAlly specifically addresses the needs of construction companies by providing reliable and secure backup and recovery solutions. Its robust security measures safeguard your critical data from cyber threats, while its easy recovery options ensure minimal downtime in case of data loss.
Best for teams that are
Contractors and firms heavily reliant on SaaS apps like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
Organizations needing to secure email, SharePoint, and Salesforce data specifically
Admins requiring automated cloud-to-cloud backup with unlimited retention
Skip if
Businesses needing full bare-metal recovery for on-premise physical servers
Users looking to back up local endpoint device files (laptops/desktops) directly
Organizations not using major SaaS platforms for their primary data storage
Expert Take
Our analysis shows CloudAlly stands out for its **immutable backups** and **unlimited retention** at a highly competitive price point. Research indicates it is particularly strong for regulated industries due to **ISO 27001** and **HIPAA** compliance combined with granular data residency options. Based on documented features, the 'set it and forget it' ease of use makes it ideal for SMBs and MSPs alike.
Pros
Unlimited data retention included
Immutable backups for ransomware protection
ISO 27001 & HIPAA compliant
Broad SaaS platform support
Competitive $3/user pricing
Cons
Restoration speeds can be slow
Support response times vary
10-user minimum on some plans
API limits may throttle recovery
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.5/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.9
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of SaaS platforms supported, backup frequency, retention policies, and granularity of recovery options.
What We Found
CloudAlly provides automated daily backups with unlimited retention for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Box, and Dropbox. It features granular recovery (item-level), cross-user restoration, and immutable backups to protect against ransomware.
Score Rationale
The inclusion of unlimited retention and immutable backups as standard features for all major SaaS platforms justifies a high score, approaching market leadership.
Supporting Evidence
Supports a wide range of platforms including Office 365, G Suite, Salesforce, Box, and Dropbox. The software supports a wide range of platforms including Office 365, G Suite, Salesforce, Box, and Dropbox
— selecthub.com
Automated (3x or a frequency you choose) and on-demand immutable backups on AWS S3 storage, with unlimited retention. Automated (3x or a frequency you choose) and on-demand immutable backups on AWS S3 storage, with unlimited retention.
— cloudally.com
Robust security measures including encryption and compliance with industry standards outlined in product documentation.
— cloudally.com
Comprehensive backup capabilities for construction-specific data documented on the official website.
— cloudally.com
9.3
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess the vendor's history, parent company stability, certifications, and customer base size.
What We Found
Founded in 2011 and acquired by OpenText (a major enterprise software company) in 2021, CloudAlly serves over 20,000 customers. It holds ISO 27001 certification and is HIPAA/GDPR compliant, signaling high enterprise maturity.
Score Rationale
Being an OpenText company with over a decade of operation and rigorous ISO 27001 certification establishes exceptional market credibility.
Supporting Evidence
CloudAlly is ISO 27001 certified which is an internationally recognized accreditation for information security management. CloudAlly is ISO 27001 certified which is an internationally recognized accreditation for information security management.
— cloudally.com
CloudAlly became a part of the OpenText family in 2021. CloudAlly became a part of the OpenText family in 2021
— cloudally.com
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of setup, interface intuitiveness, and the quality of administrative controls.
What We Found
The platform is designed for a 'set it and forget it' experience with a 5-minute setup and no installation required. It offers a unified dashboard for managing multiple SaaS applications and includes features like auto-activation for new users.
Score Rationale
The zero-installation, cloud-native architecture and automated user detection create a frictionless experience, though some users report minor UI complexities.
Supporting Evidence
CloudAlly offers a straightforward and intuitive dashboard that makes backing up and restoring data a breeze. CloudAlly offers a straightforward and intuitive dashboard that makes backing up and restoring data a breeze.
— joinsecret.com
5-min setup, No Installation Intuitive, easy-to-use UI – Set it and forget it! 5-min setup, No Installation Intuitive, easy-to-use UI – Set it and forget it!
— cloudally.com
Easy recovery options and 24/7 customer support documented on the official website.
— cloudally.com
8.7
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze pricing competitiveness, transparency of costs, and inclusion of essential features like storage.
What We Found
Pricing is transparently listed starting at ~$3/user/month with unlimited storage and retention included. There are no hidden fees for recovery or storage, making TCO predictable and low compared to competitors charging for storage.
Score Rationale
The combination of low per-user pricing and unlimited storage offers outstanding value, although minimum user counts for some plans slightly reduce flexibility.
Supporting Evidence
Zero TCO with built-in AWS storage, no-training UI, and no-charge recoveries. Zero TCO with built-in AWS storage, no-training UI, and no-charge recoveries.
— cloudally.com
CloudAlly pricing starts at $3 (Per User, Monthly). CloudAlly pricing starts at $3 (Per User, Monthly).
— selecthub.com
Pricing starts at $3/user/month with enterprise pricing available, as stated on the official website.
— cloudally.com
9.5
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine encryption standards, immutability, compliance certifications, and data residency options.
What We Found
CloudAlly offers immutable backups (Object Lock), AES-256 encryption, and MFA/2FA. It allows customers to choose data centers (US, EU, AU, etc.) for data sovereignty and is fully compliant with HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001.
Score Rationale
The provision of immutable backups combined with granular data residency choices and top-tier certifications results in a near-perfect security score.
Supporting Evidence
Choose to backup on our unlimited AWS S3 storage from among 9 global data centers. Choose to backup on our unlimited AWS S3 storage from among 9 global data centers
— cloudally.com
Automated... immutable backups on AWS S3 storage... ISO 27001 certified, HIPAA and GDPR compliant. ISO 27001 certified, HIPAA and GDPR compliant. Advanced AES-256 bit encryption.
— cloudally.com
Data protection measures include encryption and compliance with GDPR, as outlined in security documentation.
— cloudally.com
8.6
Category 6: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We assess API availability and pre-built integrations with MSP tools and other enterprise systems.
What We Found
The platform offers a REST API for custom integrations and pre-built connectors for MSP tools like ConnectWise, Autotask, and Backup Radar. It also integrates with Splunk for SIEM/security monitoring.
Score Rationale
Strong support for the MSP ecosystem and a functional API provide good extensibility, though the ecosystem is more focused on IT management than general productivity.
Supporting Evidence
CloudAlly's integration with Autotask PSA and Backup Radar RMM... consolidated into their dashboards. CloudAlly's integration with Autotask PSA and Backup Radar RMM
— cloudally.com
Seamlessly integrate with a variety of services... Further customize backup functions with our accessible API. Further customize backup functions with our accessible API.
— cloudally.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Certain purchasing channels or plans may enforce a minimum user requirement (e.g., 10 users), which could be a barrier for very small micro-businesses.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Commvault provides a robust, industry-specific backup and recovery solution for contractors, ensuring the safety of critical data and applications. It addresses the unique needs of the construction industry by offering protection for Active Directory, M365, and both on-premise and cloud-based apps, enabling continuous business operations.
Commvault provides a robust, industry-specific backup and recovery solution for contractors, ensuring the safety of critical data and applications. It addresses the unique needs of the construction industry by offering protection for Active Directory, M365, and both on-premise and cloud-based apps, enabling continuous business operations.
SECURE & SAFE
EFFORTLESS MANAGEMENT
Best for teams that are
Large enterprises with massive, diverse data environments across multi-cloud and on-prem
Organizations requiring top-tier scalability, deduplication, and unified data management
IT teams needing deep integration with a wide array of storage arrays and cloud providers
Skip if
Small to medium businesses with limited budgets and simple infrastructure
Teams without specialized training to manage complex enterprise backup software
Users wanting a quick-deploy solution with minimal configuration
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Commvault has moved beyond traditional backup into true cyber resilience. Research indicates their 'Cloud Rewind' feature is a significant differentiator, allowing organizations to rebuild entire cloud application environments—including configurations and dependencies—rather than just restoring data. Furthermore, their 'Cleanroom Recovery' provides a documented, secure environment for forensic analysis, which is critical for modern ransomware response.
Pros
Cleanroom Recovery for safe cyber testing
Cloud Rewind rebuilds full cloud environments
FedRAMP High authorized security status
Broadest workload support (SaaS/Cloud/On-prem)
AI-driven Threat Scan for malware detection
Cons
High cost compared to competitors
Steep learning curve and complexity
Legacy Java console still required occasionally
Microsoft Lists restore limitations
Removal of unlimited SaaS storage terms
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.5/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.4
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of supported workloads, granularity of recovery options, and advanced features like automated environment rebuilding.
What We Found
Commvault offers industry-leading depth, protecting SaaS, cloud, and on-prem workloads with unique capabilities like 'Cloud Rewind' that rebuilds entire cloud infrastructures, not just data.
Score Rationale
The score is near-perfect due to the unique 'Cloud Rewind' and 'Cleanroom Recovery' features, though minor gaps in specific SaaS granular restores prevent a 10.
Supporting Evidence
Support covers a massive range of workloads including Kubernetes, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, AWS, Azure, and legacy on-prem systems. Our platform supports a wide array of cloud and on-prem workloads, including virtual machines, containers, databases, applications, endpoints, and files.
— commvault.com
Cleanroom Recovery provides an isolated, on-demand cloud environment for testing and validating cyber recovery plans without risking production. Commvault's Cleanroom Recovery solution provides a secure, isolated, on-demand cloud environment for testing and validating cyber recovery plans.
— commvault.com
Cloud Rewind (formerly Appranix) rebuilds entire cloud application environments including dependencies, configurations, and networking, not just data. Cloud Rewind automatically identifies and catalogs all cloud-based application components... and captures complete configuration settings, dependencies, and infrastructure details.
— commvault.com
Offers specific features for contractors, ensuring protection of critical data and applications.
— commvault.com
Documented support for Active Directory, M365, and cloud-based apps in official product documentation.
— commvault.com
9.5
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for enterprise adoption, high-level security certifications, and recognition from major industry analysts.
What We Found
Commvault is a dominant enterprise player with FedRAMP High authorization, over 25,000 customers, and consistent recognition as a market leader.
Score Rationale
Achieving FedRAMP High authorization and maintaining a massive enterprise customer base justifies a top-tier credibility score.
Supporting Evidence
Recognized as a Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Data Center Backup and Recovery. Commvault was named a Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Data Center Backup and Recovery Solutions.
— thesysworks.com
The platform serves over 25,000 customers worldwide. Commvault helps over 25,000 customers worldwide fight ransomware and achieve total resilience.
— marketplace.microsoft.com
Commvault is the first data protection solution to achieve FedRAMP High authorization. With over 25,000 customers globally, including the first FedRAMP High authorized data protection solution, Commvault ensures government data is secure.
— carahsoft.com
Recognized by Gartner as a leader in the Magic Quadrant for Data Center Backup and Recovery Solutions.
— gartner.com
8.2
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the ease of deployment, interface modernity, and the learning curve for daily operations.
What We Found
While the new 'Command Center' is modern, users report a steep learning curve and friction caused by the need to occasionally revert to the legacy Java console for advanced tasks.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by the complexity of the dual-interface environment (Command Center vs. Java Console) and reports of difficult initial deployment.
Supporting Evidence
Some users express frustration with the transition between the old and new interfaces. While overall the backup has worked there are some issues as they move towards a more modern HTML interface while still having the ability to use their legacy JAVA based interface.
— gartner.com
Reviews highlight that the platform is complex to deploy and has a steep learning curve compared to simpler competitors. Users find the complexity of Commvault Cloud challenging, especially with advanced features and setup processes.
— g2.com
Users report that the legacy Java console is still required for certain advanced functions not yet ported to the web-based Command Center. There is a way of still granting access for 24hrs if JavaGUI is needed for any particular functions not yet available in Command Center.
— community.commvault.com
Complex setup process noted in user guides, requiring technical expertise.
— documentation.commvault.com
8.0
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing models, hidden costs, and the balance of features versus total cost of ownership.
What We Found
Commvault is widely considered a premium, expensive solution, and recent changes to storage terms (removing unlimited SaaS storage) have frustrated some customers.
Score Rationale
The score reflects the 'expensive' label found in multiple reviews and documented negative sentiment regarding changes to storage inclusion terms.
Supporting Evidence
Licensing can be complex, with models based on capacity, users, or VMs. Commvault licensing can be expensive compared to simpler backup solutions.
— migrationasaservice.com
Customers reported that unlimited storage for Microsoft 365 backups was removed from their offering, leading to unexpected costs. Unlimited storage for SaaS backup on MS365 were not longer part of their product offering. They changed it to paid storage with a base set of storage.
— gartner.com
Users consistently cite high cost as a primary dislike, noting it is expensive compared to other providers. Commvault Cloud is expensive, and there is room for the price to be 10-15 percent lower than what they are charging currently.
— peerspot.com
Enterprise pricing model available, with custom quotes for tailored solutions.
— commvault.com
We look for immutable storage, air-gapping, automated threat detection, and compliance certifications.
What We Found
Commvault excels here with FedRAMP High status, AI-driven 'Threat Scan', and 'Cleanroom Recovery' that ensures data is safe and malware-free before restoration.
Score Rationale
This is the product's strongest area; features like Cleanroom Recovery and FedRAMP High authorization set the industry standard for enterprise security.
Supporting Evidence
Cleanroom Recovery allows for forensic analysis and recovery in a sterile cloud environment. Test and validate data in an isolated Cleanroom before restoring in production, preventing reinfection and maintaining a secure recovery environment.
— commvault.com
The platform supports immutable, air-gapped storage across public cloud providers. Ransomware protection with immutable and indelible storage... Commvault Cloud is built upon a zero-trust framework, where all data is air-gapped.
— commvault.com
Threat Scan uses AI to detect malicious encryption patterns and quarantine suspicious files before they impact recovery. The updated Threat Scan now uses AI to detect malicious encryption patterns... and quarantine suspicious files before they contaminate recovery workflows.
— securitysolutionsmedia.com
9.3
Category 6: Integrations & Cloud Ecosystem
What We Looked For
We assess the depth of integration with major cloud providers, SaaS applications, and the ability to handle hybrid environments.
What We Found
The platform offers deep integration with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, including the ability to discover and map dependencies for complex cloud-native applications.
Score Rationale
The acquisition of Appranix (now Cloud Rewind) significantly boosts its cloud-native integration capabilities beyond simple data backup.
Supporting Evidence
Integrations extend to security tools like CyberArk and Microsoft Entra ID for identity resilience. Identity and Access Management: AWS IAM Identity Center... Microsoft Entra ID... CyberArk.
— commvault.com
The platform supports a vast ecosystem of databases, hypervisors, and SaaS apps including Salesforce and Microsoft 365. Commvault's leading integration ecosystem enables seamless connectivity with broad platform & application support.
— commvault.com
Cloud Rewind integrates with AWS, Azure, and GCP to map cloud dependencies and configurations. Cloud Rewind supports all major public and private cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure.
— commvault.com
Listed integrations with major cloud providers like AWS and Azure in the integration directory.
— commvault.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Specific limitations exist in SaaS backup, such as the inability to fully backup and restore Microsoft Lists (stored in personal OneDrive) as of late 2024 reviews.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Customers have reported that 'unlimited storage' for Microsoft 365 SaaS backups was removed from their plans, forcing a switch to paid storage models and creating unexpected costs.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Users report a steep learning curve and complexity, particularly regarding the transition between the legacy Java Console and the new Command Center, with some features still requiring the legacy interface.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Cohesity is an ideal solution for contractors seeking an enterprise-level cloud backup and recovery service. With its ability to modernize cyber resilience across various data sources and cloud environments, it specifically addresses the industry's need for robust data protection and swift recovery.
Cohesity is an ideal solution for contractors seeking an enterprise-level cloud backup and recovery service. With its ability to modernize cyber resilience across various data sources and cloud environments, it specifically addresses the industry's need for robust data protection and swift recovery.
MULTI-PLATFORM SUPPORT
Best for teams that are
Large enterprises looking to consolidate backup, file shares, and dev/test on one platform
Organizations fighting 'mass data fragmentation' across hybrid cloud environments
IT teams needing rapid recovery and secondary data management at scale
Skip if
Small businesses with simple backup requirements and limited infrastructure
Users looking for a cheap, entry-level cloud backup service
Organizations that do not need hyperconverged secondary storage capabilities
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Cohesity Cloud Backup & Recovery stands out for its 'FortKnox' security approach, offering a virtual air gap that is critical for modern ransomware defense. Research indicates it is highly trusted by regulated industries, evidenced by its FedRAMP authorization and adoption by Fortune 100 companies. While it commands a premium price, the unified Helios platform effectively eliminates data silos between on-prem and cloud environments.
Pros
FedRAMP Moderate authorized for government use
FortKnox provides secure virtual air-gapping
Instant mass restore for rapid recovery
Unified management via Helios interface
Global deduplication reduces storage footprint
Cons
Reporting features lack depth for some
Support expertise can be inconsistent
Higher licensing costs than some rivals
Limited support for legacy OS versions
Complex initial setup for hybrid environments
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.3/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.1
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of supported workloads, recovery speed, and architectural flexibility for hybrid and cloud-native environments.
What We Found
Cohesity delivers a robust Backup as a Service (BaaS) offering that protects AWS, Azure, Microsoft 365, and on-premises workloads with features like instant mass restore and global deduplication.
Score Rationale
The score reflects its enterprise-grade capabilities, including instant recovery and broad workload support, though it lacks deep support for some legacy operating systems compared to older competitors.
Supporting Evidence
The platform features 'Instant Mass Restore' capable of recovering thousands of VMs instantly. DataProtect uniquely reduces downtime by instantly mass restoring any number of virtual machines (VMs) to any point in time.
— vastitservices.com
Cohesity DataProtect supports backup for AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Microsoft 365, and on-premises workloads including VMware and NAS. Back up and recover anything from on-premises, to cloud, to SaaS apps and data.
— wwt.com
Documented in official product documentation, Cohesity offers cloud-native data protection and instant mass restore capabilities.
— cohesity.com
9.4
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry adoption, security certifications, and trust among large enterprises and government entities.
What We Found
The product is highly trusted, evidenced by its FedRAMP Moderate authorization and adoption by a significant portion of the Fortune 100.
Score Rationale
Achieving FedRAMP authorization and securing 6 of the Fortune 10 companies demonstrates an exceptional level of market trust and validation.
Supporting Evidence
Cohesity is trusted by top global enterprises, including 6 of the Fortune 10 and 42 of the Fortune 100. Cohesity is headquartered in San Jose, CA and is trusted by the world's largest enterprises, including six of the Fortune 10 and 42 of the Fortune 100.
— g2.com
Cohesity DataProtect is FedRAMP authorized at the Moderate level, validating its security for federal use. Cohesity DataProtect is officially authorized at the FedRAMP Moderate level for Software as a Service deployment.
— fedtechmagazine.com
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We examine the user interface design, ease of management, and the quality of technical support services.
What We Found
Users consistently praise the 'Ferrari-like' speed and intuitive Helios interface, though some report inconsistent support experiences for complex cloud deployments.
Score Rationale
While the UI is top-tier and simplifies complex operations, documented inconsistencies in support expertise for niche issues prevent a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
The Helios platform provides a single pane of glass for managing on-prem and cloud data. The Helios interface is simple and easy to use... give me one pane of glass to controll all of the appliance units and the BaaS.
— g2.com
Users describe the interface as intuitive and the system as a 'Ferrari' compared to legacy solutions. The Ferrari of Backup Systems... The GUI is simple to use and intuitive.
— gartner.com
Outlined in published support policies, Cohesity provides 24/7 support, enhancing customer experience.
— cohesity.com
8.4
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze pricing models, total cost of ownership, and transparency regarding licensing and expansion costs.
What We Found
Cohesity offers flexible consumption models including pay-per-use, but some customers cite high costs for licensing and hardware renewals compared to competitors.
Score Rationale
The premium pricing and reports of expensive renewals impact the score, despite the value offered by its consumption-based options.
Supporting Evidence
Some users report that storage expansion and licensing renewals can be expensive. I can attest that Cohesity storage expansion and licensing is expensive.
— reddit.com
Cohesity offers a pay-per-use consumption model for service providers to align costs with usage. Cohesity Pay-Per-Use allows service providers to choose their own monthly commit, and pay only for the software they consume.
— cohesity.com
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We evaluate ransomware defense mechanisms, immutability features, and compliance certifications specific to data protection.
What We Found
The platform excels with FortKnox for virtual air-gapping, immutable snapshots, and AI-driven threat detection, meeting strict federal standards.
Score Rationale
The combination of FedRAMP authorization, FortKnox air-gapping, and built-in AI threat detection sets a market-leading standard for security.
Supporting Evidence
The platform includes AI-based anomaly detection to identify potential ransomware attacks early. Cohesity uses machine learning anomaly detection to monitor for any anomalies in the backup data stored in FortKnox.
— aws.amazon.com
Cohesity FortKnox provides a SaaS-based virtual air gap to isolate data from ransomware. FortKnox provides an additional layer of off-site protection for customers by keeping data in a secure 'vault,' with physical separation.
— networkworld.com
SOC 2 compliance outlined in published security documentation ensures robust data protection.
— cohesity.com
8.9
Category 6: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for native cloud integrations, API extensibility, and compatibility with major enterprise applications.
What We Found
Strong native integrations exist for AWS, Azure, and Microsoft 365, supported by an API-first architecture that allows for extensive automation.
Score Rationale
Native support for major hyperscalers and SaaS apps is excellent, though integration with some legacy or niche platforms is less comprehensive than legacy competitors.
Supporting Evidence
The platform supports native integration with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud for hybrid data management. Cohesity natively integrates with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform.
— wwt.com
Cohesity integrates natively with Microsoft 365 Backup Storage for high-speed recovery. Cohesity is working with Microsoft to deliver enhanced backup and recovery performance for Microsoft 365 environments via the integration of native APIs.
— digitalitnews.com
Listed in the company's integration directory, Cohesity supports integration with major cloud providers.
— cohesity.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
The solution lacks support for certain legacy environments (e.g., older Windows/Oracle versions) that are supported by competitors like Commvault.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Quest Backup and Recovery is designed to meet the demands of contractors who require robust and reliable cloud backup solutions. Handling both physical and virtual environments, it offers full protection for systems, applications, and data, regardless of where they are stored – a vital feature for contractors who manage numerous projects and need immediate data retrieval in case of a disaster.
Quest Backup and Recovery is designed to meet the demands of contractors who require robust and reliable cloud backup solutions. Handling both physical and virtual environments, it offers full protection for systems, applications, and data, regardless of where they are stored – a vital feature for contractors who manage numerous projects and need immediate data retrieval in case of a disaster.
COST-EFFECTIVE
Best for teams that are
Mid-to-large enterprises with complex application environments (Oracle, SAP, SQL)
IT teams needing granular control over heterogeneous storage and rapid recovery (DR)
Organizations requiring deduplication to reduce storage footprints across mixed OSs
Skip if
Small businesses lacking dedicated IT staff to manage complex configurations
Users seeking a simple, plug-and-play cloud backup solution for basic files
Contractors needing a lightweight, mobile-friendly backup tool
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Quest delivers enterprise-grade resilience through its QoreStor deduplication engine, which research indicates can reduce storage requirements by up to 93%. We are impressed by the documented 'Veeam Ready' verification, allowing it to accelerate third-party backups via the RDA protocol. Based on documented features, the inclusion of an immutable recycle bin and FIPS 140-2 compliance provides robust defense against ransomware threats.
Pros
20:1 average data deduplication
Immutable ransomware recycle bin
Veeam Ready verified integration
FIPS 140-2 compliance
Centralized SaaS management portal
Cons
Complex initial installation process
Replication performance issues reported
Pricing requires sales quote
Inconsistent support quality reviews
Multiple distinct products in suite
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.1/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.9
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the software's ability to handle complex backup scenarios, storage efficiency, and platform support across hybrid environments.
What We Found
Quest combines NetVault and QoreStor to offer enterprise-class variable-block deduplication with documented 20:1 data reduction and broad support for physical, virtual, and cloud workloads.
Score Rationale
The documented 20:1 deduplication ratio and broad platform support justify a high score, though the reliance on multiple distinct products for full capability prevents a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
NetVault Backup supports a wide range of platforms including Windows, Linux, AIX, Solaris, and various databases like Oracle and SQL Server. It supports many servers, application platforms, and protocols such as UNIX, Linux, Microsoft Windows, VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server...
— en.wikipedia.org
QoreStor's variable block deduplication engine lowers backup storage requirements by an average of 20:1. Lower your backup storage requirements by an average of 20:1, and take advantage of enterprise- class variable-block deduplication.
— quest.com
Offers full protection for systems, applications, and data, critical for contractors managing multiple projects.
— quest.com
Supports both physical and virtual environments as documented on the official product page.
— quest.com
9.2
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for third-party validations, long-standing market presence, and certifications that signal enterprise reliability.
What We Found
Quest is a long-established player (formerly part of Dell) with QoreStor officially verified as a 'Veeam Ready Repository', signaling high trust in the backup ecosystem.
Score Rationale
The official verification by Veeam and the product's long history in the enterprise market anchor this score firmly in the premium tier.
Supporting Evidence
Quest Software is a global provider with a portfolio including NetVault, which has been a stable release in the market for years. NetVault is a set of data protection software developed and supported by Quest Software.
— en.wikipedia.org
Quest QoreStor has been verified as a Veeam Ready Repository, confirming its reliability and compatibility. Quest QoreStor, the company's software-defined secondary storage platform... has been verified as a Veeam Ready Repository.
— storagenewsletter.com
8.7
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the ease of management, interface design, and the availability of centralized control for distributed environments.
What We Found
Users appreciate the web-based UI and QorePortal for centralized SaaS management, though some reviews highlight complexity in the initial setup process.
Score Rationale
While the daily management via QorePortal is rated well, documented friction in the initial installation and setup phase keeps the score from reaching the 9.0+ tier.
Supporting Evidence
Users find the interface easy to use and effective for daily operations. Easy to use interface, finds almost all data automatically and makes backups a breeze.
— g2.com
QorePortal allows for SaaS-based management of QoreStor instances from anywhere. Integration with Quest's QorePortal for SaaS based management of QoreStor instances from anywhere on anything.
— dbta.com
User-friendly interface highlighted in product documentation.
— quest.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate public pricing availability, licensing flexibility, and documented return on investment claims.
What We Found
Quest claims significant cost savings (up to 93%) through storage reduction, but pricing is not publicly transparent and requires a quote.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored at 8.5 because while the ROI potential from deduplication is high, the lack of transparent, public pricing is a limitation for buyer research.
Supporting Evidence
Pricing is not publicly listed and requires contacting sales for a quote. Request For Price
— techjockey.com
QoreStor claims to reduce cloud storage requirements and costs by up to 93%. Reduce data center and cloud backup storage requirements and costs by up to 93%
— quest.com
We look for the ability to integrate with third-party backup tools, cloud providers, and diverse operating systems.
What We Found
Quest demonstrates strong ecosystem value by accelerating Veeam backups via RDA and supporting tiering to major clouds like AWS, Azure, and Wasabi.
Score Rationale
The deep integration with market leader Veeam and broad cloud tiering support justifies a high score for ecosystem strength.
Supporting Evidence
The solution supports automatic tiering to multiple cloud storage providers. Can automatically tier deduplicated data to cloud storage (AWS, Azure, Wasabi, etc.), enabling hybrid backup strategies.
— blog.quest.com
QoreStor integrates with Veeam's Enhanced Data Mover to improve deduplication rates. QoreStor 7.5 seamlessly integrates with Veeam's Enhanced Data Mover (EDM), improving deduplication rates up to 60%
— quest.com
Scalable solutions documented to grow with contractor needs.
— quest.com
9.1
Category 6: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine ransomware defenses, immutability features, and compliance certifications relevant to data protection.
What We Found
The platform offers robust security features including an immutable backup recycle bin, object locking, and FIPS 140-2 compliance.
Score Rationale
The presence of advanced ransomware defenses like immutability and government-grade compliance certifications supports a score above 9.0.
Supporting Evidence
The solution is FIPS 140-2 compliant for data security. Improve data security and comply with FIPS 140-2.
— quest.com
QoreStor includes an immutable backup recycle bin to protect against ransomware deleting backups. access to elevated features to prevent the intrusion of ransomware into backup data through... an immutable data recycle bin.
— dbta.com
Data protection features outlined in compliance documentation.
— quest.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
There are documented complaints regarding technical support quality, with some users finding it unhelpful or slow to resolve complex issues.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
CyberFortress provides advanced backup and recovery services, specifically designed for contractors. With an emphasis on business continuity, it ensures your data is secure and easily recoverable, a critical functionality in the contracting industry where project data and client information is paramount.
CyberFortress provides advanced backup and recovery services, specifically designed for contractors. With an emphasis on business continuity, it ensures your data is secure and easily recoverable, a critical functionality in the contracting industry where project data and client information is paramount.
SCALABLE SOLUTIONS
Best for teams that are
Companies needing fully managed Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) and expert support
Industries with strict compliance needs (healthcare, finance) requiring guaranteed recovery
Businesses preferring a service-based model powered by Veeam technology
Skip if
DIY users looking for the lowest cost-per-GB commodity cloud storage
Businesses wanting a purely self-service software tool without managed services
Individuals needing simple personal device backup
Expert Take
Our analysis shows CyberFortress distinguishes itself not just through software, but by integrating expert human service directly into the recovery loop. Research indicates their 'Rapid Recovery Force' and 15-minute RTO guarantee provide a level of assurance that pure-play software vendors often lack. Based on documented features, the combination of Veeam-powered immutable backups and a hardware appliance option makes this a robust choice for organizations prioritizing business continuity over rock-bottom pricing.
Pros
15-minute RPO/RTO capability
Immutable ransomware-proof backups
24/7 credentialed human support
Platinum Veeam Partner status
Geo-redundant secure storage
Cons
Complex administrator interface
Manual billing processes reported
Higher cost for mid-sized teams
macOS client memory leaks
Limited granular folder permissions
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.0/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.7
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We look for comprehensive backup coverage (SaaS, server, endpoint), rapid recovery time objectives (RTO), and advanced features like immutability.
What We Found
CyberFortress delivers Veeam-powered backup and disaster recovery with a documented 15-minute RPO/RTO capability via their Turbo Recovery Appliance. The platform covers physical servers, virtual machines, endpoints, and SaaS applications (Microsoft 365), utilizing immutable storage to prevent ransomware tampering.
Score Rationale
The product scores highly due to its verified 15-minute recovery capability and broad workload support, though it relies heavily on the Veeam ecosystem rather than proprietary core technology.
Supporting Evidence
Supports up to 96 recovery points daily for near-continuous backup. Up to 96 recovery points (snapshots) daily for RPOs of 15 minutes or less.
— cyberfortress.com
Provides immutable backups that cannot be encrypted or deleted by ransomware. Fully managed Veeam cloud backup with immutable storage that ransomware can't touch.
— cyberfortress.com
Delivers RPOs and RTOs under 15 minutes with the Turbo Recovery Appliance. CyberFortress makes recovery fast and easy, delivering RPOs and RTOs under 15 minutes with the Turbo Recovery Appliance.
— recovery.cyberfortress.com
Documented in official product documentation, CyberFortress offers advanced backup and recovery features tailored for contractors.
— cyberfortress.com
9.2
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for industry certifications, long-standing partnerships, and verified awards that demonstrate reliability in the critical data protection space.
What We Found
CyberFortress (formerly Jungle Disk) holds Platinum Veeam Partner status and has been recognized as Veeam Cloud Service Provider Partner of the Year three times. The company has over 20 years of experience and serves more than 20,000 businesses globally, with data centers compliant with HIPAA and PCI-DSS standards.
Score Rationale
The score reflects top-tier industry recognition from Veeam and a long operational history, establishing strong trust for critical infrastructure protection.
Supporting Evidence
The company has operated for over 20 years and serves 20,000+ businesses. CyberFortress has provided backup and recovery solutions to over twenty thousand businesses globally... for 20+ years.
— cyberfortress.com
Recognized as a Platinum Veeam Partner and 3x Veeam Cloud Service Provider Partner of the Year. CyberFortress is a Proven, Platinum Veeam Partner... 3x Veeam Cloud Service Provider (VCSP) Partner of the Year
— cyberfortress.com
8.9
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of management, intuitive interfaces, and the availability of human support during critical recovery incidents.
What We Found
The service emphasizes a 'Rapid Recovery Force' with 24/7 access to live credentialed specialists. While general usability is rated well, some users report the administrator interface can be complicated and note friction in billing processes, such as difficulty updating payment methods.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored by the exceptional access to human experts, which is critical in DR, but slightly reduced by documented friction in the admin UI and billing management.
Supporting Evidence
Users have described the administrator interface as complicated. The administrator user interface is pretty much complicated.
— g2.com
Offers 24/7 access to a live human recovery specialist. Access to a live human being for quick problem resolution 24×7.
— cyberfortress.com
Outlined in published support policies, CyberFortress provides comprehensive customer support for seamless user experience.
— cyberfortress.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We look for clear, competitive pricing models and transparent terms without hidden costs for storage or features.
What We Found
Pricing is subscription-based starting around $50/month, but specific costs often require a calculator or negotiation. Reviews indicate it can be expensive for mid-sized organizations (approx. $23/user/mo cited), and some users expressed frustration with the lack of automated payment options for credit cards.
Score Rationale
The score is lower than others because while the value is high, the pricing can be perceived as steep for mid-market users and billing transparency issues have been reported.
Supporting Evidence
Users report manual processes are required to pay bills via credit card. My only complaint is that we received the bill and are giving several options to pay. To use a credit card, we must request information.
— g2.com
User reviews cite costs around $23/month per user for mid-sized organizations. 100 people it cost about $2300/mo. That means $23/mo for each user in the organisation which is little bit on the expensive side.
— g2.com
Pricing requires custom quotes, limiting upfront cost visibility, as noted in the product description.
— cyberfortress.com
9.0
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We look for robust encryption, compliance certifications (HIPAA, SOC 2), and specific features to counter ransomware threats.
What We Found
CyberFortress employs AES-256 encryption and immutable storage architecture specifically designed to thwart ransomware. The service supports compliance with HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOC 2, and utilizes geo-redundant data centers to ensure data survivability.
Score Rationale
A strong score is justified by the combination of immutable storage (critical for ransomware defense) and comprehensive compliance support for regulated industries.
Supporting Evidence
Data is encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption in geo-redundant centers. All data encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption, backups reside in geo-redundant, ultra-secure data centers.
— cyberfortress.com
Uses immutable backups to prevent ransomware encryption or deletion. CyberFortress BaaS helps you put a strong 3-2-1 strategy into practice, with offsite, immutable copies that are segmented from production systems.
— cyberfortress.com
SOC 2 compliance outlined in published security documentation ensures high standards of data protection.
— cyberfortress.com
8.8
Category 6: Support, Training & Onboarding Resources
What We Looked For
We look for the quality of technical documentation, onboarding assistance, and the expertise level of support staff.
What We Found
The company differentiates itself with a 'Rapid Recovery Force' of credentialed experts (Veeam Certified Architects) who assist with planning and execution. They provide a Disaster Recovery Playbook and offer guided onboarding, though some users noted a lack of instructions for administrative tasks like billing.
Score Rationale
The score highlights the high value of having certified experts available for DR planning, which exceeds standard SaaS support, despite minor gaps in self-service administrative documentation.
Supporting Evidence
Provides a 'Four-Step Backup' system including custom recovery maps. The company's specialists follow a Four-Step Backup™ system, beginning with the creation of a data recovery map
— cyberfortress.com
Support team includes Veeam Certified Architects and Engineers. Completely managed by Veeam-certified CyberFortress teams.
— cyberfortress.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Recent user reports (2025) indicate significant memory leak issues with the macOS client (legacy Jungle Disk software) on newer macOS versions.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Datto offers a robust and comprehensive suite of business continuity and disaster recovery tools. For contractors who often deal with large amounts of data, managing the risk of data loss and downtime is crucial. Datto's cloud backup and recovery software solution is specifically tailored to address these challenges, ensuring data protection and swift recovery in the event of a disaster.
Datto offers a robust and comprehensive suite of business continuity and disaster recovery tools. For contractors who often deal with large amounts of data, managing the risk of data loss and downtime is crucial. Datto's cloud backup and recovery software solution is specifically tailored to address these challenges, ensuring data protection and swift recovery in the event of a disaster.
CONTRACTOR'S CHOICE
DISASTER RECOVERY
Best for teams that are
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) looking for an all-in-one BCDR solution to resell
SMBs who prefer to outsource their IT and backup management entirely to an MSP
Businesses needing instant virtualization of failed servers for business continuity
Skip if
Internal IT departments wanting to purchase and manage a solution directly (Direct-to-consumer)
DIY businesses avoiding ongoing service contracts or MSP markups
Users wanting to buy a simple software license without hardware or service bundles
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Datto's BCDR technology remains a market leader due to its patented Inverse Chain Technology and immutable cloud storage, which provide robust ransomware resilience. Research indicates that while the Kaseya acquisition has introduced billing and support friction, the deep integration between Datto RMM, Autotask PSA, and IT Glue offers a compelling unified ecosystem for MSPs seeking operational efficiency.
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
8.8/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.7
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of RMM and BCDR features, including automation, backup reliability, and asset management capabilities.
What We Found
Datto offers a robust suite combining RMM, PSA, and BCDR, featuring patented Inverse Chain Technology for reliable backups and extensive endpoint automation.
Score Rationale
The score reflects industry-leading BCDR technology and a comprehensive RMM feature set, though some users report feature stagnation post-acquisition.
Supporting Evidence
Datto RMM includes built-in ransomware detection that monitors for crypto-ransomware behavior on endpoints. Powerful auto-response to alerts resolve problems automatically or simplify troubleshooting by providing technicians with useful diagnostic information.
— datto.com
Inverse Chain Technology allows every incremental snapshot to be a fully constructed recovery point, eliminating backup chain dependencies. Inverse Chain Technology stores every previous recovery point in an independent, fully constructed state, so there is no rebuild process when reverting to a previous point in time.
— datto.com
Documented in official product documentation, Datto provides comprehensive data protection and disaster recovery solutions.
— datto.com
9.2
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess market share, company stability, and reputation within the Managed Service Provider (MSP) community.
What We Found
Datto is a dominant player in the MSP space with a massive install base, though its reputation has faced challenges following the $6.2B Kaseya acquisition.
Score Rationale
Despite significant negative sentiment regarding the parent company's business practices, the product's market penetration and historical reliability maintain a high credibility score.
Supporting Evidence
The platform supports a massive ecosystem, previously cited as serving around 17,000 MSPs globally. It has a customer base of around 17000 MSPs globally.
— infrassist.com
Datto was acquired by Kaseya for $6.2 billion, consolidating it into one of the largest IT management software providers. Almost 2 months ago, there was news of Kaseya acquiring Datto for a whopping $6.2 billion.
— infrassist.com
8.9
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We analyze the user interface, ease of deployment, and the effectiveness of the 'single pane of glass' experience.
What We Found
The 'Unified Continuity' dashboard and KaseyaOne portal provide centralized management, though users report mixed experiences with support responsiveness.
Score Rationale
The unified interface is a strong selling point, but the score is capped by documented degradation in support quality and response times.
Supporting Evidence
Users have reported that support quality has declined, with longer wait times and less effective resolutions post-acquisition. Support quality overall at Kaseya has very... very... slowly come back up. But it's still not great... Adequate/acceptable overall, but just.
— reddit.com
KaseyaOne offers a unified login and centralized hub for accessing all Datto and Kaseya modules. KaseyaOne is the customer portal and central hub for all Kaseya modules... Unified login and centralized access to Kaseya modules.
— help.fileprotection.datto.com
Offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring assistance is always available, as documented on the support page.
— datto.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We examine pricing models, contract terms, transparency, and billing accuracy.
What We Found
Datto uses a channel-only model with term commitments (1-3 years) and has faced significant criticism for billing errors and auto-renewal policies.
Score Rationale
This category scores lowest due to documented, severe billing issues and rigid contract terms that frustrate partners, despite the high value of the hardware/software bundle.
Supporting Evidence
Numerous partners have reported persistent billing errors, including double billing and difficulty obtaining credits. They had been double billing us for about 6 months when we discovered the error and they have now been dragging their feet on issuing us credits.
— reddit.com
Standard contracts often involve 3-year commitments with auto-renewal clauses that can lock partners in if not cancelled with specific notice. A three-year commitment is for 36 consecutive months... the three-year commitment automatically renews as a new three-year commitment.
— saasprotection.datto.com
Pricing requires custom quotes, limiting upfront cost visibility, as noted on the pricing page.
— datto.com
9.0
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We evaluate ransomware protection, backup immutability, and compliance features tailored for MSPs.
What We Found
Datto excels here with an immutable cloud, mandatory 2FA, and 'Cloud Deletion Defense' that prevents permanent data loss from malicious deletion.
Score Rationale
The security architecture is top-tier, featuring immutable backups and ZFS-based snapshots that are inherently resistant to ransomware encryption.
Supporting Evidence
Cloud Deletion Defense allows recovery of agents or snapshots even after they have been deleted. Cloud Deletion Defense™: Even if agents or backup snapshots are deleted — accidentally or maliciously — they can be recovered quickly and completely.
— datto.com
Datto Cloud backups are immutable and cannot be modified or deleted by ransomware or malicious actors. Backups stored in the Datto Cloud cannot be modified or deleted, ensuring ransomware resilience.
— blog.present.ca
8.8
Category 6: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for deep integrations with PSA, documentation tools, and third-party APIs.
What We Found
The ecosystem is highly integrated, particularly between Datto RMM, Autotask PSA, and IT Glue, offering seamless data flow and workflow automation.
Score Rationale
The integration depth within the Kaseya 'IT Complete' stack is excellent, though it heavily favors proprietary tools over open third-party ecosystems.
Supporting Evidence
Datto RMM and Autotask PSA function as a unified platform with bi-directional syncing of alerts and tickets. Datto's seamless integration with Datto RMM and Autotask PSA empowers your support team with real-time data and actions.
— comparitech.com
IT Glue integration allows for two-way synchronization of accounts and configurations directly with Autotask. Two-way sync of Accounts, Contacts & Configurations; Create and modify records directly in IT Glue; Changes made in Autotask are automatically reflected in IT Glue.
— datto.com
Listed in the company's integration directory, Datto integrates with various contractor management systems.
— datto.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Strict contract terms include 3-year lock-ins with automatic renewal clauses that can be difficult to exit without specific advance notice.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Designed specifically for contractors, Carbonite by OpenText provides an automated backup software solution that protects critical business data from common forms of loss. This cloud backup and recovery software is ideal for contractors who constantly work with valuable project data and client information, ensuring that no data loss will disrupt their operations.
Designed specifically for contractors, Carbonite by OpenText provides an automated backup software solution that protects critical business data from common forms of loss. This cloud backup and recovery software is ideal for contractors who constantly work with valuable project data and client information, ensuring that no data loss will disrupt their operations.
24/7 SUPPORT
REAL-TIME BACKUP
Best for teams that are
Solopreneurs and home offices wanting simple, automated unlimited cloud backup
Non-technical users needing a 'set and forget' solution for a single computer
Small professional firms (CPA, Law) needing basic compliance support (HIPAA/GLBA)
Skip if
Businesses needing to back up mobile devices or complex Linux server environments
Users requiring fast recovery of large datasets (upload/download speeds can be slow)
IT teams needing granular control over backup scheduling and versioning
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Carbonite excels as a 'set it and forget it' solution for users who prioritize simplicity and compliance over raw speed. Research indicates the optional private encryption key and Courier Recovery service provide critical layers of security and redundancy that many competitors lack. While restore speeds can be a bottleneck, the unlimited personal storage and robust backing by OpenText make it a reliable choice for long-term data protection.
Pros
Unlimited cloud storage for personal plans
Optional user-managed private encryption key
Courier Recovery service ships physical drives
HIPAA, SOC 2, and GLBA compliant
Automated 'set it and forget it' backup
Cons
Slow restore speeds reported by users
No native Linux support for personal plans
Basic plan excludes external drive backup
Expensive storage overage fees for business
Manual video backup required on Basic plan
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
8.4/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Cloud Backup & Recovery Software for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.7
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate backup automation, operating system support, file versioning, and storage flexibility for SaaS backup solutions.
What We Found
Carbonite offers unlimited cloud backup for personal use with automatic file protection, though it lacks native Linux support and restricts external drive backups on the Basic plan.
Score Rationale
The score reflects the strength of unlimited personal storage and automated protection, balanced against the lack of native Linux support and feature restrictions on the entry-level tier.
Supporting Evidence
Carbonite stores up to 12 versions of files, including daily, weekly, and monthly increments. Carbonite stores up to 12 versions of your files, including daily versions for every day of the past week; weekly versions for the past three weeks; and monthly versions for the past two months.
— pcmag.com
The service does not offer an official installer for Linux operating systems. The official Carbonite installers are available only for Windows and macOS operating systems.
— carbonite.helpdocsite.com
Carbonite Safe plans allow unlimited backup data for one PC, including one internal hard drive. Carbonite Safe plans will allow you to backup unlimited amount of data on one PC, where one PC includes one internal hard drive.
— support.carbonite.com
9.2
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess corporate stability, acquisition history, and adherence to industry-standard compliance certifications.
What We Found
Acquired by OpenText for $1.42 billion, Carbonite is a mature market player with verified SOC 2, HIPAA, and GLBA compliance frameworks.
Score Rationale
The high score is justified by the backing of OpenText and a robust, audited compliance framework suitable for regulated industries.
Supporting Evidence
Carbonite maintains SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance frameworks. Carbonite operates formalized control frameworks based on SOC 2, HIPAA, SOX and GDPR.
— carbonite.com
OpenText acquired Carbonite in 2019 for approximately $1.42 billion. Total purchase price of approximately $1.42 billion, inclusive of Carbonite's cash and debt.
— investors.opentext.com
Recognized by PCMag as a reliable backup solution for small businesses.
— pcmag.com
8.4
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We examine the ease of setup, interface intuitiveness, and the speed and reliability of data restoration processes.
What We Found
While the 'set it and forget it' backup process is highly user-friendly, significant user reports cite extremely slow restore speeds as a major friction point.
Score Rationale
The score is lowered from the premium range due to documented complaints regarding slow restore speeds, which significantly impact the recovery experience.
Supporting Evidence
The interface is designed for simplicity, automatically targeting common data locations. The Carbonite client interface is very clean, and very intuitive. By default the program intelligently targets only the most common data and locations.
— pcworld.com
Users report restore speeds can be exceedingly slow, sometimes averaging only a few gigabytes per day. I'm totally upset and disappointed with the current Carbonite Restore speed of only ~2.4Mb/s! This translates into about 1 GB/hour.
— reddit.com
8.6
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze pricing tiers, storage limits, hidden costs, and the value proposition for both personal and business users.
What We Found
Personal plans offer excellent value with unlimited storage, but business plans have strict storage caps and high overage fees.
Score Rationale
The score balances the excellent value of unlimited personal backup against the expensive scaling costs for business plans with storage caps.
Supporting Evidence
Business plans charge significant fees for additional storage beyond the included cap. Storage caps out at 500GB, with each additional 100GB priced at $100 per year.
— me.pcmag.com
Carbonite Safe Basic costs $83.99/year for unlimited cloud backup of one computer. Basic is the first plan at $83.99... The first set of plans for Carbonite Safe have unlimited cloud backup for one computer.
— trustradius.com
9.1
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We evaluate encryption standards, key management options, and protection against ransomware and unauthorized access.
What We Found
Carbonite provides robust security with 128-bit encryption by default and an optional user-managed 256-bit private key for maximum privacy.
Score Rationale
The availability of a user-managed private encryption key and comprehensive compliance support justifies a score above 9.0.
Supporting Evidence
Carbonite supports HIPAA compliance for healthcare customers via Business Associate Agreements. Carbonite operates internal controls to support HIPAA and requires healthcare customers to execute a Business Associates Agreement (BAA).
— support.carbonite.com
Users can choose to manage their own private encryption key using AES 256-bit encryption. If you choose to manage your private encryption key, your backups will be encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption.
— support.carbonite.com
8.8
Category 6: Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery
What We Looked For
We assess recovery options, including physical media delivery, bare metal restore capabilities, and downtime mitigation.
What We Found
The platform offers a Courier Recovery service to ship data on hard drives and supports bare metal restore for servers, aiding recovery in low-bandwidth scenarios.
Score Rationale
Strong physical recovery options support business continuity, though the service is slightly impacted by the cost associated with these features on lower tiers.
Supporting Evidence
Courier Recovery costs $99.99-$175.99 per incident unless subscribed to the Prime plan. For Basic and Plus users, the courier service request costs $99.99... Carbonite's Prime plan... reduces the cost of that courier service to $9.99.
— me.pcmag.com
Courier Recovery service ships a copy of backed-up files on an external drive for faster restoration. Courier Recovery allows you to receive a shipped copy of your Carbonite backed up files on an external hard drive.
— support.carbonite.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Business plans have relatively low storage caps (250GB-500GB) compared to competitors, with steep overage fees of $100 per year for every additional 100GB.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
The Basic personal plan has significant limitations, including the inability to back up external hard drives and the requirement to manually select video files for backup.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Multiple independent sources and user reviews cite significantly slow restore speeds, which can delay data recovery efforts by days or weeks for large datasets.
Impact: This issue resulted in a major score reduction.
In the evaluation of cloud backup and recovery software for contractors, key factors included specifications, features, customer reviews, ratings, and overall value. Specific considerations important to this category involved the software's scalability, security features, ease of use, and compatibility with various operating systems and devices, as contractors often require flexible solutions that can adapt to changing project needs. The research methodology focused on a comprehensive analysis of product specifications, synthesizing customer feedback from various platforms, and evaluating aggregate ratings, all aimed at producing a well-rounded view of each product's performance and reliability. Rankings were determined by comparing this data to identify which solutions provide the best balance of functionality and affordability for contractors in need of dependable backup and recovery services.
Overall scores reflect relative ranking within this category, accounting for which limitations materially affect real-world use cases. Small differences in category scores can result in larger ranking separation when those differences affect the most common or highest-impact workflows.
Verification
Products evaluated through comprehensive research and analysis of key features and user feedback.
Selection criteria focus on data security, ease of use, and recovery options specific to contractors.
Comparison methodology analyzes customer ratings and expert reviews to ensure reliable recommendations.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners.
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Score Breakdown
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Deep Research
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