# Best Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions ## How Many Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 97 ### Category Stats (Jul 2026) - **Average Rating:** 4.48/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product:** Eon Data Protection (+0.24%) - Among all products in this category, Eon Data Protection recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month _Last updated: July 28, 2026_ ## How Does G2 Rank Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 5,100+ Authentic Reviews - 97+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## G2 Grid® for Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions ![G2 Grid® for Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions plotting products by satisfaction and market presence](https://www.g2.com/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas/grids.png?focus%5B%5D=39310&focus%5B%5D=5488&focus%5B%5D=10597&focus%5B%5D=146593&focus%5B%5D=1318231&focus%5B%5D=39729&focus%5B%5D=7145&focus%5B%5D=100694) Highlighted products: Rubrik, Druva Data Security Cloud, Datto SIRIS, VMware Live Recovery (VLR), Google Backup and DR service, Cove Data Protection, Azure Site Recovery, and Commvault Cloud Rewind. Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=rubrik&focus%5B%5D=druva-data-security-cloud&focus%5B%5D=kaseya-datto-siris&focus%5B%5D=vmware-live-recovery-vlr&focus%5B%5D=google-backup-and-dr-service&focus%5B%5D=cove-data-protection&focus%5B%5D=azure-site-recovery&focus%5B%5D=commvault-cloud-rewind) **Sponsored** ### Arpio Arpio is a comprehensive disaster recovery platform designed specifically for the cloud. This innovative solution addresses the unique challenges of AWS & Azure environments by automatically replicating an organization’s entire cloud estate, including data, servers, networking and other infrastructure and resources. With Arpio, businesses can ensure complete application recovery in the event of a disaster, unlike traditional disaster recovery tools that weren’t designed for the cloud. Arpio is suitable for businesses of all sizes that prioritize data security and operational continuity in their AWS & Azure cloud environments. Its automated, dynamic environment replication feature allows users to effortlessly maintain backups of their entire cloud setup. This capability is particularly beneficial for companies that require rapid recovery solutions, such as those in finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, where downtime can lead to significant operational and financial repercussions. By offering a tailored solution for comprehensive disaster recovery, Arpio meets the specific needs of organizations that rely heavily on cloud infrastructure. What stands out about Arpio’s approach? Unlike conventional disaster recovery solutions that may only back up data or specific components, Arpio recognizes the interdependencies within cloud workloads and replicates everything necessary for seamless operation. The ability to recover not just data but the entire operational environment is crucial for maintaining business continuity. Additionally, Arpio offers robust testing capabilities, allowing businesses to validate that they can recover within the required RTO & RPO parameters. Arpio can spin up a recovery environment in parallel with the production environment, letting users test recovery without interrupting ongoing operations. Disaster recovery capabilities include, advanced ransomware recovery protocols through a multi-account strategy, storing backups in an immutable “bunker” account to safeguard against malicious attacks, with recovery in a separate, clean room environment. This proactive approach to security enhances the overall resilience of the organization’s cloud infrastructure. With support for the broadest selection of AWS & Azure resources, Arpio provides comprehensive coverage for a wide range of cloud workloads. Its cross-region and cross-account replication capabilities enhance data protection during regional outages and malicious ransomware events alike, ensuring that critical information remains secure and accessible even in the face of significant threats. As new cloud services are continuously supported, Arpio adapts to the evolving needs of its users, solidifying its position as a vital tool for effective disaster recovery in the cloud. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=1109&secure%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-28T16%3A51%3A43Z&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=1109&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=1109&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=145786&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=1109&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fdisaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas&secure%5Btoken%5D=264d93b8cc5b66bc682321c14e2b5bc569126299ec80de5d21a9e1bfbc5fec7c&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Farpio.io%2Frequest-a-demo%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) [ Rubrik ](https://www.g2.com/products/rubrik/reviews) By [Rubrik](https://www.g2.com/sellers/rubrik) [ 4.6/5(281) ](https://www.g2.com/products/rubrik/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise Rubrik for its ease of use and intuitive interface, which simplifies backup and recovery processes. Many appreciate the product's robust security features and seamless setup, Pros and Cons [ Ease of Use (48) ](https://www.g2.com/products/rubrik/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Expensive (16) ](https://www.g2.com/products/rubrik/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ Druva Data Security Cloud ](https://www.g2.com/products/druva-data-security-cloud/reviews) By [Druva](https://www.g2.com/sellers/druva) [ 4.7/5(740) ](https://www.g2.com/products/druva-data-security-cloud/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the ease of use and reliable performance of Druva Data Security Cloud, highlighting its straightforward setup and minimal maintenance requirements. The intuitive interface an Pros and Cons [ Ease of Use (214) ](https://www.g2.com/products/druva-data-security-cloud/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Backup Issues (53) ](https://www.g2.com/products/druva-data-security-cloud/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ Datto SIRIS ](https://www.g2.com/products/kaseya-datto-siris/reviews) By [Kaseya](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kaseya) [ 4.6/5(288) ](https://www.g2.com/products/kaseya-datto-siris/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the reliable backups and fast recovery capabilities of Datto BCDR, highlighting its effectiveness in minimizing downtime during critical situations. The intuitive interface a Pros and Cons [ Ease of Use (52) ](https://www.g2.com/products/kaseya-datto-siris/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Expensive (17) ](https://www.g2.com/products/kaseya-datto-siris/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ VMware Live Recovery (vLR) ](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-live-recovery-vlr/reviews) By [Broadcom](https://www.g2.com/sellers/broadcom-ab3091cd-4724-46a8-ac89-219d6bc8e166) [ 4.5/5(136) ](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-live-recovery-vlr/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the ease of use and fast recovery capabilities of VMware Live Recovery, highlighting its seamless integration within existing VMware environments. Many appreciate how it simp Pros and Cons [ Recovery Ease (9) ](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-live-recovery-vlr/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Complex Setup (6) ](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-live-recovery-vlr/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ Cove Data Protection ](https://www.g2.com/products/cove-data-protection/reviews) By [N-able](https://www.g2.com/sellers/n-able) [ 4.5/5(440) ](https://www.g2.com/products/cove-data-protection/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the product for its ease of use and reliable backups, highlighting how simple it is to manage and restore data. The intuitive interface and centralized dashboard make monitor Pros and Cons [ Ease of Use (130) ](https://www.g2.com/products/cove-data-protection/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Backup Issues (40) ](https://www.g2.com/products/cove-data-protection/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ Google Backup and DR service ](https://www.g2.com/products/google-backup-and-dr-service/reviews) By [Google](https://www.g2.com/sellers/google) [ 4.6/5(22) ](https://www.g2.com/products/google-backup-and-dr-service/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the ease of use and reliability of Google Backup and DR service, noting that it integrates well with other Google tools and runs backups seamlessly in the background. Many ap Pros and Cons [ Ease of Use (3) ](https://www.g2.com/products/google-backup-and-dr-service/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Pricing Issues (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/google-backup-and-dr-service/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ Commvault Cloud Rewind ](https://www.g2.com/products/commvault-cloud-rewind/reviews) By [Commvault](https://www.g2.com/sellers/commvault) [ 4.7/5(18) ](https://www.g2.com/products/commvault-cloud-rewind/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the product for its fast recovery and ease of use, highlighting how it simplifies disaster recovery processes with just a click. The platform's ability to automatically manag [ Azure Site Recovery ](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-site-recovery/reviews) By [Microsoft](https://www.g2.com/sellers/microsoft) [ 4.7/5(39) ](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-site-recovery/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the ease of use and effective management capabilities of Azure Site Recovery, highlighting its ability to ensure business continuity with minimal downtime. The intuitive inte [ Axcient x360Recover ](https://www.g2.com/products/axcient-x360recover/reviews) By [ConnectWise](https://www.g2.com/sellers/connectwise) [ 4.6/5(132) ](https://www.g2.com/products/axcient-x360recover/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the ease of use and reliable backups provided by Axcient x360Recover, highlighting its straightforward setup and effective recovery options. Many appreciate the responsive cu Pros and Cons [ Customer Support (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/axcient-x360recover/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Inefficient Recovery (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/axcient-x360recover/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ Unitrends Backup and Recovery ](https://www.g2.com/products/unitrends-backup-and-recovery/reviews) By [Kaseya](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kaseya) [ 4.2/5(459) ](https://www.g2.com/products/unitrends-backup-and-recovery/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the reliability and ease of use of Unitrends Backup and Recovery, highlighting its effectiveness in managing backups across various environments. The centralized management a Pros and Cons [ Backup Solutions (7) ](https://www.g2.com/products/unitrends-backup-and-recovery/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Poor Customer Support (5) ](https://www.g2.com/products/unitrends-backup-and-recovery/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ CrashPlan Platform ](https://www.g2.com/products/crashplan-platform/reviews) By [CrashPlan](https://www.g2.com/sellers/crashplan) [ 4.9/5(270) ](https://www.g2.com/products/crashplan-platform/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the product for its ease of use and robust security features, making it a reliable choice for data protection and backup. The intuitive interface allows even less experienced Pros and Cons [ Backup Frequency (100) ](https://www.g2.com/products/crashplan-platform/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Improvement Needed (10) ](https://www.g2.com/products/crashplan-platform/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ LINK Datacenter ](https://www.g2.com/products/link-datacenter/reviews) By [LINK Datacenter](https://www.g2.com/sellers/link-datacenter) [ 4.7/5(12) ](https://www.g2.com/products/link-datacenter/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the high reliability and robust security of LINK Datacenter, highlighting its ability to ensure minimal downtime and protect sensitive data. Many appreciate the comprehensive Pros and Cons [ Security (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/link-datacenter/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ HYCU ](https://www.g2.com/products/hycu/reviews) By [HYCU](https://www.g2.com/sellers/hycu) [ 4.7/5(148) ](https://www.g2.com/products/hycu/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the ease of use and seamless integration with Nutanix, highlighting how these features simplify backup and recovery processes. The intuitive interface and responsive customer Pros and Cons [ Ease of Use (48) ](https://www.g2.com/products/hycu/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Limited Features (9) ](https://www.g2.com/products/hycu/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ Acronis Cyber Protect ](https://www.g2.com/products/acronis-acronis-cyber-protect/reviews) By [Acronis](https://www.g2.com/sellers/acronis) [ 4.3/5(742) ](https://www.g2.com/products/acronis-acronis-cyber-protect/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the ease of use and comprehensive features of Acronis Cyber Protect, highlighting its ability to manage backups and security from a single platform. Many appreciate its quick Pros and Cons [ Backup Solutions (10) ](https://www.g2.com/products/acronis-acronis-cyber-protect/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[ Expensive (6) ](https://www.g2.com/products/acronis-acronis-cyber-protect/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) [ InterVision Cloud Disaster... ](https://www.g2.com/products/intervision-cloud-disaster-recovery/reviews) By [InterVision](https://www.g2.com/sellers/intervision) [ 4.9/5(15) ](https://www.g2.com/products/intervision-cloud-disaster-recovery/reviews) What do users say? Users consistently praise the excellent support provided by the Bluelock team, highlighting their responsiveness and expertise in addressing complex issues. Many appreciate the flexibility of the solu - ‹ Prev‹ Prev - 1 - [2](/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas?order=g2_score&page=2#product-list) - [3](/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas?order=g2_score&page=3#product-list) - [4](/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas?order=g2_score&page=4#product-list) - [5](/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas?order=g2_score&page=5#product-list) - [6](/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas?order=g2_score&page=6#product-list) - [7](/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas?order=g2_score&page=7#product-list) - [Next ›Next ›](/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas?order=g2_score&page=2#product-list) Spotlight Categories [Threat Intelligence Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/threat-intelligence) [SaaS Backup Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/saas-backup) [Fleet Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/fleet-management) [Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/applicant-tracking-systems-ats) [Restaurant POS Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/restaurant-pos) Similar Categories - [Backup](/categories/backup) - [Disaster Recovery](/categories/disaster-recovery) - [Email Archiving](/categories/email-archiving) [Browse Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Themes](/categories/disaster-recovery-as-a-service-draas/themes) ![Tian Lin](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Tian Lin") TL Researched and written by [Tian Lin](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/tian-lin) Updated October 3, 2024 Disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) solutions provide businesses with failover insurance to cloud computing environments. Business owners and IT management teams will sign on with a third-party DRaaS provider to reduce the burdens of continuously backing up business data. The business sets standards for data storage, and outlines plans for information recovery after data loss. These products provide a level of security in case of a large-scale data breach or mechanical failure. Instead of using their own infrastructure to prevent data loss, third-party vendors keep all information stored off-site, isolating the environment from the business’s main network. In the case of a disaster, DRaaS providers will enact their set plan, reducing or eliminating downtime for business applications, customer-facing products, and internal networks. DRaaS offerings can provide similar solutions as [backup](https://www.g2.com/categories/backup) software, but offer more functionality as information is stored completely separately from normal company data. Backup software is better suited for minor incidents and small amounts of data being lost, but DRaaS solutions fail over into the cloud, keeping applications running normally. To qualify for inclusion in the DRaaS category, a product must: - Provide failover capabilities for cloud computing environments - Provide third-party configuration and management - Store all information externally and off-site - Operate on a pay-per-use model Show More * * * ## How Do You Choose the Right Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions? ### What You Should Know About Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions ### What are Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions? Disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) solutions enable companies to back up their data along with IT infrastructure in a third-party cloud computing environment. In the event of power outages, cyberattacks, equipment failures, human errors, natural disasters, or any form of disruption, this will allow companies to regain access to the backup data and mirrored IT infrastructure. Since DRaaS solutions follow the as-a-service model, companies don't have to own all the disaster recovery (DR) resources or handle all the associated processes. Instead, they can rely on the provider. The third-party DRaaS provider reduces the burden of regularly backing up company data and is also helpful for organizations that lack the needed expertise to plan, configure, and test a DR plan. DRaaS is also sometimes known as business continuity as a service (BCaaS). DRaaS solutions are a form of failover insurance for cloud computing environments and are crucial for business continuity. In the context of disaster recovery, failover is an operational mode that (automatically) shifts to a standby server, network, or database if the primary system fails or is shut down for some reason. In the managed DRaaS model, third-party service providers are responsible for the failover process and transitioning the users from the primary environment to their hosted services. Like [infrastructure as a service (IaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas) and [cloud platform as a service (PaaS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/cloud-platform-as-a-service-paas), DRaaS solutions were made possible through the widespread adoption of cloud computing. These tools make the disaster recovery process more manageable by bringing all aspects into a SaaS product. DRaaS tools reduce or eliminate downtime for customer-facing applications and internal networks and are critical for business continuity. They replace traditional backup software and hardware using the cloud and offer data protection and replication, better security, and faster recovery. #### What Types of Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions Exist? There are typically three types of DRaaS—self-service, assisted, and managed. Buyers should note that not all implementations of these solutions can meet all the requirements of an organization. Therefore, it’s essential to evaluate which variation of the software meets their needs fully. **Self-service DRaaS** As the name suggests, the self-service DRaaS model offers businesses tools and essential resources to perform its own disaster recovery planning and backups. Although this model provides greater flexibility, businesses are fully responsible for every aspect of DR strategy, testing, management, and executing the recovery process. Although self-service DRaaS models are less expensive, the time and resources required to manage them may not make them the most cost effective solution. More precisely, self-service DRaaS is ideal for organizations with internal IT teams that have the required DR expertise. **Assisted DRaaS** In the assisted DRaaS model, the disaster recovery service provider acts as an adviser to the organization. The service provider typically handles the infrastructure and replication and offers advice on implementing, testing, and managing DR solutions. When disruption occurs, the provider may also offer additional support for failover and failback operations. Generally speaking, assisted DRaaS doesn't provide a recovery service level agreement (SLA). That's because the organization is mainly responsible for executing the recovery procedures. In the case of disaster recovery operations, SLAs are made up of recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs). RTO refers to the time frame within which a business process must be restored after a disaster to prevent unacceptable consequences. RPO refers to the amount of data that can be lost during a disaster without affecting a business process. Companies can also utilize assisted DRaaS to identify weaknesses in their disaster recovery capabilities and avail the provider's specific services. When compared to the self-service model, this model is typically more expensive. **Managed DRaaS** In this model, the service provider is responsible for all aspects of the DRaaS strategy, including planning, testing, managing, and implementing. A managed DRaaS provider enables organizations and their IT teams to offload all DR concerns, as a third-party service provider is fully responsible for recovery. When disaster strikes, the managed DRaaS provider will carry out the recovery process. These services offer a recovery SLA unique to a company's requirements. Managed DRaaS providers can also provide a platform-agnostic solution that provides failover for virtual or physical hardware, both within on-premises data centers and across multiple cloud service providers. In short, managed DRaaS reduces the effort the IT team has to put in during disaster recovery to almost zero. As expected, managed DR solutions are typically the most expensive when compared to self-service or assisted DRaaS models. However, managed models are especially useful for small businesses that may lack the infrastructure and in-house expertise to plan and execute IT disaster recovery plans. ### What are the Common Features of Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions? The following are some of the common features of cloud disaster recovery as a service tools. **Orchestration:** Automates the recovery process to ensure that the crucial applications, servers, and their dependencies get back online without much IT intervention. **One-click failover:** Helps configure the sequence and timing in which mission-critical systems are restored. **Automated discovery:** Reduces the number of manual steps required in DR and, therefore, the likelihood of human errors. **Recovery point options:** Helps to failback to a specific point in time or recover the most recent replicated data. **Bandwidth optimization:** Enhances performance and bandwidth by sending only small amounts of data on an ongoing basis. **DNS redirect:** Automates the updating of DNS and redirecting of requests to the new system. ### What are the Benefits of Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions? Disaster recovery can help minimize data loss and downtime in the event of a disruption. When compared to traditional disaster recovery approaches, DRaaS offers enhanced reliability and resiliency. The following are some of the notable benefits of DRaaS solutions. **Improved administration:** DRaaS software reduces the administrative burden otherwise placed on the IT team and empowers team members to focus on other tasks that offer greater business value. **Minimizes downtime:** These solutions come with high availability, which means that businesses can rapidly recover. Immediate recovery means lower downtime, which also means that the organization wouldn't be drastically affected in terms of productivity. More precisely, DRaaS offers a faster and automated recovery process when compared to traditional DR methods. **Scalability:** Scaling up the data storage or computational infrastructure might be an inconvenient process for on-premises disaster recovery systems, but not for DRaaS solutions. When using a disaster recovery system, organizations can continually review their needs and scale upwards or outwards when necessary. The scalability of DRaaS tools makes it notably cost effective. The ability to scale up or down based on requirements ensures organizations don't have to make significant investments in these solutions. Additionally, opting for a managed DRaaS solution means that the service provider is responsible for hardware protection. This means that companies don't have to pay for hardware maintenance, and if a natural disaster makes the office unusable, they'll be able to continue business from another location. **Access to resources:** When a disaster strikes, a managed DRaaS provider can help provide resources such as temporary employees, facilities, and communications assistance to get a business back on track and running smoothly. **Ransomware recovery:** DRaaS can minimize the effects of ransomware attacks, which are becoming more common. Businesses can restore stolen or corrupted data with ease as the data is stored in a remote location. This will ensure the business operations aren't affected drastically. ### Who Uses Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions? **IT administrators:** IT administrators, or more specifically, internal IT management teams, are the most common users of DRaaS tools. These tools help administrators to perform disaster recovery operations and maintain business continuity. ### What are the Alternatives to Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions? Alternatives to disaster recovery as a service solution can replace this type of software either partially or wholly include: [Disaster recovery software](https://www.g2.com/categories/disaster-recovery) **:** These tools empower organizations to quickly and effectively recover data, software, and settings in the event of infrastructure, computer, or server failure. Unlike DRaaS, where a third party is responsible for most aspects of disaster recovery, DR software lets businesses perform their recovery. #### Software Related to Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions Related solutions that can be used together with Disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) solutions include: [Online backup software](https://www.g2.com/categories/online-backup) **:** It is a backup technology that secures information created or stored on the web. It's used for various file types and information and helps organizations ensure business continuity in case of hardware failure or if files are deleted accidentally. [Server backup software](https://www.g2.com/categories/server-backup) **:** It's used to ensure that the information processed or stored in server hardware remains intact in the event of user error or mechanical failure. These tools store the data processed by the server in a remote location, cloud, or on some on-premises hardware. [SaaS backup software](https://www.g2.com/categories/saas-backup) **:** These tools help businesses back up data generated within SaaS solutions like [CRM software](https://www.g2.com/categories/crm), [email software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email), and [business instant messaging software](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-instant-messaging). [Business continuity management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-continuity-management) **:** This software helps organizations identify potential disruptions in their operations and address them. ### Challenges with Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions DRaaS software can offer better performance than other disaster recovery methods and minimize the effects of disruption. However, they come with their own set of challenges and limitations. The following are some of them. **DRaaS vendor's cloud bandwidth:** Most DRaaS service providers are typically capable of handling the occasional DR events of a considerable number of customers. But most providers aren't fitted to perform DR operations of all of their customers simultaneously. This is mainly because they lack the needed cloud bandwidth. Therefore customers should research more about the capabilities of the vendor and see whether they can handle such instances. **Local internet bandwidth:** In most cases, organizations don't have a direct connection with DRaaS providers. Instead, they connect to an internet service provider (ISP), who then routes traffic to the provider. If the local internet bandwidth is limited, then the DR operation's speed will be significantly affected. Therefore, along with assessing the cloud bandwidth of DRaaS providers, companies should check with the ISPs regarding internet bandwidth. ### Which Companies Should Buy Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions? No company is immune to a disaster. Regardless of the company size, losing customer data or other critical information can disrupt business operations.  Therefore, businesses of all sizes should opt for a DRaaS solution to minimize the effects of disruption and maintain business continuity. This is specifically valid for small and medium-sized companies that may not have the needed in-house IT infrastructure and staffing. ### How to Buy Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions Before getting into comparing solutions, buyers should perform an internal assessment that would reflect what disaster recovery means to an organization. For instance, disaster recovery may mean minimizing data loss or minimizing downtime. Additionally, it's crucial to understand the types of disasters the business requires the DRaaS solution to protect against. When searching for DRaaS tools, organizations should also consider parameters such as recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO). This will allow businesses to estimate their tolerance with downtime and data loss and find the most suitable software solution to minimize revenue loss. As mentioned earlier, there are mainly three types of DRaaS models. The type of service model companies choose will have a profound impact on the solution's cost. Although the self-service DRaaS model requires the lowest investment, it may not necessarily be the most cost effective solution. For managed DRaaS, the service provider takes care of almost every aspect of disaster recovery, hence freeing the IT team to concentrate on other crucial tasks. Understanding the services commonly offered by DRaaS providers can also help the buyer set clear expectations. Some of the services provided are simple and selective data recovery from the service provider's data center, virtual machine mounting for temporary application availability, domain name system (DNS) updating, and virtual private network(VPN) rerouting. Along with such services, DRaaS providers may also assist with disaster recovery planning and testing and bring in the needed staff for recovery. #### Compare Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions Products **Create a long list** Once the requirements are gathered, buyers should start creating a long list of software products. More than trying to find the right option, buyers should try to get a basic understanding of the kind of DRaaS solutions available. This long list can include any software product that meets the organization's basic requirements. **Create a short list** After creating a long list of DRaaS products, buyers should make a shorter, refined list. This list can include software products that specifically meet the company's requirements or have must-have features. Excluding products that don't have the nice-to-have features also makes sense. Buyers can look at factors like DR testing frequency, data availability, and replication times. Buyers can also check whether the virtual machines (VM) would run in the DR site as ably as they do when running in the primary data center. To narrow down the list even further, buyers can inquire about the number of customers the DRaaS provider can support simultaneously. Similarly, having a fair idea of the number of customers the service provider caters to will help buyers comprehend the level of support they will receive if a disaster hits all customers. Digging deeper to understand the kind of prioritization the service provider abides by, such as first-come first-serve, or what happens when a customer can't be serviced, will help refine the list even further. Buyers can also look at other factors such as pricing, usability, vendor support, and DR features. **Conduct demos** Demos are helpful to effectively and fairly compare the products in the short list. This also means that buyers should demo each DRaaS software with the same use cases. Examining the usability of the software product, checking whether the features work as expected, and asking questions regarding the features the company requires the most are some other things to do during the product demo. #### Selection of Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions **Choose a selection team** A selection team can significantly affect the success of software selection, purchase, and implementation. Such a team typically includes relevant stakeholders, including company leaders and IT administrators. They should be able to use the software product and determine whether it will meet the company's specific requirements. **Negotiation** Once the buyer has discovered a product that fits their needs most appropriately, they should discuss the terms and conditions and negotiate the pricing with the vendor. Even if something is written on the vendor's pricing page, prices aren't fixed in most cases. Vendors may offer free licenses or discounts and may remove certain optional features and lower the price. **Final decision** To make the final software purchase decision, buyers should try to implement the software on a small scale. Doing so will give the buyer the confidence that their choice of the software product is correct. If the DRaaS solution doesn't work to meet the expectations, the software options must be re-evaluated. A DRaaS provider may not cover all disasters or offer all possible services. To set clear expectations, buyers should thoroughly inspect the service provider's offerings and have a precise understanding of what to expect. Making the mistake of wrongly assuming and finding out that a service provider doesn't offer a specific service during a disaster might be highly unfavorable. ### What Does Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions Cost? The cost of DRaaS software solutions depends on several factors. This includes the type, assured RTO and RPO, and the kind of services the provider offers. As a rule of thumb, the closer RTO and RPO get to zero, the higher the costs will be. #### Return on Investment (ROI) ROI for DRaaS solutions can be typically determined by the cost of implementing relative to the cost of managing an in-house DR team and infrastructure. As expected, opting for a DRaaS solution is generally cost effective. In most cases, service providers may also offer discounts and additional services. When calculating the ROI, companies should also consider the time and effort saved by availing the services of DRaaS providers. These tools have unparalleled recovery times, unlike traditional backup systems, which means business productivity isn't disrupted drastically. DRaaS solutions also help companies save the cost of data they would lose if it isn’t backed up.