Best Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions
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 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:
Featured Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Solutions At A Glance
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Over the past decade, data risks have diversified, shifting data protection’s role from a passive last line of defense to an active data partner in responding to and recovering from diverse data risks
Druva Data Security Cloud is a cloud-native, SaaS-based platform designed for enterprise data protection across various environments, including endpoints, cloud apps, servers, and VMs. Reviewers like the platform's ease of use, quick setup, centralized management, and strong security features, including end-to-end encryption, ransomware protection, and compliance capabilities, as well as its responsive and helpful customer support. Users experienced some limitations with the product, such as slow initial backups and restores for large datasets, less flexible advanced role-based controls and reporting options, and performance dependency on network speed.
19,155 Twitter followers
Datto SIRIS is an all-in-one BCDR solution built for MSPs to efficiently prevent data loss and minimize downtime. Utilizing a cloud-first approach, MSPs can offer their clients local backup and re
Datto BCDR is a backup and disaster recovery solution that provides data protection and quick recovery processes. Reviewers like the product's dependability, straightforward setup, robust security features, and its ability to restore individual files quickly, which is crucial for protecting against data loss and accidental deletions. Users experienced issues with the interface being complicated, slower backup speeds when dealing with large amounts of data, high cost, and difficulties in pulling up detailed reports.
17,436 Twitter followers
Protect your data, minimize downtime and reduce costs with optimized disaster recovery (DR) that’s easily accessible on demand and delivered as a SaaS solution. VMware Live Recovery's ransomware rec
62,787 Twitter followers
Google Cloud's Backup and Disaster Recovery (DR) Service is a secure, centrally managed solution designed to protect Google Cloud workloads from malicious or accidental data loss. It offers comprehens
31,775,247 Twitter followers
Cove Data Protection, from N-able, is a cloud-first backup and disaster recovery service for servers, workstations, and Microsoft 365™, all managed from a multitenant web-based dashboard. Cove was
Cove Data Protection is a tool that helps to backup and recover servers, workstations, and Microsoft 365, and provides a centralized dashboard for management. Users frequently mention the ease of use, quick implementation, strong customer support, smooth integration with RMM tools, and the efficient data backup and restoration process. Reviewers experienced issues with limited advanced reporting, expensive pricing, slow large data recoveries, and a lack of notification settings, along with slow restoration dependent on a good internet connection.
15,897 Twitter followers
Recovery plans are simple to create through the Azure management portal, where they are stored. The plans can be as simple or as advanced as your business requirements demand, including the execution
13,090,136 Twitter followers
Cloud application downtime causes organizations significant costs, risks, and reputation. Applications experience downtime due to ransomware attacks, cloud misconfigurations, zone-level cloud service
64,834 Twitter followers
Axcient x360Recover is the most reliable, flexible and cost-effective business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) solution for MSPs and the SMBs they serve. With x360Recover you can comprehensiv
14,943 Twitter followers
# 1 SaaS Data Protection Platform 12x more protection across on-prem, cloud services, and SaaS. HYCU is a data protection solution for cloud, SaaS, virtual, file shares, and physical workloads.
HYCU is a backup solution used for controlled backups of mission critical platforms and Nutanix clusters, and for backing up entire SaaS portfolios. Reviewers like the ease of setup, the ability to perform granular restores, the seamless integration with Nutanix and AWS, and the responsive customer support. Users experienced limitations in scheduling jobs, lack of certain features compared to competitors, unclear error messages in logs, and increasing costs depending on the amount of data or advanced features needed.
5,130 Twitter followers
Acronis Cyber Protect delivers robust protection against cyberthreats, unparalleled backup and recovery capabilities and simplified management and visibility through a single pane of glass, for the en
94,907 Twitter followers
LINK Datacenter owns and operates one of the largest data centers in Egypt.
253 Twitter followers
Zerto, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, empowers customers to run an always-on business by simplifying the protection, recovery, and mobility of on-premises and cloud applications. Zerto’s cloud
8,935 Twitter followers
InterVision has been recognized as a top provider of Disaster Recover-as-a-Service (DRaaS) by Gartner, Forrester and IDC analyst firms. Its exclusive program, InterVision Recovery Assurance™ gives cli
Backup and restore critical assets from an integrated cloud-based service
13,088,482 Twitter followers
Unitrends Data Center Backup and Recovery offers a Unified BCDR solution enabling our users to address the challenges of today with a complete, agile solution designed to backup, secure and recover al
17,436 Twitter followers
Learn More 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) and 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: 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: 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: 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: These tools help businesses back up data generated within SaaS solutions like CRM software, email software, and business instant messaging software.
Business continuity management software: 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.
