{"id":62884,"date":"2026-07-31T18:55:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T14:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/?p=62884"},"modified":"2026-07-31T18:56:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T14:56:50","slug":"the-best-cloud-backup-solutions-for-small-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/blog\/the-best-cloud-backup-solutions-for-small-business\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Cloud Backup Solutions for Small Business in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most backup solutions protect files on desktops and laptops; others can rebuild an entire machine, cover servers and business applications, or let you choose where backups are stored. We compared the best cloud backup solutions for small business on how easily they can be set up, what they can recover, how much ongoing management they require and what happens to the cost as devices and data are added.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Cloud backup software should be one of the quieter parts of running a small business. Once it is configured, it should protect important data without demanding constant attention, and provide a clear way back when a file disappears, a computer fails or ransomware reaches the network.<\/p>\n

Criteria for the Best Cloud Backup Solutions for Small Business<\/h2>\n

We wanted the list to work for more than one kind of small business. A five-laptop office has little in common with a company running servers, VMs, SaaS applications and several locations, so we judged the products accordingly. We looked at setup and day-to-day management, what each one can actually restore, storage choices, workload support, security, help when something goes wrong and the final price.<\/p>\n

Starting with vendor documentation, product pages and current pricing, we then checked reviews on G2<\/a>, Capterra and TrustRadius to see how setup goes, what recovery is like in practice and whether the same problems keep coming up. Reviews were used to identify recurring patterns, not to treat a single complaint as a universal verdict.<\/p>\n

This roundup reflects publicly available information at the time of writing. Features, packaging and prices change, so confirm the final details with the vendor before buying.This review is based on our technical analysis and aggregation of third-party user reviews to help you make an informed decision.<\/p>\n

Deployment and Management<\/h3>\n

Most services install an agent on every protected machine, although configuration may happen locally or through a web console. If you are backing up five computers rather than five hundred, fleet-management features will not be the deciding factor. What matters is getting each device protected quickly and being able to spot a failed job.<\/p>\n

Backup and Recovery<\/h3>\n

File-level backup is used to recover individual documents and folders. Image-based backup goes further, capturing the complete system so it can be rebuilt on new hardware or restored as a VM<\/a>. Item-level restore bridges the two \u2013 it lets you pull one file from an image without recovering the entire machine. The available restore options deserve as much attention as the backup types.<\/p>\n

Storage Model<\/h3>\n

Storage may be included with the service or left for you to arrange. With BYOC, backups go to an account you hold with Amazon S3, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, Azure or another supported provider. That takes a little more setup but gives you control over pricing and retention; bundled storage is easier because it comes as part of the subscription.<\/p>\n

Workload Coverage<\/h3>\n

Check the systems you actually use \u2013 Windows, macOS or Linux computers, servers, NAS devices, databases, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Broad coverage matters only when it includes the workloads your business depends on.<\/p>\n

Security and Ransomware Resilience<\/h3>\n

Encryption keeps backup data private, but ransomware protection also depends on who can access or delete it. Multifactor authentication and limited administrative permissions reduce the risk of account takeover, while immutable storage preserves a copy that cannot be changed or removed before its retention period expires.<\/p>\n

Pricing Model<\/h3>\n

Plans may charge by device, user or storage capacity. Compare them against the number of machines you have and how quickly your data is growing \u2013 including renewal prices, additional devices and potential overage charges.<\/p>\n

Support<\/h3>\n

Reliable support matters when a backup fails or a recovery does not go as planned. Compare availability and response times as well as what is included in the subscription \u2013 businesses that need faster assistance may benefit from a premium support plan.<\/p>\n

Overview of The Best Cloud Backup Solutions For Small Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Solution<\/th>\nBest For<\/th>\nDeployment<\/th>\nBackup & Recovery<\/th>\nStorage Model<\/th>\nSecurity<\/th>\nPricing<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
MSP360 Backup Pro<\/strong><\/td>\nSmall businesses wanting control and BYOC flexibility<\/td>\nLocal application, no web console, wizard-based setup<\/td>\nFile backup; Windows image, bare-metal and item-level recovery; versioning and Restore Verification<\/td>\nYour choice of cloud under BYOC \u2013 S3, Wasabi, B2, Azure and Google Cloud<\/td>\nAES-128\/192\/256 with a customer-set password; Object Lock on supported storage<\/td>\nPer-computer annual subscription plus storage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IDrive 360<\/strong><\/td>\nBusinesses wanting a managed console with storage included<\/td>\nWeb console with a thin client or full desktop application<\/td>\nFile backup; file-based Windows Entire Machine Backup with WinRE recovery; daily immutable snapshots<\/td>\nBundled IDrive cloud; unlimited under fair-use terms<\/td>\nAES-256, optional private key and 2FA<\/td>\nMonthly or annual device tiers; additional devices billed separately<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Backblaze Business Backup<\/strong><\/td>\nSimplest possible unlimited backup for desktops and laptops<\/td>\nNative local client with continuous background backup<\/td>\nFile-level only; no image or bare-metal recovery<\/td>\nBundled, unlimited per computer<\/td>\nAES-128, optional Personal Encryption Key, 2FA and SSO<\/td>\nFlat per-computer subscription<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Druva Essentials Pack<\/strong><\/td>\nGrowing SMBs with mixed SaaS, on-premises and cloud workloads<\/td>\nFully managed SaaS console<\/td>\nBackup and recovery for SaaS apps, VMs, file servers, NAS, databases and cloud workloads<\/td>\nBundled Druva cloud storage<\/td>\nAES-256, access controls and Data Lock immutability when enabled<\/td>\nQuote-based package<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CrashPlan<\/strong><\/td>\nSmall businesses wanting unlimited file backup<\/td>\nLocal agent with centralized web management<\/td>\nFile backup every 15 minutes; policy-based version history; no image recovery<\/td>\nBundled; unlimited endpoint storage under fair use<\/td>\nAES-256, TLS, per-user encryption and optional 2FA<\/td>\nPer-user monthly, annual or two-year subscription<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Veeam Data Platform Essentials<\/strong><\/td>\nBusinesses protecting mixed physical, virtual and cloud workloads<\/td>\nSelf-managed platform with a centralized console<\/td>\nFile, image, bare-metal and Instant Recovery<\/td>\nCustomer-managed repository; Veeam Vault optional<\/td>\nOptional AES-256; immutability on supported repositories; MFA<\/td>\nPer workload; five-license minimum; one- to five-year term<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Cloud Backup Solutions for Small Business in Detail<\/h2>\n

MSP360 Backup Pro<\/h3>\n

MSP360 Backup Pro<\/a> makes the most sense for small businesses that prefer to manage backup directly on each protected machine. There is no separate dashboard to learn. You install the agent on each machine and create its backup plan with a guided wizard. Windows users can protect selected files or create an image-based backup that can be used for bare-metal recovery; on macOS and Linux, backup is file-level. Separate editions cover Windows Server, SQL Server, Hyper-V and VMware. The software handles full and incremental jobs, keeps older file versions and lets you recover one file or folder from an image. Restore Verification can also restore that image as a VM and check whether the system starts.<\/p>\n

With Backup Pro, you supply the storage account \u2013 Amazon S3, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, Azure and Google Cloud are among the supported options. Connecting a separate storage account gives the business control over its provider, region and storage costs. When creating a backup plan, you choose AES-128, AES-192 or AES-256 encryption and set the password yourself.<\/p>\n

On supported storage, Object Lock prevents protected copies from being changed or deleted during their retention period. Licensing is an annual subscription per computer, with separate editions for different workloads and storage billed separately. Standard support comes by email, while Premium Support provides faster response times. If managing each machine locally eventually stops making sense, MSP360 Managed Backup<\/a> is the next step, bringing the endpoints into one web console and supporting environments with thousands of devices.<\/p>\n

Best for<\/strong>: Small businesses that need full-system recovery and tested backups but want to keep control over where their data is stored.<\/p>\n

IDrive 360<\/h3>\n

IDrive 360 puts every protected computer in one browser-based console. You can install a thin agent and handle configuration remotely, or use the full desktop client; Group Policy, Intune and Jamf are available when more machines need to be deployed at once.<\/p>\n

Standard backup is file-level. On Windows, Entire Machine Backup also captures the operating system, programs, settings and boot files, although IDrive builds it at file level rather than as a conventional disk image, so a failed computer can be rebuilt from a WinRE recovery drive, or you can just pull back the files you actually need. Snapshots are immutable and taken daily, with 30 days of them kept alongside up to 30 older versions of each file. Coverage extends to SQL Server, on-premises Exchange and SharePoint, Hyper-V and VMware, with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace sold as add-ons.<\/p>\n

Cloud storage is included in the subscription and described as unlimited under a fair-use policy. IDrive defines typical usage as less than 10TB; mapped drives, NAS devices and Time Machine backups are not included in that unlimited allowance. Plans are billed monthly or annually by device count, with anything above that count billed separately, and encryption runs on AES-256 with the option of a private key IDrive never stores itself. Two-factor authentication and SSO cover account access, and support runs by phone, email, or live chat, the last of which is staffed around the clock.<\/p>\n

Best for<\/strong>: Small businesses that want to manage several computers from one console, with storage and whole-machine recovery included.<\/p>\n

Backblaze Business Backup<\/h3>\n

Backblaze Business Backup is the closest thing in this roundup to set-and-forget workstation backup. Install the native Windows or Mac client, and it selects user data automatically before continuing to back up changes in the background. Administrators still have a web console for managing users and computers, and larger deployments can be handled through MSI, Jamf or Munki. There\u2019s no image-based or bare-metal restore, so it protects documents, photos and project files well but won\u2019t rebuild a failed machine from scratch. Restores are delivered through its dedicated app, a web download or an encrypted USB drive shipped by mail. Business Backup includes one year of version history, while Forever Version History is available for an additional storage charge.<\/p>\n

Storage is unlimited for each licensed computer, with flat per-computer billing available monthly, annually or every two years. The client covers internal storage and attached external drives, but only on Windows and macOS; Linux and NAS backup require the separate Backblaze B2 service and compatible software. Files are encrypted using AES-128, with the option of adding a Personal Encryption Key that Backblaze cannot access. Two-factor authentication and Google or Microsoft SSO protect account access. Email support is included, and paid support plans offer shorter response targets.<\/p>\n

Best for<\/strong>: Small businesses protecting Windows and Mac computers that value automatic, unlimited file backup over image-based recovery.<\/p>\n

Druva Essentials Pack<\/h3>\n

Druva Essentials Pack starts where simpler endpoint tools tend to stop, bringing SaaS data, on-premises systems and public-cloud workloads into one place. Druva runs it as a fully managed SaaS platform and provides the storage, leaving the customer with no backup servers or appliances to look after. The starting pack allows for 50 SaaS users and 10 enterprise workloads. In practice, that could mean Microsoft 365 and Salesforce accounts alongside several VMs, a NAS and an SQL database. Google Workspace, Dynamics 365 and selected services in AWS and Azure are on the list as well.<\/p>\n

The package has a fairly clear boundary: it is intended for companies with 250 employees or fewer. If one pack becomes cramped, a customer can add another \u2013 Druva allows up to five \u2013 or buy additional user and storage capacity. Moving into a larger Druva offering does not require a fresh deployment. Backups are protected with AES-256 encryption and can be made immutable through Data Lock.<\/p>\n

Cyber Essentials goes further, adding Microsoft Entra ID backup, accelerated ransomware recovery and a Druva team that monitors for threats around the clock. Standard support is included and available 24\/7 by phone or through Druva\u2019s support portal, while Premium Support adds faster response targets and a named support engineer. The price is the one part you cannot check on the site; Druva supplies it by quote.<\/p>\n

Best for<\/strong>: A growing SMB with data spread across SaaS, local infrastructure and the cloud, but no desire to run its own backup infrastructure.<\/p>\n

CrashPlan<\/h3>\n

CrashPlan is all about file-level recovery rather than whole-system restore. A lightweight agent runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, backing up new and changed files every 15 minutes while user and policy management happens through a central console. Storage is unlimited for standard endpoint files under a fair-use policy, and version retention can be set without a fixed time limit. Files can be restored by the user or pushed back to a computer by an administrator, while deleted files remain recoverable for up to 90 days. There is no image-based or bare-metal recovery, so CrashPlan can recover the data after a computer fails but cannot rebuild its operating system and applications.<\/p>\n

The endpoint plan is licensed per user, with one computer covered by each licence, billed monthly, annually or over two years. Data is encrypted with AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.2 in transit; each user has a separate encryption key, and two-factor authentication is available for account access. Microsoft 365 protection is sold separately, covering Exchange Online, SharePoint and OneDrive with 50GB of pooled storage per user. Additional capacity is billed separately. Businesses with fewer than ten licences receive support during business hours, while accounts with ten or more gain 24\/7 coverage for urgent incidents.<\/p>\n

Best for<\/strong>: Small businesses that want frequent file backup without budgeting storage by the gigabyte and do not need full-system recovery.<\/p>\n

Veeam Data Platform Essentials<\/h3>\n

Veeam Data Platform Essentials is the point where this roundup moves from desktop backup into infrastructure software. It combines backup and recovery with centralized monitoring and reporting, giving a business one place to protect physical machines, VMs, NAS devices and cloud workloads. Coverage extends across Windows, Linux and Mac computers, as well as VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox, Nutanix, AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. Restore options range from individual files to complete machines and VMs. Windows volume backups support bare-metal recovery, while Instant Recovery can bring supported VMs online without waiting for a full restore.<\/p>\n

That control comes with more work attached. Essentials is software rather than a hosted service, so the business must run the backup environment and provide the storage itself, whether that is a local repository, NAS, compatible object storage or Veeam Vault purchased separately. Backup jobs can use AES-256 encryption, while immutability depends on placing them in a hardened repository or compatible object storage. Licences are sold in packs of five for up to 50 workloads, with one- to five-year terms paid upfront. At the current list price, the smallest pack costs $446 per year before storage, although 24\/7 production support is included. Microsoft 365 backup requires a separate Veeam product, while Google Workspace is not currently supported.<\/p>\n

Best for<\/strong>: Small businesses with servers, VMs or mixed infrastructure that want deeper recovery options and are comfortable running their own backup environment.<\/p>\n

Cloud Backup Solutions FAQ<\/h2>\n

Do I still need a backup if my files are already in OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox?<\/h3>\n

Yes. These services synchronize files between devices and provide some version history and deleted-file recovery, but that is not the same as keeping an independent backup. A separate service can apply its own retention policy and protect cloud data that may not exist on any local computer, including mailboxes, shared drives and collaboration sites. Our guide to backing up OneDrive<\/a> covers exactly where native sync and version history fall short.<\/p>\n

What does \"unlimited backup\" actually include?<\/h3>\n

While called unlimited, most companies provide such backup under \"fair use\" policy. In practice, unlimited applies to eligible data from one licensed computer or user, not to every device on your network or every type of storage. NAS devices, mapped drives, server data and unusually large datasets are often excluded or capped separately, so read what counts as \"eligible\" before you count on the word itself. MSP360's pricing calculator<\/a> models the real cost against your actual device count and data volume rather than the number on a plan page.<\/p>\n

Can I restore a backup onto a new or different computer?<\/h3>\n

File-level backups can normally be restored to another supported computer. Rebuilding the complete system is another matter: the product needs image-based or entire-machine backup, along with bare-metal recovery that supports the replacement hardware. Otherwise, you will get the files back but still have to reinstall the operating system and applications yourself. Our comparison of file-level vs. image-level backup<\/a> breaks down which one you need for this.<\/p>\n

What is the difference between BYOC and Bundled backup storage?<\/h3>\n

With BYOC, you connect the backup software to your own cloud storage account and pay that provider directly \u2013 more control over location, retention and cost, at the price of extra configuration. Bundled storage is supplied with the backup service, giving you one account and one bill at the cost of having less control over where the data sits and how storage is priced. Our breakdown of the hidden costs of proprietary backup storage<\/a> goes into how that trade-off plays out over time.<\/p>\n

Does cloud backup cover external drives, NAS devices and mapped drives?<\/h3>\n

Yes to all three, but only if you add them. None of them get backed up automatically just because the software is installed, each one has to be pointed to directly as a backup source. A NAS or mapped drive gets added as a network share, with its own path and login. A USB or external drive works the same way, as long as it's plugged in when the backup runs; unplug it and that backup gets skipped until it's reconnected.<\/p>\n

Does a per-user licence cover more than one computer?<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, but \"per user\" should not be read as \"unlimited devices.\" A plan may cover one computer, several devices belonging to the same person or a fixed number shared across the account. Check how the provider treats additional computers, shared workstations, servers and replacement devices before comparing it with a per-computer plan. MSP360's own licensing terms<\/a> are based on the number of unique installed instances, which is a useful concrete example of how this is usually counted.<\/p>\n

Final Thought on the Best Cloud Backup Solutions for Small Business<\/h2>\n

Choose MSP360 Backup Pro<\/a> for image-based recovery, Restore Verification and freedom from storage lock-in. Choose IDrive 360 if you want storage included and several computers managed from one web console.<\/p>\n

Backblaze Business Backup is best for low-maintenance Windows and Mac file backup. CrashPlan adds centrally managed policies, frequent backups and extensive version retention. Veeam Data Platform Essentials fits businesses running servers, VMs and mixed infrastructure. Druva Essentials Pack is for growing SMBs that want SaaS, data center and public-cloud workloads protected through one managed service.<\/p>\n

That is ultimately how to choose between the best cloud backup solutions for small business. Start with what would need to be recovered after a bad day, how quickly you would need it back and how much of the storage and backup infrastructure you are comfortable managing yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Most backup solutions protect files on desktops and laptops; others can rebuild an entire machine, cover servers and business applications, or let you choose where backups are stored. We compared the best cloud backup solutions for small business on how easily they can be set up, what they can recover, how much ongoing management they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":62891,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[180,894],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archive","category-msp360-backup"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62884"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62896,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62884\/revisions\/62896"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msp360.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}