Companies of every size have realized the importance of business resilience because of a wide variety of disruptions—from cyber-attacks and natural disasters to geopolitical upheaval. They have also evolved their use of the cloud to accommodate remote work using cloud-based applications and other cloud-based services. These companies must also protect systems, applications and data in the cloud, including Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) apps like Microsoft 365.
And because MSPs are often part of the mix of resiliency and security services, they will need cloud-based backup and recovery solutions that are equipped to meet these complex challenges.
Backup is critical for business continuity
Having a robust backup solution is critical for business continuity. Any disruption can potentially be very costly with data and applications spread around different on-premises locations and in the cloud. But the biggest selling point for backup right now is ransomware.
According to the Verizon Business 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report, ransomware breaches increased 13 percent in one year, greater than the past five years combined. By locking up data and apps, cybercriminals can cripple a business. Even if the company can foil the criminals or pay the ransom, there is no guarantee of a smooth restoration. Traditional on-premises backup solutions are no longer sufficient, given their vulnerability and the growth of cloud-based data.
The best defense against cybersecurity breaches is a holistic approach that leverages all sorts of defensive technology to identify and mitigate potential attacks. But at the end of the day, if you have a complete backup of your data available for restoration, then even a successful ransomware attack won’t be fatal. Unfortunately, many firms often manage backup and recovery on autopilot, assuming that their once per day/week/month backup process is sufficient. Ransomware has raised the stakes and made backup a business-critical activity.
Wide-ranging benefits for MSPs and their customers
MSPs should focus on several key benefits of selling cloud-based backup solutions.
Cloud backup is more predictable. Every customer faces cyber threats, so MSPs need a backup infrastructure that can meet their needs regarding availability, scalability, accessibility, and affordability. The cloud checks all those boxes, much more so than individual instances of on-premises solutions.
The cloud is safer. Cloud solutions provide better data durability and can also offer immutable encrypted copies of backups with air-gapped access through secure interfaces.
Cloud-based backup is economical. Unlike on-premises solutions that require costly hardware and support, the cloud enables consumption-based pricing. That makes it easier to incorporate cloud services into existing offerings and pricing schemes.
Cloud solutions simplify backing up everything—on-premises data, SaaS application data, and anything currently stored in the cloud.
For the MSP, there are also a number of vital benefits:
- Because cloud solutions are more cost-effective and less labor/hardware intensive, they are more profitable.
- It’s easier to centrally monitor and manage backups across the client base using the cloud and to address recovery operations remotely.
- Cloud-based solutions with on-premises options offer the flexibility to meet varying customer requirements for backup and recovery. As a result, the MSP is better positioned to provide whatever services the client needs.
Protection against evolving threats
A simple-to-use, reliable cloud backup helps MSPs deliver better service to their customers, no matter the source of disruption. In the case of ransomware, cloud-based backup offers additional insurance against this rapidly expanding threat. That means clients can more quickly recover data and reduce disruption while avoiding the potential cost of paying a ransom or incurring additional expenses for undoing the damage.
As part of a well-rounded security offering, backup is a critical service that will help protect clients and provide additional value that will increase customer loyalty.
Want to learn more? Download the e-book, Conversational Cloud Backups for MSPs.
Nathan Bradbury is Senior Manager of Systems Engineering for Barracuda MSP, a provider of security and data protection solutions for managed services providers.
