Decoding The 25 Best Disaster Recovery Services Of 2024
10 Best Disaster Recovery Services Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 25 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Navigating the intricate world of disaster recovery services, I've understood the vital significance of business continuity. The essence lies in DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service), designed to ensure that your virtual machines and data center can quickly rebound when calamity strikes. These tools not only safeguard your data but also restore operational normalcy swiftly. The major pain points they address? Downtime, data loss, and the intricate process of restoring applications.
What Is A Disaster Recovery Service?
Disaster recovery services are specialized solutions designed to safeguard and restore vital data and system functionalities in the event of unexpected disruptions or catastrophic events. Typically utilized by businesses and organizations of all sizes, these services ensure continuity of operations by mitigating data loss and minimizing downtime. Whether it's a cyber-attack, natural calamity, or a simple system failure, these services enable companies to swiftly resume operations, protecting both their reputation and bottom line.
Best Disaster Recovery Services Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Preparis | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Zerto | From $40/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Carbonite Recover | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Quorum | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Commvault | From $42/user/year (billed annually) | Website |
| AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Azure Site Recovery | From $25/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| VMware Site Recovery | From $30/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareBest Disaster Recovery Services Reviews
Preparis is a business continuity software that helps organizations prepare for and manage emergencies. It provides tools for risk assessment, emergency planning, incident detection, and crisis communication, allowing businesses to effectively develop, execute, and test continuity plans.
Why I Picked Preparis: One of the key reasons Preparis stands out as a disaster recovery service is its focus on planning. It allows you to map out your entire IT disaster recovery process, from defining the key assets that need protection to outlining who’s responsible for each part of the plan. It also provides templates and guidance to help you build these plans quickly and efficiently, keeping everything organized and ready for immediate use.
Standout features & integrations:
Aside from its disaster recovery planning features, Preparis also offers training resources to ensure your team is ready to act during an emergency and tools to help you communicate during crises. Both of these features help support your overall preparedness, giving you confidence that your team can handle disruptions smoothly. Integrations include systems like ADP and Okta.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Effective document management for incident reports, plans, and audits
- Real-time notification system
- Scalable for organizations of all sizes
Cons:
- Limited integrations
- Could offer ticket management for IT incidents
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is a comprehensive data protection solution that goes beyond traditional backup, offering an integrated approach to cyber protection. By merging disaster recovery software with cybersecurity measures, it creates a robust defense against threats, especially in cloud environments, living up to its title of being 'best for integrated cyber protection'.
Why I Picked Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud: When selecting tools for this list, I evaluated many, but Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud stood out in its unique blend of backup and cyber protection. I made this determination after comparing its features with other tools and judging its comprehensive approach to integrated cyber protection. This platform's distinctiveness lies in the fact that it doesn't just safeguard data but also actively shields it against cyber threats, making it the best choice for integrated cyber protection.
Standout features & integrations:
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud's notable features include its end-to-end disaster recovery software, which ensures businesses can bounce back quickly from unforeseen disruptions. Its tailored solutions for cloud environments provide an added layer of protection. Furthermore, its integrations are vast, allowing businesses to tie their existing infrastructures into Acronis for a well-rounded data protection solution.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive disaster recovery software, ensuring business continuity
- Tailored solutions for cloud environments, enhancing protection in such setups
- Offers an integrated approach to cyber protection, combining backup and cybersecurity
Cons:
- Some businesses might find the platform's comprehensive features overwhelming
- Might have a learning curve for businesses new to integrated cyber protection
- The absence of transparent pricing may deter potential customers
Zerto steps up in the disaster recovery sphere with its unyielding commitment to continuous data replication. Catering to businesses that prioritize constant synchronization, its capability to maintain real-time data reflection affirms its stature as the superior choice for continuous replication.
Why I Picked Zerto: In the process of judging and comparing the tools, Zerto persistently emerged as a front-runner. What differentiates Zerto is its dedicated approach to ensuring that data is always mirrored and up-to-date. I chose Zerto for its outstanding commitment to minimizing RPO and RTO, positioning it as the premier solution for businesses aiming for zero downtime.
Standout features & integrations:
Zerto's ability to offer continuous data replication not just on virtual but also on physical servers sets it apart. Its robust defense against ransomware ensures data integrity. The platform's integration capabilities extend to a plethora of SaaS applications, ensuring diverse IT environments maintain data cohesiveness.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Wide-ranging SaaS integrations for varied IT landscapes
- Potent defense mechanisms against ransomware attacks
- Continuous data replication on both virtual and physical servers
Cons:
- Lack of transparent pricing can be a hurdle for potential adopters
- Requires a dedicated team for setup and maintenance
- Might be complex for businesses with minimal replication needs
Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery is engineered to safeguard and recover critical data from cyber threats. By focusing on data isolation it ensures that essential data remains unaltered and ready for recovery, making it especially apt for scenarios requiring robust data isolation recovery.
Why I Picked Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery: In the vast landscape of recovery tools, Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery stood out when I was determining the best for data isolation. Through a series of comparisons and judgments, I found that its emphasis on isolating data from potential threats uniquely positioned it. Given the increasing cyber threats businesses face today, its approach makes it best suited for data isolation recovery, ensuring minimal compromise to essential data.
Standout features & integrations:
One noteworthy feature of this tool is its capability to meet stringent recovery point objectives, ensuring data is available as per business needs. The self-service option simplifies the recovery process, making it more accessible even for small businesses. Regarding integrations, Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery integrates well with various virtual servers, enhancing its service offering and expanding its potential use cases.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong integration with various virtual servers enhances its service offering
- The self-service feature facilitates easier recovery
- Meets stringent recovery point objectives
Cons:
- Potential for additional costs depending on the service package selected
- Learning curve for businesses unfamiliar with Dell's ecosystem
- Might be over-engineered for very small businesses
When it comes to safeguarding critical systems and ensuring timely recovery, Carbonite Recover positions itself as a stalwart in the domain. With its keen focus on leveraging cloud storage for recuperating data, it unmistakably champions the cause of cloud-based recoveries for businesses worldwide.
Why I Picked Carbonite Recover: After carefully comparing various tools, I determined that Carbonite Recover held a distinct place among its peers. Its unambiguous commitment to cloud-first data backup makes it different and valuable. I chose Carbonite Recover because its proficiency in harnessing the cloud to expedite data recovery truly makes it the best tool for cloud-based recoveries.
Standout features & integrations:
Carbonite Recover is adept at offering rapid data backup, particularly for Windows-based systems. Moreover, it ensures the availability and quick restoration of critical systems from the cloud. Its integrations span a variety of platforms, ensuring that users can combine its capabilities with other IT solutions they deploy.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Expansive integrations for versatile IT setups
- Quick restoration of critical systems using cloud storage
- Efficient data backup for Windows environments
Cons:
- Pricing opacity can be a challenge for budget-conscious firms
- Some businesses might prefer on-premises recovery solutions
- Might be less suitable for non-Windows platforms
As disaster recovery becomes imperative, Quorum offers a robust solution, particularly catering to on-premises appliance recovery. For organizations requiring a hands-on, physical approach to their disaster recovery needs, Quorum's dedication to on-premises appliance recovery stands out as unparalleled.
Why I Picked Quorum: While navigating through a sea of service providers, Quorum caught my attention for its unique approach. In the realm of recovery solutions, on-premises appliances often take a backseat to cloud-first strategies, but Quorum has carved a niche for itself. Its prowess in on-premises appliance recovery made me choose it, particularly for businesses that still house critical workloads within their physical infrastructure.
Standout features & integrations:
Quorum brings to the table fast recovery times, ensuring minimal disruption during potential outages. Moreover, its integration capabilities are noteworthy, especially its compatibility with Veeam, a major player in backup solutions. This integration ensures businesses can reliably manage and transfer workloads when needed.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Specialization in on-premises recovery
- Strong integration with industry leaders like Veeam
- Quick recovery times minimizing operational hitches
Cons:
- Some users might prefer a more hybrid approach to recovery
- Pricing could be more transparent for potential users
- May not be suitable for businesses looking for a cloud-first approach
Commvault is recognized for its sweeping approach to data protection in the vast landscape of disaster recovery tools. Addressing multiple facets of IT infrastructure, its comprehensive outlook ensures that businesses have a shield against potential data breaches and losses.
Why I Picked Commvault: When determining the top-tier tools for this list, Commvault consistently rose to the top. Its commitment to providing thorough data protection in an era where data breaches are increasingly common sets it apart. I chose Commvault because, in my judgment, it offers an edge in terms of comprehensive coverage, making it best for businesses that demand robust data protection.
Standout features & integrations:
Commvault boasts features that enable quick data recovery and efficient automation processes, reducing manual intervention and increasing reliability. Beyond its core functionalities, Commvault's strength lies in its integration with prominent cloud services, ensuring businesses can shift between platforms without sacrificing security or functionality.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integration with major cloud services
- Strong automation capabilities reducing manual tasks
- A comprehensive approach to data protection
Cons:
- Pricing transparency could be improved for potential customers
- The broad range of features might have a steeper learning curve
- Could be overwhelming for businesses with simpler needs
AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery (EDR) provides businesses with the tools needed to quickly recover their applications from disruptions caused by various events, including natural disasters. With its deep integration and orientation around the AWS ecosystem, it stands out as a premier choice for those already entrenched in AWS native environments.
Why I Picked AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery: In my journey of selecting tools, AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery caught my attention due to its innate harmony with the AWS infrastructure. Determining the right fit, I compared its attributes with others and judged its superior alignment with AWS-centric operations. In essence, its unique position as an AWS-native solution inherently makes it the best tool for AWS environments, providing instant recovery options tailored for such settings.
Standout features & integrations:
One of the significant features of AWS EDR is its instant recovery capability, allowing businesses to minimize downtime. The platform's on-demand recovery features are designed to be cost-effective, only charging users when they deploy the recovery processes. When it comes to integrations, AWS EDR naturally fits into the broader AWS ecosystem, making orchestration with other AWS services smooth and efficient.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- On-demand recovery processes offer cost efficiencies
- Instant recovery features minimize potential downtime
- Tailored for Amazon Web Services native environments, ensuring tight integration
Cons:
- Potential for additional costs when orchestrating with a broad array of AWS services
- May have a learning curve for those unfamiliar with AWS services
- Might be less suitable for non-AWS-centric businesses
Azure Site Recovery is a service from Microsoft designed to aid in the orchestration of disaster recovery for all your major IT systems. It excels in integrating with Microsoft Azure services, reinforcing it as the ideal choice for businesses already embedded in the Azure ecosystem and prioritizing Microsoft Azure integrations.
Why I Picked Azure Site Recovery: When selecting a tool that could best integrate with Microsoft Azure, Azure Site Recovery quickly became the obvious choice. In my process of comparison and judgment, it was clear that the depth of Azure integration was unmatched. The tight-knit relationship between the tool and Microsoft Azure justifies its status as the top pick for those in need of Azure integrations.
Standout features & integrations:
Azure Site Recovery is designed with recovery time objectives in mind, ensuring quick and effective recovery. It offers extensive retention settings, allowing businesses to set data recovery points fitting their needs. Its integrations mainly center around Microsoft products, ensuring those utilizing Office 365, Microsoft Dynamics, and other Microsoft services have a streamlined recovery process.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong integrations within the Microsoft ecosystem, including Office 365 and Dynamics
- Offers a wide range of retention settings
- Aligned with recovery time objectives for efficient recovery
Cons:
- Pricing might be on the higher end for smaller businesses
- Setup can be intricate for those unfamiliar with Azure
- Primarily tailored to those already using Microsoft products
VMware Site Recovery is a renowned disaster recovery solution built to ensure uptime and easy recovery for virtualized systems. Given its specialization in virtual infrastructures, it's particularly adept for businesses that have embraced virtualized environments, making recovery more efficient and targeted.
Why I Picked VMware Site Recovery: In the process of selecting the most suitable disaster recovery solution for virtualized systems, VMware Site Recovery stood out. Through careful comparison and determination, I found its capabilities for virtual environments to be unparalleled. This tool's emphasis on supporting virtualized platforms makes it the ideal choice for organizations deeply vested in such setups.
Standout features & integrations:
VMware Site Recovery focuses on ensuring rapid failover and recovery specifically for virtualized setups. It supports orchestrated cross-cloud disaster recovery, making it flexible across various platforms. For integrations, it closely aligns with other VMware products and services, ensuring a cohesive recovery approach for those already in the VMware ecosystem.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Smooth integrations within the broader VMware suite of products
- Offers orchestrated cross-cloud recovery options
- Tailored for virtualized infrastructures, catering to their specific recovery needs
Cons:
- The price point can be steep for smaller setups
- The learning curve for those unfamiliar with VMware products
- Might be over-specialized for organizations not fully virtualized
Other Noteworthy Disaster Recovery Services
Below is a list of additional disaster recovery services that I shortlisted but did not make it to the top 10. Definitely worth checking them out.
- Cohesity
Best for unified data management
- Infrascale
Best for combined backup and recovery
- Dynamix Solutions
Best for cybersecurity-focused recovery
- Datto ALTO
Good for small businesses needing robust protection
- Sungard AWS Recovery
Good for AWS-specific recovery orchestration
- Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Good for cloud-native disaster recovery
- Veeam Replication and DRaaS
Good for quick recovery from ransomware attacks
- Actifio
Good for Google Cloud users seeking rapid recovery solutions
- Arcserve Cloud Services
Good for offsite disaster recovery with cloud integration
- Business Continuity Disaster
Good for unified threat management and continuity
- Unitrends
Good for automated DR testing and compliance
- 11:11 Systems
Good for hybrid cloud recovery solutions
- IBM Resiliency Orchestration
Good for streamlining disaster recovery management
- Axcient x360Recover
Good for fast full-system and granular recovery
- Rubrik
Good for instant recovery and data management
Other Related Software Reviews
Selection Criteria For Choosing Disaster Recovery Services
When selecting a Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) solution, the nuances lie in the details. Over the past year, I've evaluated dozens of DRaaS tools, and what struck me most was the diversity in their capabilities. While each had its merits, certain criteria became essential to truly differentiate the best from the rest. Here are the facets I gave the utmost importance to when diving into each tool:
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Core Functionality
- Continuous Data Protection: The tool should constantly monitor and save any changes to the data, ensuring minimal data loss in case of a disaster.
- Failover and Failback: The software should not only support automatic failover to a secondary site but also failback to the primary site once it's back online.
- Point-in-Time Recovery: The ability to roll back data to a specific point in time, ideally with multiple restore points to choose from.
- Network Recovery: Beyond just data, the DRaaS solution should also ensure network configurations, settings, and IP addresses are safely replicated and recoverable.
Key Features
- Automated Testing: Allows for the automatic testing of recovery plans to ensure they're functional when disaster strikes.
- Ransomware Detection: The ability to detect suspicious changes that could indicate a ransomware attack and trigger immediate protective measures.
- Compliance and Reporting: Features that help businesses adhere to industry-specific data protection and recovery regulations, coupled with in-depth reporting.
- Multi-Platform Support: The capability to offer recovery solutions for both physical and virtual environments.
- Tiered Storage: Enables storage optimization by categorizing data based on importance and usage frequency.
Usability
- Centralized Dashboard: A singular interface from which all features and functionalities can be accessed and managed, giving a clear overview of recovery health and readiness.
- Proactive Alerts: The tool should send out real-time alerts for any anomalies or potential threats, aiding in faster response times.
- Role-Based Access: Given the sensitive nature of the data being handled, it's crucial for DRaaS solutions to allow easy configuration of who can access what, ensuring only authorized personnel have critical access.
- Training and Onboarding: Considering the complexities of DRaaS solutions, the tool should ideally come with a comprehensive learning library, webinars, or training modules to facilitate user onboarding.
- Responsive Support: A robust customer support mechanism, preferably with 24/7 availability, to address any queries or issues.
Most Common Questions Regarding Disaster Recovery Services
What are the benefits of using a top-tier disaster recovery service?
Utilizing a premier disaster recovery service offers numerous advantages:
- Data Security: These services ensure that your business data remains protected against cyber threats, natural disasters, or human errors.
- Minimal Downtime: With swift recovery mechanisms in place, businesses can ensure minimal operational disruptions, reducing the downtime to mere minutes or hours.
- Compliance Assurance: Many services come with features that help businesses meet industry-specific regulations and compliance requirements related to data recovery and protection.
- Cost Savings: By investing in a DRaaS, businesses can potentially avoid significant financial losses that can occur due to prolonged downtimes or data breaches.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing that your data is safeguarded allows businesses to operate with confidence, ensuring continuity even in the face of unforeseen challenges.
How are these disaster recovery tools typically priced?
Disaster recovery services adopt various pricing models. Some common ones include:
- Subscription-Based: A recurring fee, often monthly or annually, which can be based on the amount of data stored, features accessed, or number of users.
- Pay-as-you-go: This model charges users based on actual usage, such as the amount of data transferred or recovered.
- One-Time Licensing: Some tools might offer a one-time purchase option where businesses buy the software license upfront.
What's the typical pricing range for these services?
The pricing for DRaaS solutions can vary significantly based on the features, storage capacity, and brand reputation. Typically, prices can start as low as $50/month for basic services and go up to several thousand dollars/month for enterprise-level solutions with vast storage capacities and advanced features.
Which are the cheapest and most expensive DRaaS tools on the list?
While prices can change based on promotions and specific configurations, Datto Alto tends to be among the more affordable options, while solutions like IBM Resiliency Orchestration and Rubrik can be on the higher end of the price spectrum due to their extensive feature sets and scalability.
Are there any free disaster recovery tool options?
Yes, some DRaaS providers offer limited free versions or trials of their tools to allow users to test their functionalities. However, these free versions might come with restricted features, storage limits, or shorter recovery times. It’s always advisable to consider the fully paid versions for comprehensive protection and features.
Summary
Choosing the right disaster recovery service is a pivotal decision for any organization. The right choice can mean swift recovery from unexpected data losses, while the wrong one can lead to prolonged downtime, reputational damage, and financial loss. With the myriad of options available in the market, making an informed decision requires careful consideration.
Key Takeaways:
- Prioritize Core Functionality: Above all, the primary role of a disaster recovery service is to ensure rapid restoration of data and applications. Ensure the tool you select aligns with your organization's specific recovery time objectives and can handle the volume of data you generate.
- Evaluate Usability and Support: A disaster recovery tool's interface should be intuitive and its onboarding process straightforward. Equally important is the availability of robust customer support, as during times of crisis, timely assistance can make all the difference.
- Understand Pricing Models: The cost of disaster recovery services can vary significantly. While some tools might have an attractive upfront cost, they might entail additional fees for extra storage or more frequent backups. IIt'sessential to understand the complete pricing model, including any potential additional costs, to ensure the tool is both effective and cost-efficient for your oorganization'sneeds.
What Do You Think?
Lastly, while II'vedone my best to provide a comprehensive list of the top disaster recovery services, the tech landscape is ever-evolving. If you know of a tool or service that deserves a spot on this list, please reach out and share your recommendations. Your insights can help me and other readers make more informed decisions. I value your input and look forward to hearing from you!