In an increasingly digital business landscape, data loss or extended downtime can have devastating consequences. As organizations rely more heavily on cloud computing and remote work, it becomes critical to implement effective Backup and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) solutions to ensure continuity and minimize risk. We play a pivotal role in designing, deploying, and managing these solutions, helping our clients safeguard their data and recover quickly from disruptions.

Datto and Axcient are two leading providers of BCDR solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for data protection, backup, and disaster recovery which we offer to our clients.

1. Understanding BCDR (Backup and Disaster Recovery)

A. What is Backup and Disaster Recovery?

  • Backup: The process of creating copies of important data or systems to protect against data loss due to accidental deletion, corruption, hardware failure, or cyber threats.
  • Disaster Recovery (DR): The strategy and processes that ensure the rapid restoration of IT systems and data following a disaster (e.g., server crashes, cyberattacks, natural disasters).
  • Business Continuity (BC): Maintaining essential business functions even during a disaster, with minimal disruption.

A well-crafted BCDR plan should encompass Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTO):

  • RPO: The maximum acceptable amount of data loss (e.g., how much data the organization can afford to lose before the last backup).
  • RTO: The maximum acceptable amount of time to restore services after a disaster (e.g., how long the business can function without access to its systems or data).

2. Datto: BCDR Solutions

B. Overview of Datto BCDR Solutions

Datto provides an array of BCDR solutions designed to meet the needs of our clients. Datto’s platform integrates backup, disaster recovery, business continuity, and ransomware protection into one seamless offering. Its solutions are built to be easy to deploy, manage, and scale, making them ideal for clients.

  1. Key Datto Products
  2. Datto SIRIS:
    • Purpose: Datto SIRIS is an enterprise-grade business continuity solution that combines local backups, cloud backups, and instant virtualization to ensure rapid data recovery.
    • Key Features:
      • Instant Virtualization: Instantly spin up virtual machines from backup images to continue operations while restoring hardware.
      • Hybrid Cloud Backups: Both local and cloud-based backups for flexibility and reliability.
      • Ransomware Detection: Detects ransomware attacks and allows recovery from uninfected backup points.
      • Automated Testing: Automatically verifies the integrity of backups and recovery processes.
  1. Datto Direct to Cloud
    • Purpose: Datto direct to cloud is a cost-effective backup solution designed for those clients who may not need a physical device on site, and are looking for a cost effective solution which will have most of the features present with an on site device.
  2. Datto Azure
  • Purpose: For those who maintain cloud servers, Datto provides agents which can be loaded in this environment and will provide the same features for backup and disaster recovery as the on prem solution.
  1. Datto Continuity for Microsoft 365:
    • Purpose: Cloud-to-cloud backup solution specifically for Microsoft 365 applications, such as Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams.
    • Key Features:
      • Automated Backup: Regular backups of email, files, and Teams data to prevent data loss.
      • Quick Recovery: Rapid restore of lost or corrupted data within Microsoft 365 applications.

C. How We Use Datto to Deliver BCDR Solutions

  1. Client Consultation:
    • We work closely with clients to understand their IT environment, critical systems, and business needs. They define the RPO and RTO requirements to ensure the solution fits the client’s risk tolerance and business continuity goals.
  2. Solution Design and Deployment:
    • Based on the consultation, we recommend the appropriate Datto products (e.g., Datto SIRIS, Datto Direct to Cloud, Datto Azure, or Datto Continuity for Microsoft 365) and deploy them to protect both on-premises and cloud-based systems.
    • We configure backup schedules, replication options, and disaster recovery plans to ensure all critical systems are covered.
  3. Ongoing Monitoring and Management:
    • We use Datto’s Datto Portal to monitor backup health, perform regular testing of recovery processes, and ensure that backups are verified and ready for recovery.
    • Automated alerts notify the us of any backup failures or performance issues, enabling quick remediation.
  4. Disaster Recovery Testing:
    • We conduct regular disaster recovery drills, leveraging Datto’s Instant Virtualization feature to simulate failover and recovery scenarios. This ensures that both we and the client are confident that recovery will be swift and reliable in the event of a real disaster.
  5. Ransomware Protection:
    • With Ransomware Detection built into Datto’s solution, we can quickly detect signs of ransomware and restore data to an uninfected state, minimizing the impact of an attack.
  6. Regular Client Updates and Reporting:
    • We provide regular backup health reports, recovery test results, and disaster recovery status updates to clients, helping them maintain awareness and confidence in their BCDR strategy.

3. Axcient: BCDR Solutions

A. Overview of Axcient BCDR Solutions

Axcient offers a comprehensive, cloud-based platform designed to streamline backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity services. Axcient’s solutions are specifically tailored to help us manage backup and disaster recovery for both physical and cloud environments, with strong security features and rapid recovery options.

B. Key Axcient Products

  1. Axcient x360Recover:
    • Purpose: Axcient x360Recover is an all-in-one backup and disaster recovery solution that combines backup, business continuity, and disaster recovery in one platform. It provides both local and cloud-based recovery for managing our clients' IT infrastructures.
    • Key Features:
      • Instant Failover: Enables us to quickly failover to virtualized systems in the Axcient cloud.
      • Cloud-based Recovery: Both local and cloud recovery options provide flexibility and redundancy.
      • Automated Backups: Scheduled backups with automated verification to ensure recovery readiness.
      • Ransomware Protection: Continuous scanning and alerting to detect potential ransomware or malware threats.
  2. Axcient x360Cloud:
    • Purpose: Axcient x360Cloud is designed for protecting cloud workloads, specifically for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other cloud-native environments.
    • Key Features:
      • Cloud-to-Cloud Backup: Backup of critical cloud data and applications, including email, documents, and collaboration tools.
      • One-Click Restore: Simple and rapid restoration of cloud data, even for specific items like individual emails or files.
  3. Axcient x360Sync:
    • Purpose: File-level backup and synchronization solution for distributed teams, ensuring that files are protected in real-time across multiple devices and locations.
    • Key Features:
      • Real-Time File Syncing: Ensures that all files are continuously updated and protected, offering fast recovery in case of accidental deletion or corruption.
      • Granular Restore: Allows MSPs to restore individual files and folders to any point in time.

C. How We Use Axcient to Deliver BCDR Solutions

  1. Consultation and Design:
    • We assess their client’s needs and design a tailored BCDR strategy using Axcient’s solutions. They define RPOs and RTOs, choosing the appropriate Axcient products based on the client’s size, infrastructure, and recovery requirements.
  2. Deployment and Configuration:
    • We deploy Axcient’s x360 platform, configuring automated backups, local and cloud replication, and setting up disaster recovery failover processes.
    • We ensure that all business-critical systems are fully protected, from physical servers and workstations to cloud applications.
  3. Ongoing Monitoring:
    • We use Axcient’s centralized management console to monitor backup health, system performance, and disaster recovery readiness. Automated alerts ensure that issues are identified and resolved promptly.
  4. Testing and Validation:
    • We regularly perform disaster recovery testing by simulating real-life scenarios, such as server failures or ransomware attacks. Axcient’s Instant Failover feature helps verify that clients can resume operations quickly.
  5. Ransomware Recovery:
    • Axcient provides ransomware protection by monitoring backup integrity and providing the option to restore from clean backups if a ransomware attack is detected.
  6. Client Reporting:
    • We deliver detailed backup reports and disaster recovery test results to clients, offering visibility into the health of their backups and ensuring that they are always ready to recover when needed.

4. Why We Choose Datto and Axcient for BCDR Solutions

Both Datto and Axcient provide us with reliable, scalable, and secure BCDR solutions that are easy to manage and implement. Here’s why MSPs prefer these products:

  • Comprehensive Protection: Both platforms offer a full suite of backup and disaster recovery solutions, including support for physical and virtual machines, cloud applications, and distributed environments.
  • Rapid Recovery: Both products emphasize fast recovery through features like Instant Virtualization (Datto) and Instant Failover (Axcient), ensuring minimal downtime in case of disaster.
  • Cloud Integration: Cloud-based backup and recovery options offer increased reliability and flexibility, providing MSPs with multiple recovery options.
  • Ransomware Protection: Built-in ransomware detection and clean recovery options make both solutions ideal for businesses concerned about cyber threats.
  • Scalability: Both Datto and Axcient are designed to grow with the client, providing MSPs with the ability to scale backup and recovery solutions as the client’s business expands.

Conclusion

By leveraging Datto and Axcient’s BCDR products, we can provide our clients with a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery strategy that ensures business continuity, minimizes data loss, and accelerates recovery times. Whether it’s protecting physical servers, cloud environments, or SaaS applications like Microsoft 365, both Datto and Axcient offer the tools needed to deliver world-class data protection and disaster recovery solutions.

MSPs can build and manage tailored BCDR solutions, continuously monitor backups, and ensure that their clients’ critical data is secure and recoverable—giving businesses the peace of mind they need to focus on growth and operations.