2026 update: Cloud BCDR for MSP clients still means offsite copies, clearer cost models and easier testing than a second data centre — but buyers now also ask about ransomware-ready copies (offline/immutable options), Microsoft 365 / SaaS backup (see
SaaS backup), and evidence of restore tests. Use the advantages below in sales conversations, and pair them with honest RTO/RPO language rather than blanket reliability percentages.
Nowadays, most businesses rely on computer networks and systems to function. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery are part of the process when a company experiences a ‘disaster’, such as a fire, flood, data theft, hardware loss or loss of personnel.
As an MSP, cloud-based backup and disaster recovery is often the most practical way to give clients offsite protection without them funding a second site.
In this article, we’ll be explaining how you can market cloud-based strategies to clients and how we at BCDR can help you with this process.
Advantages of cloud-based continuity and DR
Compared to older versions of backing up data, cloud-based backups have notable advantages.
When providing services to SMEs and other clients, it’s crucial to have these advantages in mind.
Below are some of the main advantages of cloud-based Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery options and strategies.
Scalable and flexible
Most cloud-based Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery systems can be sold on a pay as you go basis. This means clients can choose a service that best fits the size of their business and the needs they have.
For example, SMEs might choose to backup only their most critical data (such as financial information or personal details) while storing less important information locally.
Cost-effective
Rather than a customer bearing the cost of protecting and backing up data, it can be transferred to a specialist Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) provider. For instance, the client in question won’t need to hire server technicians or purchase physical hardware, security or additional premises.
With the necessary skills and experience, DRaaS specialists, like BCDR, can look after the essential Disaster Recovery strategies and monitor everything constantly. The client incurs this cost ‘as a service’.
Accurate backups
Well-designed cloud backup stores copies away from the client site, often with redundancy across the provider’s infrastructure. Reliability still depends on configuration, retention, encryption and — critically — regular restore tests. Do not assume “in the cloud” means every file is always recoverable without checking.
Cloud (or other proper offsite) backup is usually more resilient than ad-hoc USB or optical copies, which are easy to lose, skip or leave untested.
Reduced downtime and quicker recovery
Current
cloud-based Disaster Recovery systems can make recovery data reachable from another location as soon as accounts and connectivity allow. Speed still depends on design, bandwidth and what you chose to replicate.
Compared to traditional methods, cloud-based DR solutions can be accessed from any location with internet access, “Accessible from anywhere with internet” helps when the primary premises are offline — it does not remove the need for tested runbooks. This is particularly handy if a disaster occurs while a client is away from the business’ physical premises.
The quicker a business can get back up and running, the fewer its costs. From its point of view, time is money, and cloud-based recovery is often faster than tape or courier-based recovery for many SME scenarios.
Security
All DRaaS will, by necessity, have a strong emphasis on data security.
Data will be encrypted during storage, upload, and retrieval to ensure nobody else can read it.
Authentication protocols and procedures also mean that only the necessary personnel can access files and backups.
Simplified testing of DR systems
For peace of mind, clients and MSPs alike often like to test their DR system to see if it’s working correctly. Traditionally, this requires extra hardware and testing programs specifically for this purpose, an additional cost to a business.
Cloud-based backups remove the need for a second hardware lab for basic checks. With a few clicks, you or a client can easily see if the data has been backed up, the latest versions, and all sorts of statistics and notifications. As a result, you save money and time, and the whole process is considerably more straightforward. Tests should include actual restore and failover drills, not only “backup job succeeded” alerts.
How a specialist DRaaS provider can help
BCDR is a specialist DRaaS provider. We work with MSPs to support all the background processes and general running of cloud-based data recovery solutions.
DR platforms are specialised. Many MSPs prefer a partner to build, monitor and maintain the recovery service so their team can stay focused on the wider client stack.
That’s where we come in. We’ll look after building, monitoring and managing
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery services for you, monitoring and maintaining everything on a daily basis, leaving you free to provide additional services to your clients.
Our solutions are tailored to your client’s individual needs. See
How can I offer DRaaS to my clients?
If you’d like a free no-obligation chat about your options as an MSP,
book a free consultation ·
[email protected] · 01386 898324.
FAQs
Why push cloud BCDR to SME clients?
It provides offsite separation from the client premises, usage-based cost models and simpler testing than standing up a full secondary site — when designed and monitored properly.
Does cloud backup replace onsite backup?
Not always. Many designs keep a local copy for fast restores and an offsite/cloud copy for site loss. Match the mix to RTO/RPO.
How should MSPs talk about reliability?
Avoid unsourced percentages. Stress verified backups, retention, encryption, access control and scheduled restore tests instead.
