What is the best cloud backup for a business in 2026?
The one that covers everything you could lose: laptops, servers and your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace data. For 10 devices, expect $168 to about $1,000 in year one.
A cloud backup sends an encrypted copy of your files to a remote data center every day. When a drive dies, a laptop gets stolen or ransomware (malware that encrypts your files and demands payment) hits, you restore from that copy. One trap catches a lot of small teams: OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox sync your files, they don't back them up. Delete or encrypt a file on your laptop and the cloud copy follows.
The short answer: Acronis Cyber Protect is the most complete pick if you want laptops, servers and Microsoft 365 in one tool. IDrive is the cheapest for a small fleet, as long as you budget the year-two price. Veeam wins once you run servers and virtual machines. Backblaze is still the easiest way to protect computers. Microsoft 365 Backup protects your email and documents, and CrashPlan keeps every version of your files.
All our math assumes a 10-device business over one year. When a vendor hides its price, we say so instead of guessing.
The ranking is editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
The best cloud backup for your business
Laptops, servers and Microsoft 365, with cloud storage included
Tight budget, several laptops5 computers and 5 TB for $6.99 a month in year one
Servers and virtual machinesThe server standard, with optional immutable cloud storage
Computers, zero tuning$99 per computer per year, unlimited data
Keep every file version$88 per user per year, Microsoft 365 add-on available
Fastest Microsoft 365 rollback$0.15 per GiB per month, restores are free
The 6 business cloud backups compared
The full ranking. The "cost for 10 devices" column shows what you pay over a year when the vendor publishes a price. Acronis lists its starting prices in euros on its international page.
| Best for | Cost for 10 devices, one year | Free plan | Team size | Visit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acronis Cyber Protect | Best all-in-one for SMBs | Configured per device, from €70.99 per license per year | 4.4/5 | €70.99/yr (starting price) | — | SMBs with 5 to 250 devices and a few servers | Visit → |
| 2 | IDrive Team | Best value | $167.88 in year one, then $239.88 (10 computers, 10 TB) | 4.3/5 | $6.99/mo in year one (5 PCs) | — | Small businesses with 5 to 50 devices | Visit → |
| 3 | Veeam Data Platform Essentials | Best for servers | $475 for a 5-license pack, plus cloud storage | 4.2/5 | $95/license/yr, packs of 5 | ✓ | SMBs running servers and VMs | Visit → |
| 4 | Backblaze Business Backup | Easiest for computers | $990 ($99 per computer) | 4.1/5 | $99/computer/yr | — | Mac and PC teams with no servers | Visit → |
| 5 | Microsoft 365 Backup | Fastest Microsoft 365 restore | Usage based: about $153 a month per TiB protected | 3.9/5 | $0.15/GiB/mo | — | Any Microsoft 365 tenant | Visit → |
| 6 | CrashPlan Endpoints | Best for keeping every version | $880 ($88 per user) | 3.6/5 | $88/user/yr | — | Companies under 250 employees | Visit → |
Prices read on each vendor's official page in 2026, before tax. None of these tools has a Labs review yet: scores come from this ranking. Veeam's free Community Edition covers 10 machines, with no support.
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
How we compared and scored
The top results for this search are mostly roundups that repeat the same five names with an affiliate button under each. Few show the renewal price, few separate laptop backup from Microsoft 365 backup, and almost none tell you to test a restore.
We compared official pricing pages, each vendor's technical documentation, and hundreds of admin reports on forums and review sites. A service only made this list if its backups land in a cloud data center and can be managed from a business console. Tools whose price or official spec sheet we couldn't read were left out.
- Ease of useAn agent you install without an IT project, a console a non-specialist understands, a restore in a few clicks.20%
- Value for moneyReal cost over one and two years, storage included, for a 10-device business.25%
- Features and depthWhat's covered (laptops, servers, VMs, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace), immutable copies, encryption, retention. Weighted highest because a partial backup fails you on the worst day.30%
- Customer supportResponsiveness reported by admins, help during an urgent restore.15%
- IntegrationsOperating systems, hypervisors, SaaS apps and storage targets supported.10%
No affiliate link changes a score or a rank.
Acronis Cyber Protect
Acronis puts backup, full-machine recovery and anti-malware in a single agent. Every license includes Acronis Cloud storage: 50 GB per workstation and 250 GB per server or virtual host. Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are licensed per user, with unlimited cloud-to-cloud storage.
It covers Windows, Linux, Mac (though the management server won't install on a Mac), VMware and Hyper-V. The catch is pricing: the public numbers are starting prices in euros, and the real cost for a server only shows up in the configurator or from a reseller. Several admins also report slow support replies and a console that drags once the fleet grows.
- Laptops, servers and Microsoft 365 in one console
- Cloud storage bundled in every license
- Anti-malware built into the agent
- ✓Widest coverage in this ranking
- ✓Bare-metal restore to different hardware
- ✓One vendor for backup and protection
- ✗Real price only after configuration
- ✗Slow support according to admins
- ✗Console slows down on large fleets
The most complete pick if you want everything in one place. Get a written quote for your servers before you commit.
IDrive Team
IDrive sells backup in bundles. Team covers 5 computers and 5 users with 5 TB for $6.99 a month in year one, billed yearly. For 10 devices, the 10-computer, 10 TB tier is $13.99 a month, so $167.88 for the first year. Business adds servers, Exchange, SQL and NAS devices with unlimited users.
The pricing page spells out the catch: the discount only applies to year one. After that, the 10-device plan moves to $19.99 a month, or $239.88 a year. It's still the cheapest here. Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backup cost an extra $20 per seat per year each. On the ground, the same complaints keep coming back: slow support, slow first uploads, a dated interface.
- 5 computers and 5 TB from $6.99 a month
- Servers and NAS with Business
- Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace at $20 per seat per year
- ✓Cheapest in this ranking, even in year two
- ✓Several computers per user
- ✓SaaS backup add-ons at a flat price
- ✗About 43% more in year two
- ✗Slow support in user reviews
- ✗Dated, busy interface
The best price for a small fleet. Budget for the year-two rate from day one, not the intro discount.
Veeam Data Platform Essentials
Veeam is the standard for backing up servers and virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox). Essentials targets companies under 250 employees: $95 per license per year at list price, sold in packs of 5, up to 50 licenses. One license covers a server, three workstations or 500 GB of NAS data, so a 5-pack runs $475 a year.
Veeam is software, not a cloud: you point it at storage. The easiest target is Veeam Data Cloud Vault, its managed cloud storage, at $14 per TB per month on Foundation. Vault copies are immutable by default (nobody can change or delete them, not even an attacker who owns your server). Community Edition stays free for up to 10 machines, with no support. The downside: you need a server to run Veeam, and admins report steep renewal increases.
- Market standard for servers and VMs
- Immutable cloud storage by default
- Free edition for up to 10 machines
- ✓Deep server and VM recovery
- ✓Immutable copies with Data Cloud Vault
- ✓Portable license across servers, PCs and NAS
- ✗Needs a server and real skills
- ✗Cloud storage billed separately
- ✗Renewal hikes reported by admins
The right call once you have servers. Have a partner install it and get three reseller quotes.
Backblaze Business Backup
Backblaze does one thing: it backs up computers with no data cap for $99 per computer per year. Ten devices cost $990. The Groups console lets you manage, pay for and administer every machine from the web, and it notifies the user when an admin restores their files.
The best trick is the restore. For a large one, Backblaze ships an encrypted USB drive anywhere, free if you send it back within 30 days, which beats downloading terabytes over office Wi-Fi. The limits: no servers, no NAS, 30 days of version history by default (one year at no extra cost if you change the setting), and recent clients skip synced Dropbox and OneDrive folders.
- Unlimited data per computer
- Restore by shipped USB drive
- Group console for admins
- ✓Simplest service in this ranking
- ✓Flat price, no tiers to watch
- ✓Prorated when you add a computer
- ✗No servers or NAS
- ✗30-day history by default
- ✗Synced cloud folders excluded
Unbeatable for computers without servers. Switch version history to one year on day one: it costs nothing.
Microsoft 365 Backup
Microsoft sells its own backup, switched on from the Microsoft 365 admin center. It protects OneDrive, SharePoint and Exchange, keeps a restore point every 10 minutes for two weeks, and retains data for 3 months to 2 years (one year by default). Backups are append-only: new copies get added, old ones can't be changed.
Speed is the selling point. Microsoft says a site under 1 TiB comes back in under 20 minutes from an express restore point. Pricing follows volume: $0.15 per GiB per month, so about $153 a month for every TiB you protect. The limits: Teams isn't covered, and the copies stay inside Microsoft. A compromised global admin or a billing problem hits production and backup in the same place.
- A site restored in under 20 minutes
- Restore points every 10 minutes
- Free restores
- ✓Nothing to install
- ✓Fastest bulk restore
- ✓Data stays in your tenant's region
- ✗Copy stays inside Microsoft
- ✗Teams not covered
- ✗Cost grows with data volume
Great for bouncing back from ransomware fast. Keep a second copy outside Microsoft if the data is critical.
CrashPlan Endpoints
CrashPlan backs up employee computers automatically and advertises unlimited versions, so you can pull a file back from long before the mistake. For companies under 250 employees it's $88 per user per year, or $880 for 10 people. Microsoft 365 backup adds $2.50 per user per month with 50 GB of pooled storage per user.
Two caveats explain the rank. The pricing page contradicts itself: the plan card says unlimited storage, the FAQ says 50 GB per subscription, so get the answer in writing. And small-business reviews about failed restores are too frequent to ignore. If you go with it, run a full restore test in week one.
- Unlimited file versions
- Automatic computer backup
- Microsoft 365 add-on
- ✓Deep file version history
- ✓Simple per-user price
- ✓Two-year discount
- ✗Pricing page contradicts itself on storage
- ✗Failed restores in reviews
- ✗Weak support reputation
Useful for version history. Get the storage limit confirmed in writing and test a restore before you rely on it.
What your backup really costs, and what it must cover
Three questions matter more than any feature list: what you pay in year two, what actually gets backed up, and what happens on the day you need everything back.
Real cost for 10 devices
Microsoft 365 isn't backed up by default
The 3-2-1 rule, updated for ransomware
Where your data lives
- List what you must protect: laptops, servers, NAS, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
- Price it over two years, not on the discounted first year.
- Pick the data region before creating the account.
- Turn on a private encryption key if offered, and store it off the network.
- Keep at least one offline or immutable copy.
- Schedule a restore test in week one, then every quarter.
Six field tips for a backup that actually restores
A backup proves itself on the day you need it. These are the lessons that keep showing up in admin threads.
Plan the first upload
Day oneThe first backup uploads your whole drive. On a typical office connection, a few hundred gigabytes can take days. Start it on a Friday evening, one machine at a time, and keep the old backup running until that first upload finishes.
- Rule
- Never cancel the old backup before the first upload ends
Test a full restore
Must doA backup you've never restored is a promise. Every quarter, restore a full folder to another machine and open the files. For a server, restore it into a test VM. It's the only way to know your real recovery time.
- How often
- Every quarter
Keep your encryption key off the network
SecurityWith a private key, even the vendor can't read your backups. Lose it and nobody can restore them either. Store it in a password manager and on paper in a safe, never on the server you're backing up.
- Where
- Password manager and a paper copy
Check the default exclusions
TrapSome clients skip whole folders by default. Backblaze started excluding synced Dropbox and OneDrive folders in a recent client. After install, open the exclusion list and make sure your work folders are in scope.
- When
- After every client update
Lock down the admin account
RansomwareAttackers who reach your backup console delete the backups before encrypting your files. Turn on MFA, use a dedicated admin account for nothing else, and enable immutable copies where the tool offers them (Veeam Data Cloud Vault, Microsoft 365 Backup).
- Minimum
- MFA on the console
Negotiate before renewal
BudgetIntro discounts vanish quietly. Put the renewal date in your calendar two months early. With Veeam, ask three resellers for quotes: admins who did it saw real gaps on the same license.
- Reminder
- Two months before renewal
Backup sorted, what's next
Backups work best on a well-run fleet. These pages cover the neighboring decisions.
Endpoint protection that complements your backup.
You don't know how many devices you haveBest IT asset management softwareInventory, licenses and updates.
You're leaving AcronisAcronis alternativesSwitch without losing your old images.
Business cloud backup · FAQ
Is OneDrive or Google Drive a backup?
No. They sync files, which means they mirror the current state. Delete a file or let ransomware encrypt it on your laptop and the cloud copy changes too. The recycle bin helps with one-off mistakes, but a deleted SharePoint site is permanently removed after 93 days.Do I need to back up Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?
Yes. The provider keeps the service up, recovering your data is on you. For Microsoft 365 you can use Microsoft 365 Backup ($0.15 per GiB per month), or an add-on from a tool you already own: IDrive charges $20 per seat per year for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.How much does cloud backup cost for a small business?
For 10 devices, expect $168 (IDrive, year one) to $990 (Backblaze) a year. Year two matters just as much: IDrive goes from $167.88 to $239.88 for 10 computers. Servers cost more, and SaaS backup is usually extra.Is IDrive or Backblaze better for business?
IDrive if price and servers matter: 10 computers cost $239.88 a year after the intro discount, and the Business plan covers servers and NAS. Backblaze if you only have computers and want zero tuning: $99 each with unlimited data and a mailed restore drive.What is an immutable backup?
A copy nobody can change or delete for a set period, not you, not an attacker with stolen admin credentials. It's the best defense against ransomware that wipes backups first. Veeam Data Cloud Vault is immutable by default, and Microsoft 365 Backup is append-only.Cloud backup or a NAS in the office?
Both. A NAS restores fast but burns, floods or gets encrypted with the rest of the office. The cloud gives you the off-site copy. The 3-2-1 rule asks for three copies on two media, one off-site, and today you want one of them offline or immutable.How long does a full restore take?
It depends on volume and bandwidth. Downloading 1 TB often takes more than a day on an office line. Backblaze ships an encrypted USB drive for big restores, free if returned within 30 days. Microsoft says a Microsoft 365 site under 1 TiB comes back in under 20 minutes. Test it before you need it.Is there free cloud backup for business?
Not really. Veeam Community Edition is free for up to 10 machines, but without support or storage, so you still pay for the cloud target. Free consumer plans usually ban business use. For a business, budget roughly $17 to $99 per device per year depending on the tool.