As an MSP, you know that choosing a managed backup solution for your small business clients comes down to more than storage capacity and pricing tiers. You need a platform that works reliably under pressure, adapts to each client's environment, and gives you proof that recovery will succeed, no matter the data loss scenario.
This article outlines the seven evaluation criteria that MSPs use to consistently separate reliable backup platforms from the rest.
These seven criteria emerged from real conversations that our team had with MSPs who support small businesses. Rather than focusing on feature lists, we identified the factors that consistently determine whether a backup platform performs well or becomes a nuisance for MSPs throughout the day.
The 7 Things MSPs Should Look for in a Managed Backup Solution
It's not feasible to manage backups across a dozen or a hundred clients without a single dashboard that shows backup status, alerts, and storage usage across every client environment.
NovaBACKUP's Central Management Console gives you this visibility from any browser, anywhere.
True multi-tenancy requires more than just consolidated views. It requires tenant isolation, role-based access control, and the ability to remotely create, modify, and delete backup jobs. If your platform requires you to log into separate portals for each client, it will waste your time and increase the risk of missing backup failures.
Look for platforms that allow you to set up notification triggers based on job status, create groups for different client types, and examine specific machines when necessary. The goal is to catch problems early and avoid discovering gaps during a restore request.
have experienced outages that can be traced back to warnings that were ignored or buried in noise.
Splunk, State of Observability 2025
A platform that lets you categorize notifications as critical failures requiring immediate action, same-day issues such as storage capacity nearing its limit, or informational summaries that can wait for a weekly review keeps real problems from getting lost in the flood.
Backing up only to the cloud introduces recovery delays. Local-only backups create single points of failure. In reality, both approaches have weaknesses when used alone.
Hybrid backups solve this problem by combining local and cloud backup into one job. You can quickly restore from local storage during routine incidents while maintaining an offsite copy for site disasters.
NovaBACKUP allows you to configure retention policies independently for each backup storage destination, so local copies can turn over faster while cloud copies stay longer.
This approach aligns with the 3-2-1 backup rule: three copies of data, on two different media types, with one copy offsite. Hybrid backup makes it easy for SMBs with limited infrastructure budgets to follow this rule.
An incremental forever backup scheme makes hybrid architecture even more practical. Rather than running a full backup on a schedule, you capture one full backup and then only the changed data going forward, with each increment referencing the complete dataset. Compared to a twice-weekly full-plus-differential schedule, this can reduce storage consumption by about 83% over a 30-day period, keeping both local and cloud costs down as client data increases.
Too many MSPs discover backup gaps only when a client desperately needs a restore. By then, the damage is done.
Look for platforms that verify backups to ensure all the selected items are available.
NovaBACKUP continuously checks that all files listed in the backup index are present on the storage and automatically replaces any deleted or corrupted files. This self-healing approach repairs gaps even if someone with valid credentials tries to tamper with the data.
Beyond automated checks, you need a documented process for periodic restore tests. Quarterly tests of critical systems, documented results, and client-facing reports build confidence in your service. The platform should simplify testing and provide multiple options to support MSPs in maintaining their regular testing schedule.
don't regularly test whether their systems can actually be restored, meaning most backups are unverified in reality.
Cockroach Labs, State of Resilience 2025
Ransomware attacks often target backup repositories first. If attackers can encrypt or delete your clients' protected copies, recovery options disappear. This is why immutable backups have become a critical evaluation criterion.
Immutability comes in multiple forms. Storage-level immutability uses technologies like S3 Object Lock to prevent data from being modified during retention periods. Software-enforced immutability, like NovaBACKUP's approach, continuously verifies backup integrity and repairs any gaps automatically.
The most resilient approach layers both mechanisms. Even if attackers penetrate multiple security boundaries, the storage itself cannot be altered, and the software repairs any tampering attempts. Air-gapped or isolated storage adds another layer by keeping backups inaccessible from production networks.
of ransomware attacks targeted the victim's backups specifically, and 57% of those attempts succeeded.
Sophos, 2024
Attackers know that destroying recovery capability removes their target's options before the encryption payload even runs, which is exactly why CISA's StopRansomware guidance calls for additional, encrypted offline copies and regular restoration testing to confirm backup integrity (CISA, 2023).
Small businesses typically run Windows-heavy environments. That's why your backup platform needs complete support to reliably back up Windows Server, domain controllers, SQL databases, and Hyper-V.
NovaBACKUP focuses on the Microsoft ecosystem. This specialization results in application-consistent backups that capture SQL databases in consistent states, granular restore options for individual files and folders, and virtual machine backup without requiring separate licenses.
Endpoint coverage matters too. Laptops and desktops hold critical work, especially with remote and hybrid workforces. Look for platforms that protect endpoints alongside servers without adding management complexity.
Some backup software vendors require proprietary appliances or lock you into specific cloud destinations. This limits your ability to optimize costs per client and creates dependencies that may be difficult to rectify later on.
NovaBACKUP takes a vendor-agnostic approach. You can use any backup appliance, any S3-compatible cloud storage, or host data in your own data center. The NovaBACKUP Cloud is always included as an option, but you are never forced to use it exclusively.
Vendor-agnostic storage means your backup software does not dictate where you store client data. You can choose local appliances from any manufacturer, public cloud destinations like AWS S3 or Wasabi, private clouds hosted in your own infrastructure, or any combination across different clients.
For MSPs, this translates directly to cost control and client flexibility. You can negotiate storage pricing independently, switch providers when better options emerge, and tailor storage choices to each client's budget and compliance needs. Some clients need fast local recovery; others prioritize geographic redundancy. A vendor-agnostic platform supports both approaches without artificial constraints.
When you compare pricing, look past the sticker price. All-in-one bundles with fixed per-system storage quotas look simple upfront but often mean paying for storage you don't use, or unexpected overage fees the moment a client grows. Bring-your-own-storage models offer more cost control but shift the work of managing storage vendors onto you. The middle ground, a backup solution with storage included as an option rather than a requirement, usually gives you the best balance of flexibility and predictability. Either way, don't forget to ask about data transfer and restore fees before signing.
When a client is down and you need help immediately, generic support queues that give you the tier-1 runaround do not cut it. You need technical teams who understand multi-tenant environments, the pressure of active incidents, and the operational realities of running an MSP.
NovaBACKUP's support teams are based in the United States and Germany, with an average tenure exceeding 10 years. This longevity means you are not constantly re-explaining your setup to new hires. The teams understand MSP workflows and can troubleshoot quickly because they have seen similar scenarios many times.
Michael Gustine, a one-person IT provider who runs MG Technology, switched his client base to NovaBACKUP Managed Backup after years of managing backups manually on external drives. “The support team was great,” he said. “Adam was very patient and helped me get comfortable with the management portal.” He credits that support experience, along with reliable remote monitoring, for the 17-25% growth he expects in his backup client base by year-end, without adding staff.
NovaBACKUP combines all seven evaluation criteria in a platform built specifically for MSPs supporting small business clients.
If you are evaluating managed backup platforms, NovaBACKUP offers a free 30-day trial with all features enabled so you can test real workflows before committing.
FAQ
Managed backup is a service in which MSPs are responsible for protecting their clients' data, including monitoring, testing, and restores. NovaBACKUP allows MSPs to provide this service via centralized management and automated verification. SMBs benefit because consistent data protection requires attention that most small businesses cannot provide internally.
FAQ
Although most MSPs test critical systems quarterly, high-availability environments may require monthly testing. NovaBACKUP automates daily verification checks to catch issues early. Documented restore tests build client confidence and satisfy compliance requirements in regulated industries.
FAQ
Managed backup with immutability options protects against ransomware by preventing attackers from encrypting or deleting backup files. NovaBACKUP provides software- and storage-level immutability options, creating a layered defense. When combined with air-gapped storage, this approach ensures that clean restore points exist even after a successful attack.
FAQ
Most small businesses need to protect Windows servers, endpoints, SQL databases, and cloud applications such as Microsoft 365. NovaBACKUP provides comprehensive coverage for Windows servers, endpoints, Hyper-V, and SQL from a single platform. This consolidation reduces management complexity while ensuring that nothing critical falls through the cracks.
FAQ
A hybrid backup combines local and cloud backups into a single backup job. Local copies allow for faster recovery during routine incidents, while cloud copies protect against site disasters. NovaBACKUP allows you to assign different retention policies to each destination, which optimizes recovery speed and long-term redundancy.