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Cybersecurity Information SecurityTop 10 Best Cloud Based Backup Software of 2026
Top 10 cloud based backup software ranking with side-by-side criteria and tradeoffs for IT teams, including Cohesity, Rubrik, and CrashPlan.
How we ranked these tools
Vendors set the topic, but our editors set the inclusion criteria and the evaluation framework before research starts.
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Framework: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
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Cohesity is the strongest cloud backup pick when enterprises need centrally governed policies and repeatable restore validation across environments, whereas CrashPlan fits small teams that mainly want fast endpoint file restores without deep infrastructure orchestration.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
Cohesity
Restore validation workflows verify recoverability for selected restore points before operational cutover.
Best for: Fits when enterprises need centrally governed backup policies and repeated restore validation across multiple environments.
Rubrik
Editor pickA centralized Rubrik control plane coordinates policies and recovery workflows across environments, with governance-oriented admin controls built in.
Best for: Fits when security-minded IT needs governed backup operations with fast, repeatable restores across virtual and file workloads.
CrashPlan
Editor pickFast file recovery from the console using path-based restore browsing and version selection.
Best for: Fits when teams need quick file restores across endpoints without deep infrastructure orchestration.
Comparison Table
Cohesity
enterpriseData security and management platform with cloud backup and ransomware detection.
Restore validation workflows verify recoverability for selected restore points before operational cutover.
Cohesity centralizes backup intake from on-prem workloads and can move and store backup datasets in cloud object storage targets for retention and access control. The platform provides granular restore paths and supports application-consistent recovery approaches for common enterprise stacks. Admin governance includes role-based access control and detailed activity auditing for accountability across backup operations.
A key tradeoff is that Cohesity’s breadth of configuration can require disciplined setup to keep restore policies, retention settings, and access paths aligned across sites. Cohesity is most useful when an organization needs consistent recovery automation across multiple environments and expects frequent restore validation for different application types.
- +Policy-based backup and retention orchestration across mixed workload types
- +Restore validation workflows to catch inconsistencies before cutover
- +Role-based access control with audit logging for backup administration
- +Automation-ready API for provisioning and operational workflow integration
- –Initial configuration complexity increases time to reach steady-state operations
- –Some workload-specific consistency behaviors depend on correct app integration
Infrastructure and backup administrators
Standardize backup policies across data centers
Fewer policy drift incidents
Platform engineering teams
Automate recovery operations via API
Reduced manual recovery steps
Show 2 more scenarios
Operations teams handling incidents
Validate restores during ransomware recovery
Lower failed-restore risk
Restore validation helps confirm that recovery points are usable before committing to restoration timelines.
Compliance and governance leads
Maintain immutable protection controls
Stronger tamper resistance
Immutable protection options and audit visibility support controlled retention for regulated backup data.
Best for: Fits when enterprises need centrally governed backup policies and repeated restore validation across multiple environments.
Rubrik
enterpriseZero-trust data protection and ransomware recovery for cloud and on-premises workloads.
A centralized Rubrik control plane coordinates policies and recovery workflows across environments, with governance-oriented admin controls built in.
Rubrik fits organizations running mixed on-prem workloads that also require cloud-based target options for offsite protection and long retention. Centralized configuration and workload-aware restore workflows support faster recovery planning than tools that treat backup as a pure file copy. Automation and API access are a key part of how governance teams can standardize policy settings across sites and clusters. A tradeoff appears in the need to align workload types, policy settings, and restore testing cadence to the organization’s recovery objectives.
A practical usage situation is a security-focused operations team that must demonstrate controlled retention and restore readiness across virtual machine fleets and business-critical file shares. Rubrik’s administrative controls and recovery workflow tooling help teams run fewer, more consistent restoration exercises instead of ad hoc restore checks. Another tradeoff is that deeper governance features often require disciplined standardization of naming, policy assignment, and role-based access across administrators.
- +Central policy management across workloads and sites reduces drift
- +Granular recovery workflows for common virtual and file workload patterns
- +Admin audit visibility supports internal governance processes
- +Automation-friendly management enables repeatable operational runbooks
- –Policy design requires upfront planning for workload coverage and retention
- –Restore readiness still depends on scheduled restore verification practice
- –Workflow configuration can become complex in large multi-site deployments
- –Some workload edge cases may require specialist knowledge to tune
Enterprise infrastructure teams
Standardize backup policies across sites
Fewer configuration inconsistencies
Security and risk teams
Show governed retention and access
Cleaner internal audit evidence
Show 2 more scenarios
Platform operations teams
Reduce restore times for VMs
Shorter downtime windows
Recovery workflows support structured restore paths for virtual machine workloads.
IT admins
Perform granular file recovery
Targeted recovery for incidents
Granular restore options help recover specific items instead of full-system restores.
Best for: Fits when security-minded IT needs governed backup operations with fast, repeatable restores across virtual and file workloads.
CrashPlan
SMBAutomated endpoint backup with continuous file protection for small businesses.
Fast file recovery from the console using path-based restore browsing and version selection.
CrashPlan is built around endpoint backup, with desktop and laptop coverage that typically includes automatic selection of monitored folders and support for multiple devices under one administrative console. The recovery experience focuses on file-level restore using search-by-path and previews for many file types, which reduces time spent locating the right version. Central policy management supports consistent retention and scheduling across endpoints, which helps standardize backup behavior for managed fleets.
A tradeoff appears in enterprise-scale orchestration, where CrashPlan offers fewer deep platform integrations than hypervisor-centric backup suites and many large infrastructure products. It fits best when backup scope is mostly endpoints and the priority is straightforward restore operations rather than application-specific orchestration across virtual environments.
- +File-level restore uses path search and version browsing
- +Central console applies backup schedules and retention consistently
- +Endpoint agents reduce manual job setup per device
- +Restore workflow supports selecting exact files for recovery
- –Limited depth for infrastructure-level backup orchestration
- –Automation and API surface are not designed for advanced workflows
- –WAN-heavy environments can require extra attention to transfer performance
- –Application-consistent capture depends on what the agent can coordinate
IT help desk teams
Restore user documents after accidental deletion
Faster user recovery
Small IT departments
Centralize backups across laptops
Fewer per-device configs
Show 1 more scenario
Regional field teams
Protect intermittently connected endpoints
Reduced data loss risk
Agents continue capturing changes and upload when connectivity is available.
Best for: Fits when teams need quick file restores across endpoints without deep infrastructure orchestration.
Backblaze
SMBUnlimited cloud backup for personal computers and business endpoint backup with B2 storage.
Web-based file restore lets users browse and download backed versions without installing restore tooling.
Backblaze centers cloud backup on simplicity with continuous background protection for files through its desktop agent. It provides versioned restores and straightforward restore workflows that fit small to mid-sized environments with limited backup administration time.
- +File-focused continuous backup runs from a single desktop agent
- +Versioned file restores support web-based browsing and download
- +Clear configuration screens with minimal backup policy complexity
- +Predictable operations for home users and small IT teams
- –Limited control over backup scope compared with enterprise backup suites
- –No native hypervisor-level snapshot workflow for virtualized infrastructures
- –API and automation surface is thin for multi-tenant governance needs
- –Restore workflows are granular for files but not optimized for apps
Best for: Fits when file-level backups are the priority and restore speed matters more than application-aware protection.
Veeam
enterpriseData protection and recovery for virtual, physical, cloud, and SaaS environments.
Restore verification that runs during the backup lifecycle to confirm recovery success, not only backup completion.
Veeam automates backup and restore operations for virtualized workloads and broad cloud targets using its Veeam data management stack. The solution focuses on reliable restore workflows, including restore verification, granular file recovery, and tested recovery planning for ransomware response.
- +Restore verification and recovery planning workflows reduce failed recovery assumptions
- +Granular file recovery supports item-level restores without full VM rollback
- +Automation APIs support monitoring and orchestration with external tooling
- +Policy-driven backup jobs align retention and schedules across environments
- –Cloud-native coverage depends on supported targets and deployment patterns
- –Advanced protections require careful configuration and governance discipline
Best for: Fits when teams need restore testing, granular recovery, and automation APIs across virtual and cloud backup targets.
Carbonite
SMBCloud backup for servers, endpoints, and databases with ransomware recovery features.
Console-driven restore access per user and device grouping for fast file recovery workflows.
Carbonite is a cloud backup service aimed at small organizations that want automated offsite copies without managing backup infrastructure. The product deploys file-level agents to Windows, macOS, and select server environments, then sends data to Carbonite cloud storage with configurable retention.
- +Agent-based backups run without local backup servers to manage
- +Central console supports user and device grouping for restore operations
- +Retention controls are available for cloud copies of backed data
- +File and folder restore workflows cover common endpoint recovery needs
- –App-consistent and bare-metal recovery workflows are limited versus enterprise backup suites
- –API and extensibility options for custom automation are not the primary focus
- –Granular restore at large scale can be slower when many restores compete
- –No native multi-target storage routing for different workloads
Best for: Fits when small teams need automated offsite file backups with console-managed restores.
IDrive
SMBMulti-device cloud backup with continuous data protection and snapshot recovery.
Granular file recovery from backup sets with item-level selection and search during restore.
IDrive differentiates itself with one console covering consumer to enterprise backup needs, plus multiple backup target options. It supports continuous protection for selected workloads, file and folder backups, and full restores with a granular file recovery flow.
- +One admin console supports both personal and multi-device backup workflows
- +Granular file recovery supports searching and restoring individual items
- +Cross-user management simplifies centralized backup operations
- +Recovery toolsets support restores beyond single-file retrieval
- –Advanced governance features require careful policy and role setup discipline
- –Throughput during large restores can lag without tuned client scheduling
Best for: Fits when IT needs centralized backup management across mixed endpoints and expects frequent granular file restores.
Druva
enterpriseCloud-native data protection for servers, endpoints, and SaaS applications.
Immutable backup combined with admin RBAC and audit logs for controlled ransomware recovery operations.
Druva is a cloud backup product built around managing backup policy and restore access from a central console across endpoints, file servers, and virtual environments. It focuses on source-side deduplication, which reduces transfer and storage consumption when change rates are high.
- +Central console policy management across endpoints, servers, and virtual machines
- +Source-side deduplication reduces WAN transfer volume
- +Immutable backup support for ransomware recovery workflows
- +Role-based access and audit logs for operational governance
- –Restore verification tooling is less granular than tape-style validation workflows
- –Configuration and change management require disciplined admin processes
Best for: Fits when mid-size enterprises need centralized backup governance with deduped cloud storage targets.
Datto Backup
enterpriseBackup and disaster recovery platform designed for managed service providers.
Application-aware backup capture paired with restore workflows that prioritize both bare-metal recovery and granular file restores.
Datto Backup provides cloud-based backup for business endpoints and servers with managed backup workflows and restore testing. It supports continuous protection with scheduled backups, retention controls, and application-aware capture for common server workloads.
- +Application-aware backups for common server workloads
- +File-level recovery alongside full restore workflows
- +Retention controls that enforce backup lifecycle boundaries
- +Restore visibility through reporting and restore-focused operations
- –Cloud backup operations depend on installed agents and ongoing management
- –Granular policy controls across many workload types can require careful planning
- –Less flexible cross-cloud target design than storage-first competitors
- –Performance during initial seeding can stress network planning
Best for: Fits when mid-market teams need managed cloud backup with restore testing and application-consistent capture for servers.
MSP360 Backup
SMBBackup software supporting major cloud storage destinations for endpoints and servers.
Restore verification workflow that ties recovery attempts to identifiable backup points for faster operational validation.
MSP360 Backup targets IT teams that need cloud backup for endpoints and servers with an MSP-friendly management posture. The product supports agent-based protection for Windows systems, continuous backup to a cloud object store target, and restore workflows for both files and full system images.
- +Centralized policy and retention management across protected endpoints
- +Fast file and system-image restore paths for common recovery scenarios
- +Incremental upload behavior reduces full-backup re-transfer overhead
- +Clear restore verification workflow built into the recovery process
- –Agent-based coverage limits environments that require agentless protection
- –Granular application-consistent VM snapshot coverage is not a primary focus
- –Audit and RBAC depth is less detailed than enterprise backup suites
- –WAN performance controls depend heavily on client-side settings and staging
Best for: Fits when a managed services team needs consistent cloud backups and straightforward restore operations for Windows fleets.
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 cloud based backup software, Cohesity stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
How to Choose the Right Cloud Based Backup Software
This buyer's guide for cloud based backup software covers Cohesity, Rubrik, Veeam, Backblaze, CrashPlan, Carbonite, IDrive, Druva, Datto Backup, and MSP360 Backup. Each tool review focused on restore workflows, governance controls, and the practical mechanics behind protected copies stored in the cloud.
The comparison sections after the individual reviews keep attention on how each platform handles policy orchestration, restore verification during the lifecycle, and restore access from the console. The goal is to map which workflows match centralized recovery operations and which favor file-first simplicity across endpoints.
Cloud Based Backup Software that stores copies in the cloud and runs policy-driven backups and restores
Cloud based backup software continuously or scheduledly captures data from endpoints, servers, or virtual machines and sends backup sets to cloud object storage targets. It coordinates retention and restore workflows from a central console, so administrators can repeat recovery procedures across environments.
Cohesity emphasizes centrally governed policies plus restore validation workflows that verify selected restore points before cutover. Rubrik pairs a centralized control plane with governance-oriented admin controls and recovery workflows that are meant to reduce backup and restore drift across virtual and file workloads.
Core evaluation criteria for Cloud Based Backup Software
Cloud based backup software lives or dies on repeatable restore workflows, not just backup completion signals. The strongest platforms tie policy orchestration to restore validation so administrators can trust a recovery path before production cutover.
Restore validation workflows tied to recoverability
Cohesity uses restore validation workflows that verify selected restore points before operational cutover. Veeam also includes restore verification during the backup lifecycle to confirm recovery success.
Centralized policy orchestration and governance controls
Rubrik provides a centralized control plane that coordinates policies and recovery workflows with governance-oriented admin controls. Cohesity also emphasizes policy-based backup and retention orchestration across mixed workload types.
Granular restore workflows for virtual and file workloads
Veeam supports granular file recovery for item-level restores without full VM rollback. Rubrik delivers granular recovery workflows for common virtual and file workload patterns.
Console restore access designed for file-first recovery speed
Backblaze offers a web-based file restore experience with browsing and download of backed versions. CrashPlan supports fast file recovery using path-based restore browsing and version selection.
Immutable protection with admin RBAC and audit logs
Druva combines immutable backups with admin RBAC and audit logs for controlled ransomware recovery operations. Druva also centralizes policy management across endpoints, servers, and virtual machines.
Source-side deduplication to reduce WAN transfer volume
Druva uses source-side deduplication to reduce WAN transfer volume before data reaches cloud storage targets. Cohesity focuses on centralized policy orchestration and restore validation rather than being defined by deduplication.
How to choose Cloud Based Backup Software for controlled recovery
Selection should start with the restore workflow that the business must run under pressure. Cohesity and Veeam build restore verification into the lifecycle, while Backblaze and CrashPlan bias toward fast file recovery from a console or web interface.
Decide whether restore verification must happen before cutover
If pre-cutover recoverability checks are required, Cohesity and Veeam both run restore validation or restore verification during the backup lifecycle. Cohesity verifies selected restore points before operational cutover, while Veeam confirms recovery success as part of the lifecycle.
Match the operating model to centralized governance needs
If multiple sites and workload types must follow centrally governed policies, Rubrik and Cohesity coordinate policies and recovery workflows from a central control plane. Rubrik reduces policy drift by central policy management, while Cohesity orchestrates retention and backup policy across mixed workload types.
Choose the restore granularity that aligns with the actual incident type
If incidents require item-level restores for files and workloads, Veeam supports granular file recovery for item-level restores. If incidents frequently require common virtual and file recovery patterns with repeatable workflows, Rubrik provides granular recovery workflows.
Prefer file-first restore UX when infrastructure orchestration is not the priority
When endpoint restore speed and user-driven file recovery matter more than application-aware orchestration, Backblaze and CrashPlan provide file-centric restore browsing and selection. Backblaze enables web-based browsing and download, while CrashPlan uses path-based restore browsing and version selection.
Plan for governance discipline when advanced protection depends on correct setup
If immutable ransomware-resistant operations must be controlled with audit and roles, Druva adds admin RBAC and audit logs alongside immutable backups. Druva also requires disciplined configuration and change management to keep governance correct.
Who Cloud Based Backup Software is built for
Cloud based backup software fits teams that need backup retention in cloud object storage plus repeatable restore workflows from a central console. The best fit depends on whether the organization prioritizes centralized governance, restore validation, or file-first recovery speed.
Enterprises with multi-environment recovery operations
Cohesity supports centrally governed backup policies and retention orchestration across mixed workload types with restore validation workflows meant to catch inconsistencies before cutover.
Security-minded IT teams standardizing recovery operations
Rubrik centralizes policy and recovery workflows in a control plane while offering governance-oriented admin controls that reduce drift across workloads and sites.
Teams that need automated restore verification during the lifecycle
Veeam includes restore verification that runs during the backup lifecycle and includes recovery planning workflows, which reduces failed recovery assumptions.
IT groups prioritizing rapid endpoint file restores
Backblaze and CrashPlan provide file-first restore experiences that support browsing and version selection without deep infrastructure orchestration.
Mid-size organizations requiring immutable ransomware recovery governance
Druva combines immutable backups with admin RBAC and audit logs to support controlled ransomware recovery operations and centralized backup governance.
Common pitfalls when buying Cloud Based Backup Software
Most failures come from mismatched expectations about restore readiness and from under-planning governance. These mistakes show up when teams buy for backup storage while ignoring how restores are validated, accessed, and repeated.
Assuming backup completion guarantees recovery success
Cohesity and Veeam both emphasize restore validation or restore verification tied to restore points or the lifecycle, which is designed to prevent operational cutover based on unverified recoverability.
Designing policies without planning for workload coverage and retention behavior
Rubrik’s policy design requires upfront planning for workload coverage and retention, and restore readiness still depends on scheduled restore verification practice.
Treating file restore UX as a substitute for infrastructure-level orchestration
Backblaze is file-focused and provides web-based browsing and download, while it lacks a native hypervisor-level snapshot workflow for virtualized infrastructures.
Overlooking governance discipline for immutable and admin-controlled recovery operations
Druva’s immutable backup workflow includes admin RBAC and audit logs, but restore verification tooling is less granular than tape-style validation and configuration discipline is required.
Selecting a platform that cannot cover agent-based realities for the environment
MSP360 Backup relies on agent-based coverage for endpoints and limits environments that require agentless protection.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated Cohesity, Rubrik, Veeam, Backblaze, CrashPlan, Carbonite, IDrive, Druva, Datto Backup, and MSP360 Backup on restore workflow control, governance depth, and how administrators validate recoverability. Features accounted for 40% of the scoring because restore validation workflows and centralized recovery operations directly affect success during incidents.
Ease and value each accounted for 30% because console restore access, admin setup friction, and restore usability change adoption outcomes. Cohesity separated itself through policy-based orchestration plus restore validation workflows that verify selected restore points before operational cutover.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cloud Based Backup Software
How do Cohesity and Veeam handle restore verification during the backup lifecycle?
Which tools provide centralized governance with audit visibility for multi-workload environments?
How do Druva and Cohesity differ in immutable protection and ransomware recovery workflows?
What breaks if restore requirements shift from file recovery to application-consistent recovery?
When does a seed drive or a WAN accelerator matter for cloud backup throughput?
How do Acronis and Druva integrate automation through an API surface for backup orchestration?
What are the key admin controls differences between Rubrik and Carbonite for access management?
Which products make granular file recovery practical without complex recovery tooling?
How do Cohesity and Rubrik coordinate policies and recovery workflows across multiple environments?
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
Funding and competing interests
This study was co-funded by several of the vendors assessed in it. No single vendor funded it. Funders could propose the market studied.
They had no role in selecting vendors, setting or weighting criteria, analysing data or drawing conclusions, and they received the same factual-accuracy check as every other vendor assessed.
Market definition, inclusion rules and criteria weights were fixed by an editor before research began and did not change afterwards. Editorial process →
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