The Best Cloud Backup and Storage Solutions of 2020
November 8, 2019
Securing your business is more than just mounting security cameras and locking your doors – it extends to safeguarding your online property and data as well. To do this, businesses can invest in cloud storage and online backup technology. While there are many options, it is important to choose the one that best supports your business.
In this guide, we outline the best cloud storage and online backup providers for small businesses and share a list of other cloud storage providers.
Best for Small Businesses
Best for Collaboration
Editor's note: Looking for a cloud storage or backup solution? Fill out the questionnaire below to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
Summary
With a business account, you can easily perform automated synchronization through scheduled or continuous backups. If you are working with a team, you can take advantage of the group management capabilities, like creating links and setting access permissions and restrictions on specific files and folders. Your data is securely transferred and stored with 256-bit AES encryption and a user-defined key that is not stored anywhere on the servers.
This cloud storage and backup software is readily available, with two personal plans and six business plans for you to choose from. Personal plans are meant for individual users, whereas business plans are meant to support multiple users who need more advanced security and storage capabilities. You can pay for a business plan monthly, annually or biennially; however, longer contract terms often have cheaper rates. Every business plan supports unlimited users, computers and servers – the main difference between plans is the storage size and price. If your business has large storage needs, expect to pay accordingly.
The smallest plan starts at $99.50 per year for 250GB, while the largest plan is $2,999.50 per year for 12.5TB. The average small business's needs fall somewhere in the middle, so IDrive has multiple plans to choose from. Keep in mind that IDrive is one of the few companies that charges overage fees if you exceed your allotted gigabytes or terabytes. Overages on business plans cost 50 cents per gigabyte per month. IDrive allows you to scale your plan as your needs change.
New and existing users can take advantage of IDrive's online demo to learn about its cloud service and features. If you have additional questions, you can easily reach an IDrive representative by phone, email or live chat. When we reached out to the company posing as small business owners, we were very pleased with the clear, knowledgeable support we received. If you are looking for a full-service platform to support your cloud backup and storage needs, IDrive is a great choice.
Egnyte
Summary
For small businesses looking for a hybrid solution, Egnyte offers an enterprise-level storage and file-sharing platform that lets you store your data locally and in the cloud. For those reasons and more, Egnyte is our choice as the best cloud storage and backup service for collaboration. Files stored with Egnyte can include documents, slideshows and videos, email, databases, and software. Through the online portal you can manage shared folders, enable link expiration, and set folder permissions and restrictions. You can keep multiple versions of your documents accessible through file versioning and trash retention policies.
Egnyte secures your file transfers and storage with 256-bit AES encryption over SSL. This is especially important for small businesses that need to sync and share proprietary documents. For users accessing files on mobile devices, Egnyte offers mobile security settings like passcode enforcement, native mobile device control, restricted access and remote wipe.
Egnyte offers flexible and scalable plans for your business to choose from. For extremely small businesses with one to three users, Egnyte offers a Team plan that includes 1TB of storage for $10 per employee per month. Teams of five to 25 employees can access 5TB of storage with the Office plan for $8 per employee per month. Larger teams of 25 to 100 employees can access the Business plan, which features 10TB of storage for $20 per employee per month. Large teams of more than 100 employees should contact Egnyte directly for a custom quote. The amount of storage each plan offers is to be shared among every user on your team. Although the main difference between the plans is the storage size, other features may be tiered, like administrative and IT tools, hybrid integration features, and deployment options.
Egnyte offers several online resources for users, including live training, demos, webinars, whitepapers, e-books, infographics, Egnyte University, an online community and success stories. If you have additional questions about the products or features, you can contact a support agent by phone, online form or live chat. When we went undercover as small business owners to test Egnyte's customer service, we found the representatives moderately helpful. If you are seeking advanced information over live chat, consider asking to speak with a subject expert.
Backblaze
Summary
Although there are several online backup and cloud storage services for Apple products on the market, we chose Backblaze as the best cloud backup service for Mac users, thanks to its comprehensive, simple-to-use platform and affordable rates.
Backblaze has two main services for small business owners: backup plans and the B2 Cloud Storage plan. Depending on what you need, you may choose one or both of these solutions.
Backblaze backup services easily integrate with the macOS interface and can back up data on computers and external hard drives. You can manage backup frequency, set versioning retention and control admin preferences. The user management features allow you to set permissions and to add and remove users.
You can use the B2 Cloud Storage option for storage, file sharing, hosting or large-scale backup. This software is optimized for Mac systems and integrates with macOS to allow you to seamlessly back up and restore your system in the event of data loss or a complete system loss. You can return your computers to the state they were in 30 days prior, which is useful for deterring ransomware or other malware.
Pricing for Backblaze backup and B2 Cloud Storage differ slightly. The backup plans are charged per license. You can access a monthly plan for $6 per license per month, an annual plan for $60 per license per year, or a biennial plan for $110 per license per two years. B2 Cloud Storage charges based on how much data you store and download per month. You get 10GB of free storage and 1GB of free daily downloads. Anything additional is 0.5 cents per gigabyte stored per month and 1 cent per gigabyte downloaded per month, on a pay-as-you-go basis. B2 Cloud Storage requires a third-party application to act as a backup or storage interface.
You can access a Backblaze backup plan with a 15-day free trial. For additional information about the products and services, you can visit Backblaze's online resources, including a blog, FAQs and help pages. Backblaze representatives are available online via request form or live chat, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. PDT. We posed as a small business owner to test Backblaze's customer support firsthand, and we were very happy with the service we received. Of the cloud storage and backup companies we spoke to, Backblaze has one of the most helpful support teams we interacted with. Great customer support is a key feature to look for in a cloud storage and online backup service for your small business.
What Is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage platforms have the capability to store and archive your data in the cloud. Once you start an account with a cloud storage service, you and your team have the ability to save your data online and access it when needed. This data can be files, documents, databases, media and more.
Cloud storage solutions typically come with collaboration features that enable you to share online documents and projects with teammates. This gives everyone with access to the software the ability to update documents in real time and is especially great for sharing files that are too large to send over email. Wherever you go, as long as you have internet, you should have access to the documents you and your team store in the cloud.
Cloud backup, also known as online backup, is a service that protects computers and servers from data loss and malware threats. Cloud backup solutions are typically installed onto your network and then run silently in the background to protect all of your data. In the event of a malware attack or natural disaster, you can restore your data to its most recent version and continue doing business.
The cloud platform you choose should depend on whether you need to back up your computers and servers, store your data, and/or collaborate with team members online. Some companies offer these services separately, whereas others incorporate a combination of features. If you need a reliable data backup solution, instant access to files or an easy way to share files online, there is a cloud backup and storage service for you.
Full List of Cloud Storage and Online Backup Services
Here's our extensive list of the cloud storage and online backup vendors, including our best picks. You can read full reviews on our sister site business.com.
Acronis
Acronis offers complete data protection, secure file access, syncing and sharing solutions, and system management tools suitable for any environment. Designed to work both on-premises and in the cloud, Acronis works for any infrastructure, from small local businesses to multisystem enterprises with onsite and offsite endpoints. https://www.acronis.com/en-us/
Backblaze
Backblaze is a simple-to-use and affordable cloud storage platform that's ideal for Mac backup. You can use its B2 Cloud Storage offering for storage, file sharing, hosting or large-scale backup. https://www.backblaze.com/
BackupAssist
BackupAssist is a secure backup provider for your Windows servers, drives, folders, apps and more. It offers ransomware detection and protection, bare-metal restore, and manual screening. https://www.backupassist.com/
Read our review of BackupAssist.
BackupVault
BackupVault protects the majority of file types and is also designed to be used as a backup for schools. The company features 24-hour email and telephone support. Pricing for the service is based on your data storage needs. https://www.backupvault.co.uk/
Barracuda
Barracuda is a highly technical online backup solution that allows you to customize your backup system how you want, with either cloud storage, on-premises storage or a combination of both. It also features cloud-to-cloud backup with Office 365 cloud storage for extra security. Barracuda offers you multiple layers of protection with multiple points of real-time backup and emergency recovery options.https://www.barracuda.com/
Read our review of Barracuda.
Box
Box offers cloud storage that makes sharing your content a breeze. After uploading your files, you can share them by sending a link to your intended recipients or embedding them on your website. It includes features like user management, security reporting and role delegation. https://www.box.com/
Carbonite
Carbonite offers a comprehensive suite of affordable services for data protection, recovery and on-demand accessibility. The services include automatic backup, easy restoration and high security. The files it can store include documents, spreadsheets, emails, point-of-sale files, pictures and graphics, videos, financial and accounting files, and customer relationship management files. https://www.carbonite.com/
Read our review of Carbonite.
Citrix ShareFile
Citrix ShareFile allows you to transfer files and send encrypted emails without concerns about a potential security breach. https://www.sharefile.com/
CloudBerry Lab
Built for cloud backup, CloudBerry Lab provides a managed backup option for IT service providers as well as a separate backup option for corporate and personal users. https://www.cloudberrylab.com/
CrashPlan for Small Business
CrashPlan for Small Business, by Code42, is a simple solution for data backup and protection. It operates silently in the background of your devices to protect all your data from disasters or attacks. This backup service provider is a great choice for small businesses that need a simple, secure solution. https://www.crashplan.com/en-us/
Read our review of CrashPlan.
DealRoom
DealRoom offers cloud storage options secured with 256-bit AES encryption. It also has remote data centers with disaster recovery options. You can take advantage of the drag-and-drop capabilities, file revision control, and audit trails. https://dealroom.net/
Egnyte
Egnyte enables you to store all types of data in the public cloud, while highly sensitive data benefits from the higher security and better reliability of on-premises servers. It accommodates any device and allows you to collaborate anywhere. https://www.egnyte.com/
Read our review of Egnyte.
FileShadow
FileShadow can compile several images and documents that are stored in multiple locations, including those on your desktop and in cloud storage. You can search for your files and images based on their content, not just by a specific file name. https://www.fileshadow.com/
G Suite/Google Drive
Cloud storage platforms aren't just for storing files; they're also great solutions for real-time collaboration. Google Drive offers free cloud storage as well as access to Google's web-based productivity suite. The business version of G Suite comes with unlimited storage as well as additional business features for Gmail, Google Hangouts and Calendars. You can save, edit, and invite others to work on Docs, Sheets and Slides right on Google Drive itself. https://gsuite.google.com/products/drive/
Get Backup Pro by Belight
If you are looking for Mac backup, Get Backup Pro has you covered. You can back up a variety of data, like documents, iTunes, contacts and photos. The platform offers several convenience and safety features to keep your data safe and accessible. https://www.belightsoft.com/products/getbackup/
Hightail
Hightail helps professionals around the world securely share and control files from anywhere for more effective and efficient collaboration. You can send files of any size from your computer or mobile device and control exactly who sees them. You can also share "spaces" – project folders that are each assigned a unique link for sharing with clients and team members – and assign editing and updating permissions. Hightail offers unlimited storage space and both mobile and desktop apps so you can access your files from anywhere. https://www.hightail.com/
IDrive
IDrive is great for small businesses that need to back up and store data as well as share files and sync data. Its features include mobile access, remote management tools and online file syncing. It can also support multiple devices and back up files in real time. The platform is highly secure, as it transfers and stores files with 256-bit AES encryption and a user-defined key that is not stored anywhere on the servers. https://www.idrive.com/
Read our review of IDrive.
Jungle Disk
Jungle Disk uses military-grade encryption on its cloud storage platform. You can set group permissions and restrict data through the web-based dashboard. The platform is user-friendly and has drag-and-drop capabilities. https://www.jungledisk.com/
Livedrive
For businesses, Livedrive offers cloud storage along with web sharing, collaboration and online backup services. The platform allows you to access and edit your files from your computer or mobile device and collaborate on them with select team members. It lets you share files of any size with co-workers. https://www2.livedrive.com
Mega Limited
Headquartered overseas, Mega Limited offers several different cloud storage plans based on your storage needs. Features include live encrypted backup, end-to-end encryption and secure global access. https://mega.nz/
Nordic Backup
Nordic Backup provides multiple cloud services that are scalable to fit small business needs. You can add on 100GB of storage as needed. Data that passes through Nordic Backup is secured with redundant servers and end-to-end encryption. https://nordic-backup.com/
OneDrive for Business
Microsoft's OneDrive provides Windows users with remote file access and seamless Microsoft Office and Windows Phone integration. It also gives you several easy ways to upload and access files: over the web, directly from Microsoft Office programs (such as when you save a file), and straight from your iPhone, iPad, Android or Windows device. https://products.office.com/en-us/onedrive-for-business/online-cloud-storage
pCloud
pCloud is a platform that allows you to securely store your documents and multimedia files in the cloud. You can also use features like activity monitoring, automatic uploading, and drag-and-drop tools. https://www.pcloud.com/
R1Soft
R1Soft is a comprehensive, full-system backup platform, offering enterprise-level protection designed to perform with minimal impact on both the client-side and server-side resources. This stand-alone backup manager requires you to have a stand-alone cloud host, which gives you the freedom to select your own private hosting service. https://www.r1soft.com
SOS Online Backup
SOS offers online storage and backup services for homes, businesses and enterprises. It provides infinite storage (no file size or type limits), incremental backup, version history and archiving, end-to-end encryption, and mobile access. https://www.sosonlinebackup.com/
SpiderOak One Backup
With high-profile data security and privacy breaches escalating over the past couple of years, SpiderOak aims to give businesses some peace of mind. The company offers a private cloud storage, online backup, syncing and sharing service that utilizes a zero-knowledge encryption privacy environment, which means only the user can see their stored data. https://spideroak.com/one/
Storage Guardian
Storage Guardian features enterprise-level backup features, including large storage capacities, advanced retention policies and bare-metal recovery. This cloud data protection service supports hybrid systems for faster recovery in the event of an internet outage. It can also back up virtual machines and several other cloud storage and file-sharing platforms, including Microsoft Office 365 and Google Drive. https://storageguardian.com/
Tresorit
Tresorit offers a comprehensive cloud storage and backup solution for small businesses that need access to a variety of features. You can manage existing folder structure syncing, access unlimited version recovery and restore deleted files. https://tresorit.com/
Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage
Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage is an affordable, easy-to-use cloud storage service for small businesses. Its company mission focuses on providing optimal speed and performance. https://wasabi.com/
Zoolz
Zoolz gives small businesses access to powerful cloud storage without the sticker shock. Unlike its competitors, Zoolz supports unlimited users and servers, making it easy to scale the service to your business's needs. There are no caps on your upload/download bandwidth speeds or file sizes either, so you don't have to worry about not being able to use the service when you need it most. Zoolz also offers "Tribrid" backup service, which combines your local backup, the company's instant storage and cold storage. https://www.zoolz.com
Read our review of Zoolz.
Acronis
Carbonite
IDrive
Zoolz
Egnyte
IDrive
Backblaze
Editor's note: Looking for a cloud storage or backup solution? Fill out the questionnaire below to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
