Last updated: November 2026
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Ransomware, a stolen laptop, a failed hard drive or one wrong click on “delete”: for a small business without backups, any of these can mean days of lost work or worse. The good news is that reliable cloud backup now costs from around $100 per computer per year.
This guide compares the backup solutions small businesses most often shortlist, explains what each one is best for, and shows how to build a backup plan that actually works when you need it.
Quick answer
- Best simple backup for laptops and desktops: Backblaze Business Backup. Unlimited storage per computer at a flat price, with almost no setup.
- Best for mixed computers and servers on a budget: IDrive Business. Unlimited devices, priced by storage, with server and NAS backup included.
- Best backup plus security in one: Acronis Cyber Protect. Backup combined with anti-malware and patching, and strong Microsoft 365 backup.
- Best for servers and virtual machines: Veeam. The standard choice for businesses running their own servers.
- Best for cheap, flexible cloud storage: Backblaze B2. Pay-as-you-go storage that works with backup software such as Veeam and NAS devices.
Comparison table
Prices were checked in November 2026 and change often, so confirm them on the vendor’s site before buying.
| Solution | Best for | Starting price | Computers | Servers | Microsoft 365 backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backblaze Business Backup | Laptops and desktops | $99 per computer per year | Yes (Windows and Mac) | No | No |
| IDrive Business | Mixed computers and servers | Priced by storage tier; check current plans | Unlimited devices | Yes | Separate add-on |
| Acronis Cyber Protect | Backup plus security | Standard edition from about €71 per year | Yes | Yes (higher price) | Yes (Backup Advanced) |
| Carbonite Safe | Small offices wanting a managed brand | From about $288 per year for small-office plans | Yes | Higher plans | No |
| Veeam | Servers and virtual machines | Workload-based; quote | Via agents | Yes | Separate product |
| Backblaze B2 | Storage target for other backup tools | $6.95 per TB per month | Through your backup software | Through your backup software | Through your backup software |
What small businesses actually need to back up
Before choosing a product, list what you have to protect:
- Laptops and desktops: documents, local files and anything not saved in the cloud.
- Servers and NAS devices: shared files, accounting databases, line-of-business software.
- Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace: email, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams. Microsoft and Google keep their services running, but long-term recovery of deleted or ransomware-encrypted data is your responsibility. See our Microsoft 365 security guide.
- Websites and cloud apps: your website, CRM and accounting exports.
Most small businesses need a combination, for example one tool for computers and one for Microsoft 365.
Backblaze Business Backup: best simple computer backup
Best for: teams that mostly need their laptops and desktops protected.
Backblaze Business Backup costs $99 per computer per year, with unlimited backup per device and a year of version history. It runs automatically in the background on Windows and Mac, and admins manage all computers from one console. It does not back up servers or Microsoft 365.
Pros
- Very simple; staff hardly notice it
- Unlimited storage per computer
- Predictable per-computer price
Cons
- No server, NAS or Microsoft 365 backup
- Paying per computer adds up for larger teams
IDrive Business: best value for mixed devices
Best for: small businesses with a mix of computers, servers and NAS devices.
IDrive Business is priced by storage tier rather than per device, and covers unlimited computers, plus server, Exchange, SQL and NAS backup. It also offers physical “Express” shipping for very large first backups or restores. Microsoft 365 backup is sold as a separate add-on.
Pros
- One plan can cover many devices and servers
- Strong feature set for the price
Cons
- Storage-based pricing means you must estimate your data size
- Watch promotional first-year pricing and how deleted files count toward your storage
Acronis Cyber Protect: best backup plus security
Best for: businesses that want backup and endpoint protection in one product.
Acronis combines image-based backup with anti-malware, vulnerability assessment and patch management. The Standard edition starts from about €71 per year, Backup Advanced adds Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backup, and Advanced suits more than five devices. Each workstation licence includes some Acronis cloud storage, with more available at extra cost.
Pros
- Full image backups for fast disaster recovery
- Security features reduce the need for a separate tool
- Strong Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backup
Cons
- More complex to set up than simple backup tools
- Server licences cost considerably more than workstation licences
Carbonite Safe: established small-office option
Best for: small offices that want a well-known brand with phone support.
Carbonite’s small-business plans cover multiple computers, with server backup on higher tiers. Published examples start around $288 per year for small-office plans with 250 GB of storage, with more storage available at extra cost. Pricing is less transparent than Backblaze or IDrive, so get a quote for your exact setup.
Pros
- Long-established brand
- Server backup on higher plans
Cons
- Limited storage on entry plans
- Pricing can be hard to compare
Veeam: best for servers and virtual machines
Best for: businesses running their own servers or virtual machines, often with an IT provider.
Veeam is the most widely used backup platform for servers and virtualisation (VMware, Hyper-V). Licences are based on workloads, and Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft 365 is a separate per-user product. It is powerful but usually needs an IT professional to deploy and manage. It pairs well with low-cost cloud storage such as Backblaze B2 for off-site copies.
Pros
- Industry standard for server and VM backup
- Very flexible recovery options, including immutable backups
Cons
- Too much for a business with only laptops
- Requires technical setup and management
Backblaze B2: cheap storage for your backups
Best for: sending backups from Veeam, a NAS or other software to the cloud.
Backblaze B2 is cloud storage, not a backup app. It starts at $6.95 per TB per month, with no minimum storage duration, and supports Object Lock for immutable (ransomware-proof) backups. Many NAS devices and backup tools can send their backups straight to B2.
How to build a backup plan that works
Follow the 3-2-1 rule
- 3 copies of important data (the original plus two backups)
- 2 different types of storage (for example a NAS and the cloud)
- 1 copy off-site, ideally immutable so ransomware cannot encrypt or delete it
Test your restores
A backup you have never restored is a hope, not a plan. Every three months, restore a few files and, at least once a year, a full computer or server.
Protect the backups themselves
- Use a separate admin account with multi-factor authentication for your backup console.
- Turn on immutability or object lock where available.
- Keep backup credentials in a business password manager, not in shared notes.
Don’t forget former IT providers
If a previous provider set up your backups, make sure your business owns the backup account and the provider’s access has been removed. Our real case study shows why this matters.
Which backup solution should you choose?
| Your situation | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| Only laptops and desktops | Backblaze Business Backup |
| Computers plus a server or NAS, tight budget | IDrive Business |
| Want backup and security together | Acronis Cyber Protect |
| Running servers or virtual machines | Veeam, with B2 or another cloud for off-site copies |
| Need Microsoft 365 backup | Acronis Backup Advanced, Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft 365, or IDrive’s add-on |
Frequently asked questions
Is OneDrive or Google Drive a backup? No. They sync files, so a deleted or encrypted file can be deleted or encrypted everywhere. They are useful, but you still need a separate backup.
How much does small business backup cost? Typically from about $100 per computer per year for simple backup, with servers and Microsoft 365 backup costing extra. Storage-based plans can be cheaper for businesses with many devices but little data.
How often should backups run? Continuously or at least daily for working files, and daily for servers and Microsoft 365.
What is an immutable backup? A backup that cannot be changed or deleted for a set period, even by an admin. It is one of the strongest protections against ransomware.
Related guides
- Small business cybersecurity checklist
- Microsoft 365 security: 12 settings to turn on
- Best password managers for small business
Prices and features were checked in November 2026 and change often. Always confirm on the vendor’s website before buying.