Reevaluating BDR Vendors: Which Areas Should MSPs Rethink?

Reevaluating your data backup and disaster recovery (BDR) solution is not necessarily a discussion your current BDR provider will want to have — or is it?

As we make our way into the new year, managed services providers (MSPs) will be reviewing this past year, marking mistakes made, noting areas for improvement. But is your BDR offering part of that list?

Well, if not, maybe it should be. As with anything else, BDR is an area where MSPs can always make enhancements, learn more about the market (which is why MSPmentor has dedicated an entire infocenter to the space).

Before you sit down with your BDR vendor, however, you should have a plan and prioritize what’s important to you and your business. To start, take a look at other vendors in the market and focus in on the following areas:

Products and technology are tied closely together. Sure, every BDR vendor claims to back up customer data, but how? A BDR vendor will develop products based on the backup technology it believes is best for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Ask your current BDR vendor to compare its products to another vendor’s products. What type of backup technology does your BDR vendor use? Is image-based backup better than file-based backup? Why should SMBs leverage hybrid cloud backup? Express your concerns.

Which industries does your vendor specialize in? Do those industries align with the industries your customers are in? If not, you may want to take a look at another vendor. Industries to think about include: healthcare, financial services and legal.

Finally, and, most importantly, how does your current vendor treat its partners? Does its partner program fit your needs and assist you with making profit? Don’t shy away from asking the tough questions.