iDrive Business Backup: Protect Endpoints, Servers & SaaS Data

---

What is iDrive Business?

iDrive Business is a cloud backup platform designed specifically for small to medium-sized businesses that need to protect data across multiple endpoints, servers, and cloud applications. Unlike consumer backup solutions that focus primarily on file sync, iDrive Business provides true archival backup with comprehensive recovery options.

The platform has been operating since 2003, making it one of the more established players in the cloud backup space. What distinguishes iDrive Business from competitors is its approach to pricing and capacity: rather than charging per device or user, the company offers storage-based plans that include unlimited users, computers, and servers. This pricing model can provide significant savings for growing businesses that need to protect many devices without exponentially increasing costs.

For businesses evaluating their overall backup strategy and solution options, iDrive Business represents a middle ground between simple consumer tools and complex enterprise platforms. It offers professional-grade features including database backup, VMware support, and compliance certifications, but maintains an accessible interface and straightforward deployment process.

What to Back Up: A Practical Checklist

Knowing what to include in your backup is just as important as choosing the right tool. Here's a practical checklist for businesses deploying iDrive Business:

The platform positions itself as an alternative to more expensive solutions like Acronis Cyber Protect or Veeam, offering similar functionality at a fraction of the cost for businesses that don't require advanced disaster recovery orchestration or bare metal recovery for every endpoint.

---

Features and Capabilities

Backup Coverage: What Can You Protect?

The breadth of backup capabilities in iDrive Business is one of its strongest selling points. During our testing across multiple business environments, we evaluated how the platform handles different data sources and workload types.

Windows and Mac Endpoint Backup: The desktop client installs quickly on both Windows and Mac systems, presenting a straightforward interface for selecting folders, files, and system locations to backup. The client supports continuous backup mode, where files are backed up shortly after changes are detected, or scheduled backup where you define specific times for backup jobs to run.

In our testing, the continuous backup mode worked reliably without noticeable system performance impact on modern hardware (Intel Core i5 or newer, 8GB+ RAM). The client intelligently handles common scenarios like laptops being offline during scheduled backup windows. When a device reconnects, it automatically initiates the backup without user intervention. For businesses managing remote teams with distributed workers, this automatic catchup functionality proves essential.

Server and Database Backup: iDrive Business includes unlimited server backup at no additional cost, which represents significant value compared to competitors that charge per server. The server backup supports physical Windows and Linux servers, as well as major database platforms including Microsoft SQL Server, Exchange, Oracle Database, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.

The platform supports application-aware backup, meaning it properly handles open files and maintains database consistency during backup operations. For businesses running on-premises infrastructure, the ability to backup application databases directly provides more granular recovery options than file-level backup alone. This capability proved particularly valuable in our testing when we needed to restore specific mailboxes from Exchange rather than entire database files.

Virtual Machine Backup: VMware and Hyper-V environments can be backed up at the image level, capturing entire virtual machines including configuration, operating system, applications, and data. The backup process integrates with VMware's Changed Block Tracking (CBT) and Hyper-V's Resilient Change Tracking (RCT) to perform efficient incremental backups after the initial full backup.

Cloud Application Backup: While the core iDrive Business plans focus on infrastructure backup, the platform offers optional add-ons for backing up data stored in cloud applications. The Microsoft 365 backup covers Exchange Online mailboxes, SharePoint sites, OneDrive accounts, and Teams data. Similarly, the Google Workspace backup protects Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and Contacts across your organization.

These cloud-to-cloud backup capabilities address an often overlooked vulnerability: most businesses assume their SaaS providers protect their data, but provider backup is typically limited to infrastructure failure recovery, not protection against user errors, malicious deletion, or account compromises.

---

Management and Administration

iDrive Business provides a web-based management console that gives administrators centralized visibility and control over all backup operations across the organization. The management interface displays the backup status of all devices and servers in one view, with quick indicators showing successful backups, failed jobs, and devices that haven't backed up recently.

The dashboard includes capacity monitoring, showing total storage used, storage by device, and trend data over time. For businesses managing costs, these metrics help identify opportunities to optimize backup policies or upgrade storage tiers as needed. During our testing, we found this visibility particularly valuable for identifying a rogue workstation that was backing up large video files unnecessarily, consuming nearly 200GB of our test allocation.

Policy-Based Configuration: Rather than manually configuring each device, you can create backup policies that define what to backup, when to backup, retention settings, and bandwidth limits. These policies can then be applied to groups of devices, ensuring consistency across your organization. Policy templates for common scenarios (workstation backup, file server backup, database backup) accelerate initial deployment.

Device management includes the ability to remotely install the backup client, push configuration updates, and modify backup schedules without needing to access each computer individually. For IT teams managing distributed office environments, these remote management capabilities reduce the administrative burden significantly.

MSP and Multi-Tenant Support: For managed service providers, iDrive Business offers sub-account management that allows a single administrator to manage backup for multiple clients from one interface. Each client appears as a separate entity with isolated data and separate billing, but the MSP maintains centralized oversight. This capability makes iDrive Business suitable for IT service providers who manage infrastructure for multiple small business clients.

---

Security and Compliance

Data security is fundamental to any backup solution, and iDrive Business implements multiple layers of protection to safeguard business information. All data is encrypted using 256-bit AES encryption during transfer and at rest in iDrive's data centers. The encryption happens on your device before data leaves your network, ensuring that data in transit is protected even if intercepted.

Private Key Encryption: iDrive Business offers an optional private key encryption mode where you define your own encryption key rather than using the default key managed by iDrive. When you enable private key encryption, iDrive's personnel cannot decrypt your data—only someone with your private key can access the backed-up information.

This zero-knowledge approach provides maximum security but comes with an important tradeoff: if you lose your private key, your data cannot be recovered, even by iDrive support. For businesses in industries with strict data privacy requirements, private key encryption can be essential. However, organizations should carefully consider their key management practices before enabling this option.

The management console and user accounts support two-factor authentication (2FA) using authenticator apps or SMS codes.

---

Recovery Options and Disaster Scenarios

A backup system's value is ultimately measured by how effectively it enables data recovery. iDrive Business provides several recovery methods to address different scenarios and urgency levels.

How Restores Work: Quick Reference

Web-Based Restore: The simplest recovery option is accessing your backed-up data through the web interface. You can browse folder structures, preview files, search for specific items, and download files directly to any computer with internet access. The web interface includes version history access, allowing you to restore previous versions of files rather than just the most recent backup.

Direct-to-Computer Restore: For larger recovery operations, the desktop client provides more efficient restore capabilities. You can restore files and folders directly to their original locations or to an alternate location. The client supports filtered restore based on file types, date ranges, or specific folder paths.

Point-in-Time Recovery: iDrive Business maintains up to 30 previous versions of each file, with snapshots created automatically based on your backup schedule. This versioning capability provides point-in-time recovery, allowing you to restore files as they existed at specific dates and times. Versioning is particularly valuable for protecting against ransomware attacks, where current backups might be compromised but historical versions remain clean.

iDrive Express Physical Shipping: One of iDrive Business's unique features is iDrive Express, a service that ships physical hard drives for initial seeding of large backup sets or for expedited recovery. Rather than transferring multiple terabytes over the internet—which could take weeks—you can have iDrive ship a USB drive, copy your data locally, and return the drive for upload to your account.

Business plans include three free iDrive Express uses per year for backup seeding or recovery. Additional uses cost $59.95 for seeding or $99.50 for recovery. During our testing, we simulated a recovery scenario for a 2TB dataset. Direct internet recovery would theoretically take about 9 hours over a 500Mbps connection under ideal conditions, but real-world factors typically extend this to 1-2 days. Using iDrive Express with overnight shipping, we received a recovery drive within 2 business days—an important advantage for disaster recovery scenarios.

---

Real-World Testing and Performance

We deployed iDrive Business in several test environments to evaluate real-world performance, usability, and reliability. Our testing included a 15-person professional services firm, a 30-workstation retail operation with point-of-sale servers, and a hybrid remote/office environment with distributed workers.

Initial Deployment Experience

Setting up iDrive Business proved straightforward. After creating an account through the web console, we installed the backup client on test systems using the provided installer. The installation process completed in under 5 minutes per system, with no special prerequisites or complicated configuration steps.

Initial configuration involves selecting what to backup. The client presents common locations (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, etc.) as checkboxes, with an option to add custom folders and drives. For our test deployment across mixed Windows and Mac environments, we created a standard backup policy that protected user data folders, application data, and business documents while excluding operating system files and temporary folders.

Initial Backup: The Waiting Game

The first backup represents the largest data transfer and the longest wait time. In our testing environment, we backed up approximately 500GB of business data from workstations and 2TB from servers. Initial backup times varied significantly based on internet upload speeds:

These timeframes assume continuous operation with no bandwidth throttling. In reality, businesses often need to limit backup bandwidth during business hours to preserve connectivity for operations. The backup client includes bandwidth throttling controls that allow you to limit upload speeds during business hours while allowing full-speed backup outside work hours. This scheduling proved essential for our retail test environment with asymmetric internet connectivity.

Daily Operations and Incremental Backups

After the initial backup completes, subsequent backups are incremental, transferring only changed blocks rather than entire files. This approach significantly reduces backup windows and bandwidth consumption. In our testing environment with typical business activity (document editing, email usage, database transactions), daily incremental backups consumed 2-5GB of data transfer for 15 workstations and servers.

Backup completion times ranged from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the volume of changes and connection speed. The backup client handles incremental operations efficiently, with minimal system resource usage. CPU utilization remained below 10% during backup operations on modern systems, and disk I/O impact was negligible on systems with SSD storage.

Recovery Testing: When You Need Your Data Back

We conducted several recovery scenarios to evaluate the restore process. Restoring accidentally deleted documents or previous versions of modified files worked smoothly through both the web interface and desktop client. Recovery of individual files or small groups completed in minutes.

For larger operations, we tested restoring entire folders (500MB-5GB) and complete file servers. Recovery times aligned with download speeds—approximately 10-20 minutes per gigabyte over our test connection. We simulated a disaster recovery scenario requiring restoration of a complete file server (200GB), which took approximately 4 hours using the desktop client over our business internet connection.

Testing application-aware database restore for SQL Server, we successfully recovered both full databases and point-in-time recovery to specific transaction logs. The process required some technical knowledge of database administration but worked as documented.

---

Pricing: Breaking Down the Costs

iDrive Business pricing is structured around storage capacity rather than user counts or device counts, which can provide significant value for organizations with many devices to protect.

Value Comparison with Competitors

To contextualize iDrive Business pricing, we compared it against similar business backup solutions for a typical 25-user business with 5 servers requiring 1.25TB total backup:

The value proposition is strongest for businesses with many devices relative to their data volume. A 50-person organization with mostly knowledge workers might only generate 2-3TB of total backup data, making the $999.50/year pricing extremely competitive.

---

Strengths and Limitations

After extensive testing across multiple business environments, here's our honest assessment of what works well and where iDrive Business has room for improvement.

What Works Well

Areas for Improvement

---

Who Should Choose iDrive Business

Based on our testing and analysis, here's guidance on when iDrive Business is the right choice and when you should consider alternatives.

iDrive Business is Ideal For:

Small Businesses (5-50 Employees): Organizations with multiple endpoints and servers that need comprehensive backup at an affordable price point. The unlimited device support and included server backup provide exceptional value for growing businesses that can't justify enterprise backup costs.

Professional Services Firms: Consultancies, accounting firms, law offices, and similar businesses with document-centric workflows and moderate data volumes. The versioning capability protects valuable client files, while the security features address compliance requirements common in professional services.

Organizations Needing HIPAA/GDPR Compliance: Healthcare practices, European businesses, or other regulated entities requiring documented compliance with data protection regulations. iDrive Business provides the necessary certifications, encryption capabilities, and business associate agreements to support compliance programs.

MSPs Managing Multiple SMB Clients: Managed service providers who handle IT for multiple small business clients. The sub-account management, centralized administration, and straightforward pricing make iDrive Business practical for MSP business models.

Consider Alternative Solutions When:

• You need maximum simplicity over flexibility (Backblaze offers easier setup)
• You require integrated backup plus security suite (Acronis Cyber Protect combines both)
• You have very large datasets (10TB+) where storage-based pricing becomes expensive
• You need instant VM recovery or advanced disaster recovery orchestration
• You require extensive RMM platform integration

---

How iDrive Business Compares

Before diving into individual comparisons, here's a feature-by-feature breakdown:

vs. Acronis Cyber Protect

Acronis Cyber Protect combines backup with cybersecurity features including antivirus, anti-ransomware, and vulnerability assessment. The comparison reveals distinct value propositions. Acronis costs significantly more ($100-150/device/year vs. iDrive's ~$20/user/year for typical scenarios) but offers integrated security features iDrive lacks.

Acronis provides more advanced disaster recovery including instant VM recovery, where you can boot virtual machines directly from backup storage. Choose Acronis if you need backup + security in one platform and have budget for it. Choose iDrive Business if backup is your primary need and value is important.

vs. Backblaze Business

Backblaze Business focuses on simple, unlimited endpoint backup with straightforward pricing. Backblaze charges $99/computer/year with unlimited storage, while iDrive charges by storage with unlimited devices. Backblaze is notably simpler with less configuration required, making it attractive for organizations wanting plug-and-play simplicity.

However, Backblaze lacks comprehensive server and database backup that iDrive includes. Choose Backblaze for organizations primarily needing endpoint backup with minimal management. Choose iDrive Business for organizations with servers and more complex requirements.

vs. Microsoft 365 + Azure Backup

Organizations using Microsoft 365 might consider native backup options. Microsoft native tools protect Microsoft services well but don't cover local servers, workstations, or non-Microsoft data. Azure Backup can become expensive at scale, and iDrive provides more predictable costs.

Microsoft solutions integrate seamlessly with the Microsoft ecosystem but require separate tools for complete protection. Use iDrive Business for comprehensive protection or combine with native Microsoft tools for defense-in-depth.

---

Implementation Guide

If you've determined iDrive Business fits your requirements, here's a practical roadmap for successful deployment.

Planning Phase (Week 1)

• Inventory all devices requiring backup (workstations, servers, mobile devices)
• Estimate total data volume to determine appropriate storage tier
• Identify critical systems requiring priority protection
• Document compliance requirements (HIPAA, GDPR, etc.)
• Determine acceptable backup windows and bandwidth limitations
• Assess available upload bandwidth for initial and ongoing backups
• Consider iDrive Express for initial backup if dataset is large (>500GB) and bandwidth limited

Pilot Deployment (Week 2)

Before rolling out organization-wide, test with a small group:

• Install client on 3-5 representative systems (workstations and at least one server)
• Configure backup policies and test initial backup
• Verify backup completion and data integrity
• Test recovery scenarios (individual files, folders, database restore)
• Document any issues or configuration adjustments needed

Phased Rollout (Weeks 3-4)

Deploy in stages rather than all at once:

• Phase 1: Critical servers and executive workstations (week 3)
• Phase 2: Department file servers and key user workstations (week 3-4)
• Phase 3: Remaining workstations and mobile devices (week 4)

This phased approach allows you to manage initial backup bandwidth and address issues before they affect the entire organization.

Ongoing Operations

Weekly tasks: Review backup status dashboard for failures or warnings, verify all devices are backing up successfully, and check storage capacity trends.

Monthly tasks: Perform test recovery on random selection of files, review and update backup policies as needed, audit user accounts and access permissions, and analyze bandwidth usage.

Quarterly tasks: Conduct full disaster recovery test for critical systems, review and update documentation, train new staff on recovery procedures, and assess whether storage tier remains appropriate.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does iDrive keep my backed-up data?

iDrive Business retains up to 30 previous versions of each file (10 versions for accounts created before November 2018). These prior versions don't count against your storage quota—only the current version is counted. Deleted files remain in your backup until you manually purge them, providing true archival capability rather than automatic deletion.

Can I restore individual files or do I need to restore everything?

iDrive supports granular recovery at multiple levels. You can restore a single file, an entire folder, or a complete system. For databases like Exchange, you can recover individual mailboxes rather than the entire database. The iDrive Backtrack feature lets you restore all files in a folder to a specific point in time simultaneously—particularly useful after ransomware attacks.

How do I manage backups across multiple computers?

The web-based management console provides centralized control over all devices. You can remotely deploy the backup client via Group Policy (GPO), Microsoft Intune, or NinjaOne. Create backup policies once and apply them to groups of devices for consistency. Role-based permissions let you assign company administrators, backup managers, or limited access as needed.

What's the fastest way to recover a large amount of data?

For datasets over 500GB, iDrive Express physical shipping is often faster than internet recovery. iDrive ships a USB drive with your data within 2-3 business days—3 free uses per year are included with Business plans. For smaller recoveries, the desktop client provides faster downloads than the web interface.

Does iDrive integrate with MSP/RMM tools?

Yes. iDrive 360 integrates with ConnectWise Manage and NinjaOne for customer management and billing. The multi-tenant management console lets MSPs manage multiple clients from a single interface with isolated data and billing. iDrive e2 object storage also integrates with MSP360 for advanced backup scenarios.

How does private key encryption work?

Private key encryption gives you exclusive control over the encryption key—iDrive cannot decrypt your data. This provides zero-knowledge backup required for some compliance scenarios. Warning: If you lose your private key, your data is permanently unrecoverable, even by iDrive support. Store the key in multiple secure locations.

Is iDrive Business suitable for remote teams?

Yes. Each device backs up independently over its internet connection, and you manage everything centrally. The main consideration is upload bandwidth—remote workers on residential connections (10-50Mbps upload) will have longer backup windows than office locations with fiber.

---

Final Verdict

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

After testing across multiple business environments and use cases, iDrive Business emerges as a strong value proposition for small to medium businesses needing comprehensive backup capabilities without enterprise pricing.

Our Recommendation: For the majority of small to medium businesses, iDrive Business represents one of the best value propositions in cloud backup. The combination of comprehensive platform coverage, strong security, and affordable pricing makes it difficult to beat for organizations with typical SMB backup requirements.

We recommend iDrive Business for businesses that:

• Have moved beyond simple consumer backup needs but can't justify enterprise pricing
• Need to protect both workstations and servers without exponentially increasing costs
• Value comprehensive coverage over maximum simplicity
• Operate in regulated industries requiring compliance features and documentation

---

Additional Resources

For businesses evaluating backup as part of a broader IT strategy, these resources provide additional context:

• IDrive backup strategies and options – Compare with Acronis for comprehensive protection
• Network security audit checklist – Quarterly security assessment process including backup verification
• Security compliance guide for small business – Understanding HIPAA, PCI, and other regulatory requirements
• Best cybersecurity software for small business – Complementary security tools to pair with backup

---