Hear it from an MSP: Axcient + ConnectWise + GoodSuite
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The Scalable Shift from BCDR to Resilient Data Protection
In today’s rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, MSPs face a critical challenge: ensuring seamless data protection for clients while scaling operations efficiently. As of recently, business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) have been the cornerstone of protecting critical business operations from downtime and data loss. However, as more SMBs move their data to the cloud and embrace SaaS solutions, it’s time to expand our view from just BCDR to a more comprehensive data protection strategy.
In a recent discussion among industry experts, Jim Peterson, Principal Solutions Advisor at ConnectWise, Leif Fortson, Director of Product Management at Axcient, and Brent Portera, VP of Technology at GoodSuite, shed light on how MSPs can adapt to this paradigm shift. Keep reading to understand how Axcient and ConnectWise have merged to accommodate the new demands of comprehensive data protection.
Evolving from BCDR to Data Protection
BCDR focuses on keeping systems available and minimizing disruption, especially during disasters. Key metrics like recovery point objective (RPO) and recovery time objective (RTO) measure how long your systems can be down and how much data you can afford to lose. However, as businesses increasingly migrate to the cloud, they often assume that moving data offsite automatically protects it—this isn’t always the case.
Traditionally, organizations followed the 3-2-1 backup rule: three copies of data on two different media types, with one copy stored offsite. This provided a robust safety net. However, with the shift to cloud storage, companies must reevaluate how they secure and manage business-critical data. Whether your data is in Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, other SaaS platforms, or cloud services, it’s essential to understand who is responsible for protecting that data and how it is secured. Jim says:
“When we talk about data protection, we’re talking about an encompassing understanding of where business-critical data lives and how it should be and needs to be protected. Whether it’s in Microsoft 365 or a SaaS solution – the question is how is it being protected?”
But that’s only part of the picture. Another growing concern that many organizations may hesitate to address is all the data they don’t know about.
Shadow IT and Data Protection Challenges
With the regularity of remote work, employees have increasingly moved outside the traditional corporate IT perimeter. This shift has brought an explosion of SaaS-based storage solutions. Unfortunately, employees often use unsanctioned tools, personal devices, or even personal email to complete their work. These “shadow IT” practices introduce significant risks, as critical business data may be stored outside the organization’s approved security systems, making it difficult to track and protect.
This shift underscores the importance of moving beyond BCDR and adopting a holistic security-first data protection approach. It’s not just about keeping data available and recoverable – it’s about knowing where your data is, who has access to it, and ensuring it’s secured, no matter where it resides. For many MSPs, managing multiple backup and recovery tools creates inefficiencies and increases costs. It’s not uncommon for organizations to use three or four BCDR tools – or even as many as seven, although a consolidated platform into one or two tools has advantages. Brent underscores this point with a client perspective:
“It’s similar to what we’re trying to convince our clients to do: consolidate the vendor landscape. When you can accomplish that as an MSP, it leads to scalability and efficiency.”
As SMBs continue to navigate the complexities of the cloud and remote work, data protection must evolve to meet these new challenges. By expanding beyond traditional BCDR strategies, MSPs can better safeguard client data and mitigate risks in this increasingly digital world.
Axcient + ConnectWise = Data Protection
ConnectWise acquired Axcient in September 2024, unifying efforts to cure data loss and revolutionize how MSPs protect and recover from threats. Now that Axcient is part of the ConnectWise family, MSPs can expand data protection without growing data management. Through this union and ConnectWise’s partnership with GoodSuite, MSPs can access the Axcient x360 Platform more efficiently and effectively. Focused on addressing the challenges MSPs face in protecting client data, streamlining operations, and improving service delivery, here’s how we’re working together to empower MSPs:
1. Unified Tools for Simplified Management
To help MSPs consolidate their tools for data protection, Axcient and ConnectWise offer integrated platforms that optimize operations. Axcient provides solutions like x360Recover, which features Chain-Free backup technology and flexible deployment, virtualization, and recovery options. ConnectWise compliments this with its PSA tools, offering a single pane of glass for managing alerts, tickets, and client systems.
GoodSuite emphasizes how this integration has enabled them to deliver reliable data protection without overwhelming their internal teams. Brent explains, “We’ve set up automation using Axcient alerts that go to the ConnectWise NOC, and they manage them for us. We don’t manage any alerts.” This seamless integration reduces the administrative burden, allowing MSPs to focus on client-facing tasks and strategic growth.
2. Enhancing Scalability Through Automation and NOC Services
Scaling data protection services can be resource-intensive, but the combined offerings of Axcient and ConnectWise significantly simplify it. ConnectWise’s NOC services help MSPs manage backup solutions on a day-to-day basis. Axcient’s AutoVerify automates backup testing, proving that systems are operational and recovery-ready without requiring constant manual intervention. Brent highlights the benefits of this approach, “Deployment for new clients? I hand the ticket to ConnectWise, and they do it for me. We don’t deal with it.” This automation enhances scalability and delivers consistent service quality across all clients.
3. Providing Robust Data Protection Solutions
The partnership ensures MSPs can deliver reliable data protection that meets modern business demands. Axcient’s Chain-Free technology minimizes data loss and reduces storage requirements, addressing a critical pain point in traditional chain-based backups. Together with ConnectWise, the platform provides advanced features like direct-to-cloud backups, rapid recovery, and customizable RTOs. Jim explains the synergy, “When we say fully managed, we’re finding data where it lives, protecting it, matching it to the client’s needs, and testing and proving that it works.”
4. Flexibility to Meet Diverse Needs
MSPs serve a wide range of clients, each with unique requirements. Axcient’s platform offers the flexibility needed to cater to these diverse needs. MSPs can choose from traditional appliance-based backups, direct-to-cloud solutions, or hybrid setups. Existing hardware can be repurposed to reduce costs while maintaining data protection. Leif says, “There’s flexibility and options that we cater to all MSPs… You can consolidate BCDR into one platform without sacrificing functionality.”
5. Strengthening Resilience Through Testing and Validation
Axcient, ConnectWise, and GoodSuite emphasized the critical role of backup testing in ensuring resilience. AutoVerify automates daily testing routines, reducing the risk of unnoticed failures turning into disasters. GoodSuite integrates this capability into its service offerings, providing clients with bi-annual virtualization testing. Brent shares an example: “We had a challenging client whose testing revealed gaps in their previous solution. Through Axcient and ConnectWise, we addressed those gaps, restored confidence, and strengthened our partnership with the client.
6. A Shared Vision for the Future
This collaboration isn’t just about delivering technical solutions – it’s about building a sustainable ecosystem for MSPs to thrive. ConnectWise’s commitment to co-managed services allows MSPs to focus on high-value activities like client relationships and product development. Axcient’s backup and disaster recovery innovations safeguard MSPs with unmatched reliability and scalability for the future. Jim notes:
“We’re combining our strengths to help MSPs create processes, runbooks, and the daily care and feeding of protection systems so they can focus on helping their clients succeed.”
Making the Move to Data Protection
The shift from BCDR to data protection reshapes how MSPs deliver value to their clients, and the acquisition of Axcient represents a holistic approach to data protection for MSPs. By consolidating tools, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, and focusing on client education, MSPs can build stronger partnerships and drive sustainable growth at scale. As ConnectWise and Axcient combine their forces, we are committed to our partners and will continue predictable billing, mouth-to-mouth contracts, and the ecosystem where you can purchase Axcient. Integrations will continue to deepen to provide a new level of service and support that MSPs can be proud of. Stay up-to-date with these FAQs that are updated in real-time based on your feedback and the work both companies
Ready to learn more about Axcient and ConnectWise integration?
Dig in more to see how you can harness the comprehensive data protection of Axcient and ConnectWise, including co-managed backup – read the x360Recover and ConnectWise Asio™ Integration factsheet.
Not yet an Axcient partner?
See Axcient x360Recover and compare it with your current solution to ensure you get the latest BCDR security, integrations, and profitability innovations.
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