File-based, Image-based Backup: Selling the Differences

Being able to educate customers on the differences between file-based and image-based backup is key to marketing and selling BDR solutions and offerings, so how can managed services providers (MSPs) lay these differences out on the table?

CJ Arlotta, Associate Editor

October 9, 2013

1 Min Read
MSPs can help promote imagebased backup by educating customers and potential customers on the differences of backup solutions
MSPs can help promote image-based backup by educating customers and potential customers on the differences of backup solutions.

Being able to educate customers on the differences between file-based and image-based backup is key to marketing and selling data backup and disaster recovery (BDR) solutions and offerings, so how can managed services providers (MSPs) lay these differences out?

First, a disclaimer: These differences favor MSPs offering image-based backup solutions, specifically MSPs partnered with Datto, the disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) vendor.

To help the discussion, Datto created a short video to assist MSPs with explaining the differences between file-based and image-based backup, revealing simple, but effective, selling points.

While these points are non-technical, it’s what MSPs should focus on when educating customers on the differences between the two types of backup.

File-based backup

  • Specific files or folders are saved as needed.

  • Individual files can be restored.

  • Full restore is possible but time-consuming. 

Image-based backup

  • Takes pictures of entire machines.

  • Restores individual files, does bare metal restores, verifies images, boots virtual machines and runs remote offices.

  • Full restores can be faster and more reliable because image-based backup takes a full picture of a machine.

If you’re still not sure why image-based backup is the way to go (or you’d like to drive the point home even further, Datto Product Manager Ian McChord aimed to put an end to file-based backup in a blog post back in July 2013.

About the Author

CJ Arlotta

CJ Arlotta

Associate Editor, Nine Lives Media, a division of Penton Media

See more from CJ Arlotta
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