System status
Data backup plays a central role in any business continuity strategy, and it’s evolving fast. As organizations modernize their infrastructure and migrate to the cloud, many are also adopting BaaS (Backup as a Service) to boost their resilience. Cloud-based backup services offer greater flexibility, scalability, and simplified management. But beyond the technical benefits, one fundamental question remains: is it a smart investment?
To answer that, you need to evaluate the total cost of ownership, or TCO. This analysis allows you to compare a BaaS solution with your current on-premises backup setup, factoring in not just direct costs, but also the time and resources required to manage the entire backup lifecycle.
What are your backups really costing you?
A backup solution isn’t just software and storage. Its true cost includes many adjacent activities — infrastructure deployment, system migration, day-to-day operations, technical support, and ongoing management.
In a traditional model, you’re responsible for acquiring and maintaining hardware, managing software, provisioning physical space, and continuously monitoring the system. These tasks require significant investments over time, not to mention the human resources needed for monitoring, patching, troubleshooting, testing recovery processes, and more.
Time is money
One of the most tangible benefits of BaaS is reduced operational overhead. In an on-premises model, your IT team needs to handle backups daily: checking logs, responding to alerts, adjusting configurations, applying updates, and restoring data when needed. These are time-consuming, resource-intensive activities.
In contrast, with a BaaS model, much of this work is either automated or offloaded to your provider. With Micrologic’s Cirrus BaaS, you can even opt for Premium Support, which includes 24/7 access to a dedicated Technical Account Manager (TAM). You can also choose Managed Services, which means fully delegating your backup operations — including alert handling, restore requests, retention policies, and more.
This combination significantly reduces workload. While it might not reduce headcount, it frees up valuable internal resources for higher-value initiatives and innovation.
Savings that scale with your environment
A TCO analysis also helps you estimate the potential savings of switching to BaaS. These savings vary depending on your environment: the volume of data you protect, the diversity of your systems (on-prem, M365, SaaS), your retention policies, and the level of service you require.
Every organization is different. That’s why a personalized assessment is essential to accurately evaluate the real cost and potential ROI of a BaaS solution.
Estimated Reduction in Operational Effort
Backup Infrastructure
60%
Migrating to Cirrus BaaS typically results in a 40% to 60% reduction in the time and effort required to manage backup infrastructure.
Backup Management
80%
Leveraging our Managed Services can reduce the operational workload related to backups by as much as 75% to 80%.
Beyond basic disaster recovery
Cloud backups are no longer just a disaster recovery tool — they’ve become a critical part of your cybersecurity posture. Features like immutable backups and air-gapped vaults are essential defences against ransomware and other modern threats.
But the value of your backups goes even further. A modern backup strategy can also support business intelligence, regulatory compliance, and AI initiatives by making historical data more accessible. With BaaS, your backup copies aren’t just insurance, but a truly strategic data asset.
So, what’s the TCO of a BaaS solution?
As we’ve outlined, calculating the TCO of a BaaS solution means accounting for all related activities — deployment, management, support, and long-term benefits. In our latest BaaS eBook, we present a structured comparison model based on nearly fifty individual tasks that span the entire solution lifecycle.
This evaluation grid helps you clearly identify which responsibilities remain yours, which can be offloaded, and what kinds of savings are possible. The result is a more accurate and realistic picture of your actual costs — far more informative than a simple per-terabyte pricing model.
The Micrologic team is here to help you assess your needs, build the right solution, and make an informed decision with confidence.
Ready to find out what BaaS could save you? Let’s talk.
BaaS Solutions Selection and Evaluation Guide
Analyze and calculate the true cost of BaaS solutions to determine which one best fits your needs.
