Short answer: there is no single best DRaaS provider. The right one depends on what you run and who will run the recovery. Our 2026 picks by need:
- VMware, with a provider's help: 11:11 Systems, Flexential or XTIUM
- IBM i and AIX: LightEdge or TierPoint
- IBM Z mainframe: Recovery Point Systems
- Nutanix AHV: Expedient
- Already hosted at Rackspace: Rackspace Technology
- Your own team runs recovery in the cloud: AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery or Azure Site Recovery
- You work through an MSP: Datto SIRIS
Three kinds of service sit under the DRaaS label. A managed provider replicates your systems to its cloud and helps run the recovery. A cloud platform such as AWS or Azure gives you the replication and recovery tools, and your team or a partner operates them. An MSP product like Datto SIRIS is sold and run by your IT service provider. Decide which model you want before you compare names.
How we picked
We researched 11 DRaaS offerings from their official product pages, documentation, service descriptions and case studies, reviewed between October 16 and November 1, 2026. Each pick matches a provider to the buyer need its documented service supports best. It is not a scored ranking, and we have not run hands-on recovery tests.
Every detail below comes from the provider's sourced profile, where each claim links to the page it came from. Where a provider does not publish something, such as a test allowance or a price, we say so rather than guess. DRaaS Advisors may earn a referral fee when we help a buyer choose a provider. Fees do not decide which providers we list or what we say about them. How we are paid.
The 11 providers at a glance
| Provider | Best for | Who runs recovery | Replication | Testing | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:11 SystemsManaged DRaaS | VMware teams that want a choice of Veeam or Zerto | Provider-assisted | Veeam (snapshot or CDP) or Zerto, as separate service paths | Self-service tests; managed scope and frequency need agreement | Scoped quote; Veeam burst CPU/RAM usage is additional |
| FlexentialManaged DRaaS | VMware teams that want self-service with optional managed tests | Self-service or provider-assisted | Zerto | Self-service support; managed or assisted testing options | Per-VM licensing plus runtime; tailored quote |
| TierPointManaged DRaaS | Mixed platforms, including IBM Power and Azure | Provider-assisted | HPE Zerto, Azure Site Recovery, VMware Live Site Recovery, or IBM Power replication, by service | Managed Zerto: implementation and annual tests; extra tests purchasable | Tailored quote; additional managed Zerto tests can cost extra |
| ExpedientManaged DRaaS | Nutanix AHV, alongside VMware | Managed response | Zerto, VMware, or Cohesity for VMware; native Nutanix replication for AHV | Bubble/live tests; connectivity and scheduling limits vary by product | Quote required; On Demand test runtime incurs usage charges |
| LightEdgeManaged DRaaS | IBM i and AIX recovering together with VMware | Provider-managed; platform-specific scope | SAN-to-SAN or logical replication (e.g. MIMIX) for IBM Power; VMware replication | IBM Power: engineer-led recovery tests and application-readiness validation | Scoped quote; IBM recovery-capacity rental described |
| Recovery Point SystemsManaged DRaaS | IBM Z mainframe recovery | Provider-managed; platform-specific scope | IBM Global Mirror or Dell EMC SRDF for IBM Z and IBM Power; Zerto or Veeam for x86 | Experts support all tests; annual test time scoped per contract | Scoped quote; subscription model described, no prices published |
| XTIUMManaged DRaaS | Zerto recovery in two provider-owned U.S. data centers | Provider-managed with a self-service portal | Zerto continuous replication; Veeam Cloud Connect for backup copies | Zerto self-service portal; test entitlement not published | Scoped quote; no published DRaaS pricing |
| Rackspace TechnologyManaged DRaaS | Companies already hosting VMware at Rackspace | Self-service or Rackspace-run, by tier | VMware Cloud Director Availability (1 min to 24 hr RPO) or Zerto continuous replication; Azure Site Recovery for Hyper-V | Periodic tests against the customer's DR plan; fees may apply | Scoped quote; SDDC Flex DR billed per VM-hour plus storage and replication |
| AWS Elastic Disaster RecoveryCloud recovery platform | AWS-oriented teams that will run recovery themselves | Your team or a partner | AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery replication to staging volumes and snapshots in AWS | Nondisruptive EC2 drills; traffic cutover and application validation are separate | US$0.028/source-server-hour for DRS only, plus AWS resources |
| Azure Site RecoveryCloud recovery platform | Azure-oriented teams that will run recovery themselves | Your team or a partner | Azure Site Recovery replication to a target Azure region, with recovery points | Single-VM or recovery-plan test failover; team/partner validates and cleans up | Per protected instance, plus Azure storage, compute and transfer |
| Datto SIRISMSP-delivered | Businesses that rely on an MSP | Through an MSP | Image-based backup to a local appliance and the Datto Cloud | Boot screenshots and optional application checks; full MSP drill separately agreed | Advertised flat-fee product model; MSP scope and price need a quote |
The picks, provider by provider
11:11 Systems
Best for: VMware teams that want a choice of Veeam or Zerto
VMware recovery through Veeam or Zerto service paths, with self-service testing and optional managed recovery assistance.
- Why it stands out: Recovery design, onboarding, and runbook assistance alongside the cloud platform.
- Workloads: VMware via Veeam or Zerto; validate versions
- Recovers to: North America, EMEA and APAC; availability varies by service
- Testing: Self-service tests; managed scope and frequency need agreement
- Pricing: Scoped quote; Veeam burst CPU/RAM usage is additional
Ask them: Which recovery tasks are included, and who validates application readiness after failover?
Full 11:11 Systems profile with sources ↗Flexential
Best for: VMware teams that want self-service with optional managed tests
Zerto-powered disaster recovery for VMware-oriented and hybrid IT teams, with recovery-cloud destinations, assisted testing, and flexible service options.
- Why it stands out: VMware cloud expertise paired with recovery planning, runbooks, and assisted application recovery exercises.
- Workloads: VMware-oriented environments; Zerto-based hybrid recovery
- Recovers to: Five US recovery centers described in the DRaaS data sheet
- Testing: Self-service support; managed or assisted testing options
- Pricing: Per-VM licensing plus runtime; tailored quote
Ask them: Which recovery site, testing package, and failover/failback responsibilities are included in our proposal?
Full Flexential profile with sources ↗TierPoint
Best for: Mixed platforms, including IBM Power and Azure
Recovery options spanning Zerto, Azure Site Recovery, VMware, and IBM Power, with service scope tailored to the selected platform.
- Why it stands out: A tailored service approach for infrastructure, recovery objectives, and compliance requirements.
- Workloads: Zerto, Azure/VMware paths; IBM i, AIX and Linux on Power via separate services
- Recovers to: TierPoint cloud or supported AWS/Azure targets; exact location needs agreement
- Testing: Managed Zerto: implementation and annual tests; extra tests purchasable
- Pricing: Tailored quote; additional managed Zerto tests can cost extra
Ask them: What workloads, recovery locations, and testing commitments will the proposed service cover?
Full TierPoint profile with sources ↗Expedient
Best for: Nutanix AHV, alongside VMware
Managed disaster recovery options for VMware and Nutanix, with runbooks, guided testing, and expert support.
- Why it stands out: VMware recovery includes full network failover; available service tiers use multiple recovery technologies.
- Workloads: VMware and Nutanix AHV via separate offerings
- Recovers to: 15 advertised failover locations across US markets; confirm facility and tier
- Testing: Bubble/live tests; connectivity and scheduling limits vary by product
- Pricing: Quote required; On Demand test runtime incurs usage charges
Ask them: Does the selected tier preserve our networking, and what is the application validation process?
Full Expedient profile with sources ↗LightEdge
Best for: IBM i and AIX recovering together with VMware
Managed recovery for VMware and IBM Power, with dedicated IBM i and AIX services covering replication, recovery planning, and testing.
- Why it stands out: IBM i operations expertise alongside VMware cloud services and a documented mixed-platform recovery deployment.
- Workloads: VMware; IBM i and AIX through dedicated IBM Power DRaaS
- Recovers to: LightEdge recovery environments; destination depends on platform and design
- Testing: IBM Power: engineer-led recovery tests and application-readiness validation
- Pricing: Scoped quote; IBM recovery-capacity rental described
Ask them: How will our IBM i applications and VMware dependencies recover together, and what testing, capacity, licensing, and failback costs are included?
Full LightEdge profile with sources ↗Recovery Point Systems
Best for: IBM Z mainframe recovery
Managed DRaaS for IBM Z mainframe, IBM i, AIX and x86, using storage replication, Zerto or Veeam, with work area recovery in Maryland.
- Why it stands out: Rare depth in mainframe and IBM Power recovery alongside x86, with work area seats for staff.
- Workloads: IBM Z, IBM i and AIX via storage replication; x86 via Zerto or Veeam
- Recovers to: Germantown, MD flagship; Maryland and Illinois sites
- Testing: Experts support all tests; annual test time scoped per contract
- Pricing: Scoped quote; subscription model described, no prices published
Ask them: How much annual test time is included, is failback covered, and how does the CBTS acquisition change our contract?
Full Recovery Point Systems profile with sources ↗XTIUM
Best for: Zerto recovery in two provider-owned U.S. data centers
Managed DRaaS from the former Evolve IP, using Zerto replication into XTIUM's Philadelphia and Las Vegas data centers, plus Veeam Cloud Connect for backup copies.
- Why it stands out: Zerto continuous replication and Veeam Cloud Connect in two provider-owned U.S. sites.
- Workloads: Virtual machines via Zerto; Veeam server and agent backups; confirm hypervisors
- Recovers to: Philadelphia (PHL) and Las Vegas (LAS)
- Testing: Zerto self-service portal; test entitlement not published
- Pricing: Scoped quote; no published DRaaS pricing
Ask them: How many recovery tests are included each year, who runs them, and how do we declare a disaster?
Full XTIUM profile with sources ↗Rackspace Technology
Best for: Companies already hosting VMware at Rackspace
Disaster recovery add-ons for Rackspace-hosted VMware private clouds, using VMware Cloud Director Availability or Zerto, plus Hyper-V replication to Azure.
- Why it stands out: A Zerto continuous-protection tier and Rackspace-run failover options inside an existing Rackspace cloud.
- Workloads: VMware VMs in Rackspace SDDC clouds; Hyper-V replication to Azure
- Recovers to: Paired Rackspace data centers (US and UK listed in 2023); Azure for Hyper-V
- Testing: Periodic tests against the customer's DR plan; fees may apply
- Pricing: Scoped quote; SDDC Flex DR billed per VM-hour plus storage and replication
Ask them: Is disaster recovery offered for our workloads if they are not already hosted by Rackspace?
Full Rackspace Technology profile with sources ↗AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery
Best for: AWS-oriented teams that will run recovery themselves
Continuous replication with recovery instances launched in AWS, plus drills and failback workflows for supported source infrastructure.
- Why it stands out: Recover replicated workloads in AWS and plan the return to source infrastructure.
- Workloads: Supported Windows/Linux on physical, VMware, Hyper-V, cloud or EC2
- Recovers to: Supported AWS regions, including US, Canada, Europe and APAC; verify capacity
- Testing: Nondisruptive EC2 drills; traffic cutover and application validation are separate
- Pricing: US$0.028/source-server-hour for DRS only, plus AWS resources
Ask them: How will we redirect traffic, validate applications, and manage failback? Traffic failover is handled outside DRS.
Full AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery profile with sources ↗Azure Site Recovery
Best for: Azure-oriented teams that will run recovery themselves
Replication and failover for supported Azure and on-premises workloads, with recovery plans to sequence application recovery.
- Why it stands out: Recovery groups, automation, and ordered startup help coordinate dependent machines.
- Workloads: Supported Azure VMs, VMware/physical Windows/Linux, and Hyper-V
- Recovers to: Selected supported Azure region; source-scenario and restricted-region rules apply
- Testing: Single-VM or recovery-plan test failover; team/partner validates and cleans up
- Pricing: Per protected instance, plus Azure storage, compute and transfer
Ask them: Who owns networking, application checks, target capacity, and recovery plan maintenance?
Full Azure Site Recovery profile with sources ↗Datto SIRIS
Best for: Businesses that rely on an MSP
An integrated backup and recovery product for MSPs, with local virtualization and recovery in the Datto Cloud.
- Why it stands out: Combines local and offsite backup with multiple restore paths and cloud recovery.
- Workloads: Supported Windows/Linux; agentless VMware subject to prerequisites
- Recovers to: Local recovery or Datto Cloud; confirm recovery-compute residency
- Testing: Boot screenshots and optional application checks; full MSP drill separately agreed
- Pricing: Advertised flat-fee product model; MSP scope and price need a quote
Ask them: Who declares an incident, operates cloud recovery, and provides support outside business hours?
Full Datto SIRIS profile with sources ↗How to choose a DRaaS provider
1. Start with your platforms
List what has to come back: VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, physical servers, IBM i or AIX, mainframe, or workloads already in AWS or Azure. Most managed providers here are built around VMware. IBM Power and mainframe recovery need a provider with a dedicated service for them.
2. Decide who runs the recovery
A managed provider shares the work of testing, failover and failback. A cloud platform hands those tasks to your team or a partner. Write down who declares a disaster, who brings each application back, and who checks that it works.
3. Set recovery targets per application
Agree how long each application can be down and how much data it can lose. These two numbers, RTO and RPO, decide the replication method and most of the price.
4. Ask what testing is included
Test allowances vary widely and are often unpublished. Ask how many tests are included, who runs them, and what an extra test costs.
5. Compare the same three costs
Ask every provider for a normal month, one recovery test, and 14 days running in recovery. Our DRaaS pricing guide shows public contract prices and a scope you can send.
Not sure which model fits? The fit finder suggests a starting point in three questions, and the comparison tool puts up to four providers side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best DRaaS providers in 2026?
It depends on your platform and who will run recovery. For VMware with a provider's help, look at 11:11 Systems, Flexential and XTIUM. For IBM i and AIX, LightEdge and TierPoint. For IBM Z mainframe, Recovery Point Systems. For Nutanix AHV, Expedient. If your own team will run recovery in the cloud, AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery or Azure Site Recovery. If you work through an MSP, Datto SIRIS.
What is the best DRaaS for VMware?
Several managed providers document VMware recovery. 11:11 Systems offers separate Veeam and Zerto paths. Flexential uses Zerto with a self-service base and optional managed tests. Expedient, TierPoint and LightEdge also document VMware recovery. If your team will run recovery itself, AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery and Azure Site Recovery both support VMware sources.
Which DRaaS providers support IBM i and AIX?
LightEdge has a dedicated IBM Power DRaaS service for IBM i and AIX. TierPoint offers separate IBM Power recovery services for IBM i, AIX and Linux on Power. Recovery Point Systems recovers IBM Power using storage replication such as IBM Global Mirror.
Which DRaaS provider handles mainframe recovery?
Recovery Point Systems publishes a dedicated DRaaS service for IBM Z mainframes. It describes DASD-based replication for the fastest recovery and VTS-based replication as the lower-cost option, with recovery in its Maryland data centers.
Do DRaaS providers include recovery testing?
Some do, with limits. TierPoint's managed Zerto service includes a test during implementation and annual tests. Expedient says scheduled Push Button DR tests carry no extra charge, while On Demand test runtime is billed by usage. Flexential's base package supports self-service tests, with managed testing as an add-on. Several providers do not publish a test allowance, so get it in writing.
Is AWS or Azure cheaper than a managed DRaaS provider?
The cloud service fee is lower, but it buys less. AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery charges about $20.44 per server a month for the service alone. Storage, recovery compute and the people who run recovery cost extra. A managed provider's quote usually includes some of that operating work. Compare a normal month, one test and 14 days in recovery for each option.
How do I choose a DRaaS provider?
List the platforms you must recover, decide who will run the recovery, and set recovery time and data loss targets for each application. Then ask each provider what testing is included and request the same three costs: a normal month, one test and 14 days running in recovery.