Carbonite Safe
Automatic cloud backup for businesses. HIPAA and GDPR compliant with hybrid backup options.
💬 Verdict
Carbonite Safe is a solid choice for small to mid-sized businesses that need compliant, hybrid backup solutions and don'
Carbonite
Plans start at $6/month
📊 Pros & Cons
Pros
- 👍 Automatic, continuous backup that runs in the background without manual scheduling for most endpoints and servers.
- 👍 Compliance-focused: HIPAA and GDPR compliant with features like encryption, access controls, and audit trails.
- 👍 Hybrid backup options combine local snapshots for fast recovery with cloud storage for offsite protection.
- 👍 Supports a wide range of environments: Windows, Mac, physical servers, virtual machines, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace.
- 👍 Includes cloud seeding via physical drive shipment for businesses with large initial backup volumes.
Cons
- 👎 Pricing is opaque; you must request a quote, making it hard to compare costs upfront and often more expensive than consumer competitors like Backblaze.
- 👎 Advanced features like server backup, hybrid, and SaaS app backup are add-ons, so the total cost can escalate quickly.
- 👎 Restores for virtual machines or databases require additional modules and can be complex compared to simple file/folder restores.
- 👎 No built-in ransomware detection or rollback capabilities found in newer competitor solutions; it focuses on backup rather than active threat hunting.
- 👎 Initial backup speed is network-dependent and may be slow for large data sets without seeding services.
🎯 Use Cases
Carbonite provides automatic, continuous backup for on-premise servers with straightforward setup and centralized management, ideal for small IT teams.
HIPAA-compliant cloud backup with encryption and audit trails meets the needs of clinics and practices handling sensitive patient data.
Hybrid backup options create local snapshots for instant recovery while maintaining an offsite copy, useful for firms requiring rapid restores without giving up cloud protection.
Cloud backup with long retention and compliance features protects legal documents, but the cost may be higher than simpler file-sync services for modest data volumes.
🔍 Deep Dive
Optional add-ons for server/cluster backup, hybrid local storage, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace protection, and advanced support all carry extra fees. Requires a quote. Larger data volumes trigger tiered storage costs and possibly offsite seeding fees.
Minimal for basic desktop backup; moderate when setting up server, hybrid, or VM backup and understanding add-on licensing.
Consumers or micro-businesses looking for a low-cost simple file backup, and enterprises needing advanced ransomware protection or granular SaaS app recovery without paying for multiple add-ons.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Carbonite cost?
Carbonite does not publicly list pricing for its business plans; you must contact sales for a quote. Pricing typically scales with data volume and features like hybrid backup or server support.
Can Carbonite back up physical servers and virtual machines?
Yes, Carbonite supports hybrid backup and can protect physical and virtual servers, including Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware, but these features usually require higher-tier business plans and carry additional costs.
Is Carbonite compliant with HIPAA and GDPR?
Yes, Carbonite states compliance with HIPAA and GDPR, and offers features like encryption, access controls, and audit logs to support regulated industries.
How long does the initial backup take?
The first backup can take days or weeks depending on your data size and upload bandwidth. Carbonite offers seeding services via physical drive shipment for large initial backups on higher-tier plans.
Can I restore individual files and folders?
Yes, Carbonite allows granular file-level restore from the web portal or desktop app. For virtual machines and databases, restores may require additional licensing or add-on modules.
Does Carbonite offer on-premises backup or only cloud?
Carbonite offers hybrid backup options that maintain a local copy on a device or network drive while also sending data to the cloud, balancing fast recovery with offsite protection.
Does Carbonite integrate with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?
Yes, Carbonite has specific backup solutions for Microsoft 365 (Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive) and Google Workspace, but these are separate add-ons and not included in basic server or desktop plans.