What would happen if your firm lost access to client data in the middle of tax season?
For many accounting and tax practices, that single event could lead to regulatory penalties, lost clients, or even business closure. In a world where ransomware attacks, compliance audits, and remote work are part of daily reality, relying on outdated or ad-hoc backup methods is no longer an option.
Managed backup services have become the quiet backbone of modern accounting firms. They don’t just store copies of data, they ensure business continuity, prove compliance during audits, and give partners peace of mind that client trust will never be compromised.
For firms handling highly sensitive financial records, payroll information, and tax filings, the right backup strategy isn’t just IT hygiene; it’s a survival necessity.
This guide examines the top managed backup services tailored for accounting and tax firms, what sets them apart, and the critical evaluation criteria every firm should consider before making a choice. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to look for and which providers stand out, when safeguarding your firm’s most valuable asset: its data.
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7 Top Managed Backup Services for CPA & Tax Firms
The managed backup market is crowded with vendors promising airtight security, instant recovery, and seamless compliance. But most of those solutions were built for general businesses, not for firms that handle highly sensitive tax returns, financial statements, and personally identifiable client data.
Accounting and tax firms require backup partners that combine compliance-grade security with practical ease of use. That means solutions offering features like immutable storage to counter ransomware, clear recovery point and recovery time guarantees (RPO/RTO), seamless integration with accounting and tax software, and transparent reporting for audits.
Among the many players, a handful stand out for consistently meeting the unique needs of CPA practices. Below, we break down the seven providers that deliver the strongest combination of reliability, compliance, and accounting-specific support, starting with the one built from the ground up for tax professionals.
1. Verito (Best Overall for CPA & Tax Firms)
Verito is one of the few managed backup providers designed specifically for accounting and tax firms. Instead of offering a generic backup service, Verito has built its platform around the unique compliance, security, and uptime requirements of CPA practices.
Why it stands out for accountants:
- Compliance-first architecture: Verito operates from SOC 2-certified data centers with 256-bit AES encryption, ensuring client data is secure and audit-ready. This makes it easier for firms to meet IRS Publication 4557 guidelines and other industry regulations.
- Seamless integration with accounting software: Verito’s backup services are optimized for QuickBooks (desktop and online), Sage, Drake, Lacerte, and other widely used tax and financial applications. Firms don’t need to worry about downtime or data corruption during backup processes.
- RPO/RTO guarantees: With daily automated backups, point-in-time recovery, and minimal recovery time objectives, Verito ensures that even during peak tax season, firms can restore access to client files quickly.
- Immutable storage: Backups are protected against tampering and ransomware, giving firms the assurance that their data copies can’t be altered or deleted.
- 24/7 monitoring and support: Dedicated support teams familiar with accounting workflows help firms resolve issues fast, without the learning curve of IT generalists.
Best fit: Small to mid-sized CPA firms, tax professionals, and multi-partner practices that want a specialized solution with predictable pricing and compliance-ready safeguards.
Verito isn’t just a managed backup provider; it’s a partner built to protect the reputation and continuity of firms that can’t afford a single hour of downtime or a single misstep in compliance.
2. NovaBACKUP
NovaBACKUP has long positioned itself as a trusted name for small to mid-sized businesses, with tailored offerings for CPA and tax firms. Its hybrid approach — combining local and cloud storage — makes it especially appealing to practices that want both immediate onsite recovery and long-term offsite protection.
Why it works for accounting firms:
- Hybrid backup flexibility: Firms can store data locally for fast restores while also maintaining encrypted copies in the cloud for disaster recovery scenarios.
- AES-256 encryption: Ensures client files and financial records remain secure during transfer and at rest.
- Centralized management: A single interface makes it easy for firms to schedule backups, monitor status, and generate reports for compliance audits.
- Fast recovery times: Local copies allow near-instant restores, reducing downtime during tax season crunch periods.
Best fit: CPA and tax firms that want the reassurance of both local and cloud backup, especially those with a preference for having a physical recovery option on hand.
NovaBACKUP provides a strong middle ground between traditional on-premise solutions and fully cloud-native platforms, giving firms flexibility without sacrificing compliance or security.
3. Carbonite (OpenText)
Carbonite, now part of OpenText, is a well-known name in the small business backup space. While it serves a wide range of industries, its simplicity and affordability have made it a common choice for accounting firms that need straightforward, automated protection without a complex IT setup.
Why it works for accounting firms:
- Automated cloud backup: Once installed, Carbonite runs quietly in the background, backing up files in real time without disrupting daily workflows.
- Remote workforce support: With so many accounting teams working in hybrid or remote setups, Carbonite ensures that data from laptops and desktops is protected no matter where employees are located.
- Ransomware protection: Built-in features help detect ransomware attacks and restore clean versions of files before damage spreads.
- Flexible plans: Offers tiered options that allow firms to scale up coverage as their storage and compliance needs grow.
Best fit: Small CPA practices or solo tax preparers who want a low-maintenance, cloud-first solution with predictable pricing and minimal setup.
While Carbonite doesn’t deliver the accounting-specific integrations of Verito or the hybrid control of NovaBACKUP, it remains a dependable entry point for firms that prioritize simplicity and accessibility.
4. Acronis Cyber Protect
Acronis has evolved from a traditional backup provider into a platform that blends data protection with cybersecurity. For accounting and tax firms, this means backups that not only safeguard data but also actively defend against threats like ransomware and malware.
Why it works for accounting firms:
- Integrated cybersecurity: Acronis includes AI-driven threat detection and ransomware protection, reducing the risk of compromised backups.
- Image-based backups: Instead of just saving files, Acronis captures complete system images, allowing firms to restore entire servers or workstations quickly.
- Multi-cloud support: Works across Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and popular virtualized environments, making it suitable for firms with diverse IT setups.
- Granular recovery: Enables restoring everything from an entire server to a single spreadsheet or client tax return, depending on the need.
Best fit: Mid-sized and larger firms that want more than just backup — specifically those seeking a layered approach that combines disaster recovery with active cyber defense.
Acronis is especially appealing for firms with complex infrastructures or those that want to future-proof their backup strategy with built-in security.
5. Datto
Datto has built its reputation by serving managed service providers (MSPs), but its disaster recovery and backup solutions are just as valuable for accounting and tax firms that need guaranteed uptime. The platform is known for its ability to get businesses back online almost instantly after an outage.
Why it works for accounting firms:
- Instant virtualization: If a server or workstation fails, firms can boot up a virtual copy from Datto’s cloud and keep working with minimal disruption.
- Immutable backups: Every backup is protected against alteration or deletion, which is critical for preventing ransomware from encrypting client data.
- Cloud failover: Firms can continue operations in the cloud if local infrastructure is compromised.
- Frequent snapshots: Datto takes backups as often as every five minutes, ensuring very low recovery point objectives (RPOs).
Best fit: Multi-partner CPA firms or firms with in-house IT staff that need near-zero downtime and the peace of mind that operations can continue during a major system failure.
Datto’s strength lies in its business continuity focus, making it a good choice for firms that can’t afford to halt operations, even briefly, during peak filing periods.
6. Veeam
Veeam is widely recognized as an enterprise-grade backup and recovery solution, but its scalability has also made it a practical option for mid-sized accounting firms. Known for reliability and flexibility, Veeam excels in environments where firms use virtual machines and cloud applications side by side.
Why it works for accounting firms:
- Virtualization expertise: Veeam specializes in protecting VMware, Hyper-V, and other virtualized environments that many larger firms rely on.
- Cloud replication: Backups can be replicated to public clouds like Microsoft Azure or AWS, giving firms flexible disaster recovery options.
- Granular restore: Firms can restore anything from an entire server to a single file or email, making it easy to recover exactly what’s needed during an audit or client request.
- Scalability: From small deployments to complex, multi-office networks, Veeam adapts without requiring firms to switch platforms as they grow.
Best fit: Mid-sized and larger firms with more advanced IT setups, especially those running virtualized environments or using hybrid infrastructure.
Veeam is best suited for firms with an IT team or MSP partner in place to manage configuration and optimization. Its flexibility and reliability make it a go-to solution for firms that see backup as part of a larger IT strategy.
7. Barracuda Backup
Barracuda has earned trust in the security space, and its backup solution extends that expertise into data protection. With a focus on compliance and ease of use, Barracuda Backup is a solid option for accounting firms that want straightforward, centralized control of their backups.
Why it works for accounting firms:
- Compliance-focused features: Encryption in transit and at rest, plus built-in retention policies, help firms align with IRS and SOC standards.
- Centralized management: A single dashboard gives visibility into backups across multiple offices or locations, simplifying oversight for multi-branch firms.
- Cloud integration: Backups can be stored in Barracuda’s cloud or replicated to public cloud platforms for redundancy.
- Long-term archiving: Flexible retention policies allow firms to meet client and regulatory demands for years of secure data storage.
Best fit: Accounting and tax firms that want reliable, compliance-friendly backups without managing complex infrastructure.
Barracuda strikes a balance between simplicity and compliance, making it a dependable option for firms that prioritize straightforward management and regulatory alignment.
Conclusion
For accounting and tax firms, data isn’t just information. It’s the foundation of client trust and the lifeline of the business. A single incident of data loss, ransomware, or extended downtime can jeopardize compliance, damage reputations, and disrupt critical operations during the busiest times of the year.
That’s why choosing the right managed backup service is more than an IT decision; it’s a strategic safeguard for the entire firm.
The providers highlighted here offer different strengths: Verito stands out as the only platform built specifically for CPA and tax workflows, while others like NovaBACKUP and Carbonite deliver hybrid and simplified options. Acronis and Datto combine advanced security with rapid recovery, whereas Veeam and Barracuda excel in scalability and compliance-focused oversight.
The best choice ultimately comes down to your firm’s size, IT maturity, and tolerance for downtime. What matters most is ensuring that your provider can deliver immutability, compliance-readiness, fast recovery times, and dependable support.
With the right partner in place, your firm can stay protected, audit-ready, and confident that client data is always secure, no matter what challenges come next.
