[DR] DRaaS: What Are the Models?

What Are the DRaaS Models?

Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) offers three primary models: Managed DRaaS, Assisted DRaaS, and Self-Service DRaaS. Each model varies provider involvement and management responsibilities.

These models cater to organisational needs, depending on in-house IT capabilities, budget, and desired control over the disaster recovery process.

Selecting the appropriate DRaaS model requires understanding the extent of support the provider requires and the organisation’s ability to manage disaster recovery internally.

The Managed DRaaS model is a fully outsourced solution where the provider takes complete responsibility for managing disaster recovery operations, including data replication, failover, and failback.

This model is ideal for organisations with limited internal IT expertise or those seeking a hands-off approach.

In contrast, the Assisted DRaaS model involves shared responsibilities between the provider and the organisation. The provider offers support and resources, but the internal team is still engaged in specific aspects of disaster recovery management.

This model suits businesses that want external assistance while maintaining control over particular processes.

Lastly, the Self-Service DRaaS model offers the highest level of control to the organisation, as the service provider only supplies the cloud infrastructure and tools for disaster recovery. The internal IT team is responsible for setting up, managing, and executing the recovery process.

While this model is cost-effective, it requires a skilled IT team with expertise in disaster recovery planning and execution. Understanding the differences between these models enables businesses to select a solution that aligns with their specific requirements and technical capabilities.

What are the DRaaS Models?

DRaaS models differ based on the level of control, involvement, and infrastructure used for backup and recovery.

Each model is suited for different organisational needs, depending on the complexity of the IT environment and the business's specific disaster recovery requirements. There are three primary DRaaS models, and they are discussed along with their definitions, provider responsibilities, user cases, and pros and cons.

Managed DRaaS

• Definition. In a Managed DRaaS model, the service provider is fully responsible for disaster recovery, including planning, implementation, testing, monitoring, and management.
  
  
• Responsibilities. The provider manages data replication, initiates failover and failback, and meets all recovery objectives (RTO/RPO).
  
  
• Use Case. This solution is best for organisations with limited in-house IT resources or expertise or those looking for a hands-off approach.
  
  
• Pros.
  • Reduced management burden for internal teams.
  • High assurance of recovery due to expert management.
    
    
• Cons.
  • Higher costs compared to other models.
  • Reduced control over the recovery process.

Assisted DRaaS

• Definition. With Assisted DRaaS, the service provider and the organisation share responsibilities for disaster recovery. The provider offers support and tools, while the organisation handles part of the management.
  
  
• Responsibilities. The provider assists with planning, sets up the replication process, and offers guidance, but the internal IT team is responsible for some aspects of testing, failover, and fallback.
  
  
• Use Case. This is ideal for organisations with in-house IT expertise that want to maintain control while still having external support.
  
  
• Pros.
  • Lower cost than Managed DRaaS.
  • Flexibility to customise recovery processes.
    
    
• Cons.
  • Internal IT involvement is required.
  • Risk of errors if the internal team lacks sufficient expertise.

Self-Service DRaaS

• Definition. In the Self-Service DRaaS model, the organisation uses the provider’s disaster recovery infrastructure but manages everything independently. The service provider offers only cloud resources for data replication and recovery.
  
  
• Responsibilities. The internal IT team handles replication, testing, failover, and failback operations. The provider only supplies cloud storage and compute resources.
  
  
• Use Case. Suitable for organisations with in-house solid IT expertise and resources to manage disaster recovery independently.
  
  
• Pros.
  • Complete control over the entire recovery process.
  • Lowest cost of all DRaaS models.
    
    
• Cons.
  • Requires advanced IT skills and knowledge.
  • Higher risk if in-house expertise is insufficient.

Summary of DRaaS Models

These models allow businesses to choose the exemplary service based on their needs, budget, and internal resources.

Summing Up …

Understanding the different Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) models—Managed DRaaS, Assisted DRaaS, and Self-Service DRaaS—enables organizations to choose a solution that aligns with their specific needs, technical capabilities and budget.

Each model offers varying levels of provider involvement, ranging from fully managed services to self-service options. This allows businesses to either outsource disaster recovery management or take complete control of the process. This flexibility ensures that companies of all sizes and technical expertise can find a DRaaS model that fits their disaster recovery strategies.

Selecting the suitable DRaaS model ensures efficient recovery from disruptions and minimizing downtime. Whether an organisation needs complete management from a provider or prefers a more hands-on approach, DRaaS offers scalable and reliable solutions to protect critical systems and data.

Businesses can choose the most suitable model by carefully evaluating their internal resources and disaster recovery requirements. This ensures they are prepared for disaster while maintaining continuity and operational resilience.