CrispyUmbrella vs ConnectWise
ConnectWise tells you what to do. CrispyUmbrella does it.
ConnectWise has published excellent BCDR content — their DR planning checklist, the BCDR guide, the business continuity handbook. If you've Googled "disaster recovery MSP," you've probably read their material.
But ConnectWise doesn't sell DR planning software. Their platform (Asio) focuses on backup orchestration through their BCDR partnerships. The guides tell you to create DR plans, test them, track compliance, and document results — then leave you to do all that in spreadsheets.
CrispyUmbrella is the product their content describes.
ConnectWise BCDR Ecosystem vs CrispyUmbrella
| What ConnectWise Offers | What CrispyUmbrella Offers |
|---|---|
| BCDR guides and checklists (content) | The software to implement those checklists |
| Backup orchestration (Asio/Co-Managed) | DR planning, testing, and compliance (product) |
| Partner program with BCDR vendors | Standalone DR planning platform |
| PSA/RMM for ticket management | DR-specific workflow with testing and tracking |
| "Create a DR plan" (advice) | AI-generated DR plans (automation) |
| "Test quarterly" (recommendation) | Automated test scheduling + results (execution) |
| "Document for compliance" (guidance) | One-click compliance reports (output) |
The Gap in the ConnectWise Stack
If you're a ConnectWise shop, your stack probably looks like:
| Layer | Tool |
|---|---|
| PSA | ConnectWise Manage |
| RMM | ConnectWise Automate/ScreenConnect |
| Backup | Datto, Axcient, or Veeam (via CW marketplace) |
| Documentation | IT Glue or Hudu |
| DR Planning | ❓ Spreadsheets? Word docs? Nothing? |
| DR Testing | ❓ Ad hoc? Never? |
| Compliance Reporting | ❓ Manual assembly? |
CrispyUmbrella fills the DR gap:
| Layer | Tool |
|---|---|
| PSA | ConnectWise Manage |
| RMM | ConnectWise Automate/ScreenConnect |
| Backup | Datto, Axcient, or Veeam |
| Documentation | IT Glue or Hudu |
| DR Planning | ✅ CrispyUmbrella |
| DR Testing | ✅ CrispyUmbrella |
| Compliance Reporting | ✅ CrispyUmbrella |
Why Not Just Use IT Glue?
IT Glue (or Hudu) documents what exists. CrispyUmbrella manages what should happen.
- IT Glue stores your DR plan as a document → CrispyUmbrella generates, versions, and maintains it
- IT Glue doesn't schedule DR tests → CrispyUmbrella automates testing programs
- IT Glue doesn't track compliance → CrispyUmbrella maps to regulatory frameworks
- IT Glue doesn't score readiness → CrispyUmbrella quantifies DR preparedness
Documentation tools document. CrispyUmbrella orchestrates the entire DR program.
FAQ
Does CrispyUmbrella integrate with ConnectWise Manage? API integration is on the roadmap. Currently, CrispyUmbrella operates as a standalone platform. Many MSPs link DR test results and action items to CW tickets manually or via webhooks.
Can I replace ConnectWise's BCDR offering? CrispyUmbrella replaces the DR planning gap, not backup. You still need a backup tool (Datto, Axcient, Veeam). CrispyUmbrella adds the planning/testing/compliance layer that no current ConnectWise marketplace product provides.
What about ConnectWise Co-Managed Backup? Co-Managed Backup focuses on backup monitoring and management. It doesn't generate DR plans, schedule DR tests, or produce compliance reports. They solve different problems.
I use the ConnectWise BCDR checklist already. Is this different? The checklist tells you what to do. CrispyUmbrella is the tool that does it. Think of it as automating the checklist — every item gets tracked, scheduled, executed, and documented.
Turn ConnectWise's Advice Into Action
You've read the guides. You know what a DR program should look like. Now implement it — without spreadsheets, without manual tracking, without hoping someone remembers to test the plan.
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