Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about disaster recovery software and Crispy Umbrella
General Questions
What is Crispy Umbrella?
Crispy Umbrella is a comprehensive Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) platform designed for IT professionals and MSPs. It provides automated DR testing, training management, and ISO 22301-compliant documentation in a single cloud-based solution.
Key Features:
- Automated disaster recovery testing (tabletop exercises, simulations)
- Training and certification management with automatic reminders
- ISO 22301 compliance documentation and PDF export
- Crisis communication templates with variable substitution
- Automated network asset discovery
- Forms and templates library
Pricing: Custom pricing tailored to your organization. Schedule a discovery call to discuss your needs.
Best For: Small to mid-sized businesses, MSPs, and organizations seeking affordable, comprehensive DR automation
What is disaster recovery software?
Disaster recovery software helps organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from IT disruptions. It typically includes DR planning, testing, documentation, and automation features. Modern DR software goes beyond backup to include automated testing, training management, compliance documentation, and crisis communication tools.
How much does disaster recovery software cost?
DR software costs vary widely depending on infrastructure size, feature requirements, and vendor. Basic platforms may start at affordable monthly rates, while enterprise solutions like Veeam or Zerto can cost $5,000+/month.
Pricing typically depends on infrastructure size and feature requirements.
Crispy Umbrella Pricing:
We offer custom pricing tailored to your organization's specific needs and infrastructure. Contact us for a personalized quote and discovery call.
What features should I look for in DR software?
Essential features include:
- DR plan management and documentation
- Automated testing capabilities (tabletop exercises, simulations)
- Asset discovery and inventory
- Training and compliance tracking
- Crisis communication tools
- Reporting and analytics
- PDF export for audits
- Role-based access control
How is DRaaS different from backup software?
Backup software focuses on data protection and restore capabilities.
DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service) includes backups plus:
- Automated testing
- Runbook management
- Compliance documentation
- Orchestrated recovery workflows
- Training and certification tracking
DRaaS platforms like Crispy Umbrella help you plan, test, and document your entire recovery process, not just backup data.
Implementation Questions
How long does it take to implement DR software?
Implementation time varies by solution:
- Crispy Umbrella: 15-30 minutes (cloud-based, no installation required)
- Enterprise solutions (Veeam, Zerto): 2-12 weeks (complex setup, hardware requirements, agent deployment, and staff training)
Do I need to install agents on every server?
It depends on the solution:
- Crispy Umbrella: Supports both agentless scanning (using nmap for network discovery) and optional lightweight agents for detailed monitoring
- Traditional DR solutions: Usually require agents on all protected systems for full functionality
Comparison Questions
What are the best alternatives to Veeam?
For businesses seeking Veeam alternatives, consider:
- Crispy Umbrella: Best value for small-mid businesses (custom pricing, focus on DR planning and testing)
- Acronis Cyber Protect: Good for MSPs ($30+/device, comprehensive backup)
- Zerto: Best for large enterprises ($3,000+/mo, continuous data protection)
- Datto: MSP-focused with integrated backup and recovery
DR Best Practices
How often should I test my disaster recovery plan?
Industry best practices recommend:
- Tabletop exercises: Quarterly (4x per year)
- Simulation tests: Semi-annually (2x per year)
- Full DR drills: Annually (1x per year minimum)
Crispy Umbrella automates scheduling and reminders to ensure consistent testing cadence. More frequent testing is recommended for critical systems or regulated industries.
What is ISO 22301 and do I need it?
ISO 22301 is the international standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS).
You need it if:
- You're in a regulated industry (finance, healthcare, government)
- Customers or contracts require certification
- You want to demonstrate DR maturity to stakeholders
- You're expanding internationally
Crispy Umbrella provides ISO 22301-compliant documentation templates, making certification easier.
What is RTO and RPO in disaster recovery?
RTO (Recovery Time Objective) is the maximum acceptable downtime for a system or application.
Example: Email must be restored within 4 hours
RPO (Recovery Point Objective) is the maximum acceptable data loss measured in time.
Example: We can lose up to 1 hour of email data
Crispy Umbrella helps you define and track RTO/RPO for each critical system.
About Crispy Umbrella
Does Crispy Umbrella include backup?
Crispy Umbrella focuses on DR planning, testing, and compliance—not backup storage. We monitor and document your existing backup solutions (Veeam, Acronis, cloud backups) as part of your DR plan. Think of us as the planning and testing layer that sits on top of your backup infrastructure, ensuring your backups actually work when needed.
How do I get started with Crispy Umbrella?
We offer personalized demos and discovery calls to show you how Crispy Umbrella can meet your specific DR needs. Contact sales@crispyumbrella.ai to schedule a discovery call and discuss your requirements. We'll provide a custom quote tailored to your organization.
What kind of support does Crispy Umbrella provide?
Support varies by plan:
- Starter: Email support (24-48 hour response)
- Professional: Priority email support (12-24 hour response) + live chat
- Enterprise: Dedicated support engineer + SLA + phone support
All plans include comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, and access to our knowledge base.
Still have questions?
Schedule a discovery call to see how Crispy Umbrella can transform your disaster recovery planning