Mary Coxon, Partner Marketing Manager, ThinkOn
Mary Coxon leads partner marketing at ThinkOn, drawing on a B2B technology marketing career spanning enterprise software, IT distribution and mobility, and CRN named her a 2024 Women of the Channel honoree for strengthening ThinkOn’s partner programs, events and education.
Every client who runs its own server room needs a backup copy that ransomware can’t reach and that doesn’t sit in the same building. For an MSP, adding it is one of the smallest, lowest-risk moves available, and one decision can become a recurring service line across many clients at once.
ThinkOn is the storage underneath that service, never a competitor to it. We’re channel-only, we don’t sell around you to your clients, and the immutable copy lands on storage with no egress fees and pricing that has held steady while the rest of the market climbs.
What insurers and auditors ask for
What insurers and auditors ask for
At renewal, cyber insurers and auditors keep asking for the same thing: proof that a clean copy of the data survives an attack. Definitions vary by insurer and what passed two years ago often doesn’t now, as TechTarget’s look at how insurance is reshaping backup architecture points out. The underlying pattern however remains consistent:
- Multiple copies. The 3-2-1 rule is the foundation, and many insurers increasingly expect 3-2-1-1, which adds one offline or immutable copy.
- Immutability. Backup data is locked against modification or deletion for a set retention period, even by administrators. It is often the single most critical control insurers look for.
- Documented recovery testing. Insurers expect records that restores work and meet recovery objectives, in line with CISA’s #StopRansomware Guide, which calls for offline backups that are tested regularly.
Why an immutable off-site backup can’t live in the same room
A client running its own server room has a simple problem: an off-site copy, by definition, is not in that room. The backups they run today protect against a failed disk. They do not protect against an attacker who reaches the backup repository, or against a fire or flood that takes the whole room.
Why it’s a good first step for an MSP
Because every client with its own server room needs the same thing, you build the service once and roll it out client by client. Recurring revenue that clients rarely cancel makes an MSP stronger every year, and few services are stickier than this one. It’s also the easiest way into a bigger infrastructure conversation with that client.
Nothing in production changes. Your client keeps the backups you already run, and you keep the client relationship, the backup operations and the service.
ThinkOn is the target and the backend. We work with Veeam and Commvault, with immutable storage through our Hardened Repository, and there are no egress fees when you need to restore. Three questions to take to your clients this quarter
- Where does your backup copy live?
- Could ransomware reach it?
- If your insurer asked tomorrow, could you show an immutable, off-site copy?
Any client who hesitates on one of these is your first conversation.
FAQ
Do I have to change backup software? No. If you run Veeam or Commvault, ThinkOn becomes an off-site target in the jobs you already manage.
How long is the copy locked? The immutability period is configured based on the client’s requirements and can be aligned with their security, compliance, or cyber insurance requirements.
Will ThinkOn ever contact my clients? No. We’re channel-only; the client relationship stays with you.
Let’s talk
We’re heading to IT Nation Connect Global, November 4–6 in Orlando. Stop by Booth 545 or book a meeting in advance here and we’ll walk through how an off-site immutable copy fits your client base. If you can’t make it, contact us and we’ll walk through how an off-site immutable copy fits your client base.
