AvePoint Cloud Backup is one of the most established M365 backup platforms in the enterprise space: broadest workload coverage, governance and records-management features, BYOK encryption, immutable storage, and integration with the Microsoft 365 Backup Storage platform. AvePoint scored 9/10 in Expert Insights' 2026 review, where reviewers called out the depth of M365 coverage and the governance capabilities. The product is positioned at organizations of 500 users or more.
AvePoint covers both content (mailboxes, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams) and configuration (Entra ID directory, policies, role assignments). For an enterprise with regulated data and compliance audit requirements, AvePoint is a serious choice: broad scope, mature governance tooling, BYOK key management, and Microsoft 365 Backup Storage integration that AvePoint was an early launch partner for.
Lavawall® is positioned differently. The configuration backup & rollback module is part of the Lavawall® RMM, bundled with patching, M365 breach detection, AV/EDR coexistence, GRC compliance evidence, and helpdesk. It is per-MSP-tenant priced, not enterprise-quoted. Content (mailboxes, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams) is covered separately by Lavawall® Backup, in the same console. For an MSP serving SMB and mid-market clients where AvePoint may be more than the client needs, Lavawall® covers the configuration layer at a fraction of the cost.
Where Lavawall® wins
MSP economics. AvePoint is enterprise-priced and most heavily marketed at the 500+ user segment. Lavawall®'s configuration backup & rollback is bundled in the Complete tier or available à la carte at C$3.95 / US$2.95 per user per month. That is workable economics for the 50-, 100-, or 250-user MSP-served clients where AvePoint is over-engineered.
Bundled with the rest of the MSP stack. Lavawall® is one console for patching, breach detection, GRC, helpdesk, administrator elevation, and config backup. AvePoint is a dedicated backup product that sits beside whatever else the MSP runs.
Azure subscription scope. Lavawall® covers Azure Network Security Groups, Key Vault access policies, RBAC role assignments, and managed identities, as well as M365 and Entra ID. Check AvePoint's documentation for its Azure subscription coverage.
Lower deployment friction. Lavawall® uses your existing Graph + ARM consent and runs against the M365 audit log already in place. No on-tenant agent. AvePoint deployments at enterprise scale typically involve more configuration work.
Where AvePoint wins
Enterprise governance and records management. AvePoint's depth in retention policy, legal hold, e-discovery, and regulatory records management is a real strength. For organizations whose primary requirement is governance evidence, AvePoint is a strong fit.
BYOK / customer-controlled encryption. AvePoint offers BYOK encryption with customer-held decryption keys, a meaningful control for highly regulated industries.
Microsoft 365 Backup Storage integration. AvePoint was an early launch partner for the M365 Backup Storage platform, supporting Express Recovery scenarios that other backup products don't natively support.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Lavawall® | AvePoint Cloud Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Mailbox / OneDrive / SharePoint / Teams content backup | Yes, with Lavawall Backup | Yes, primary |
| Restore from Google Workspace into Microsoft 365, or the reverse | Yes, with Lavawall Backup | Check AvePoint's documentation |
| Conditional Access policies | Yes | Yes |
| Entra ID role assignments | Yes | Yes |
| App registrations & service principals | Yes | Check AvePoint's documentation |
| Intune device-config / compliance profiles | Yes | Check AvePoint's documentation |
| Azure subscription RBAC | Yes | Check AvePoint's documentation |
| Azure NSG rules / Key Vault / managed identities | Yes | Check AvePoint's documentation |
| BYOK / customer-held encryption keys | Computer backups encrypted with recovery keys you hold; your own S3-compatible bucket optional | Yes |
| Immutable storage with retention policies | Restore up to 90 days to 7 years, or no limit; your own bucket with versioning or Object Lock | Yes, a primary feature |
| Legal hold / e-discovery / records management | No | Yes, deep coverage |
| M365 Backup Storage integration (Express Recovery) | No | Yes |
| Plan → approve → execute rollback workflow | Yes (auditable) | Standard restore workflow |
| Severity-rated change feed | Yes | Standard activity log |
| Audit-log correlation in change feed | Yes | Yes |
| Bundled with patching / RMM / GRC / helpdesk | Yes, one platform | Check AvePoint's documentation |
| Pricing model | Per-user MSP add-on or bundled in Complete tier | Enterprise quote-based |
| Target customer size | SMB & mid-market via MSPs | 500+ users / enterprise |
| Console in French | Yes: Canadian French, Canadian English and US English, chosen by each person | Yes, French, following the browser language (source) |
Who should pick which?
Pick Lavawall® if…
MSPs serving SMB and mid-market clients (typically under 500 users), where enterprise governance tooling is over-scoped and AvePoint pricing doesn't fit margins.
You want configuration and content backup bundled with the rest of an MSP platform, including Google Workspace and computer backup.
You need Azure subscription scope (NSG, Key Vault, RBAC) covered alongside identity.
Pick AvePoint Cloud Backup if…
Enterprise IT or MSP serving 500+ user clients with regulated data and active records-management or e-discovery requirements.
You need BYOK encryption with customer-held keys.
You need Microsoft 365 Backup Storage integration (Express Recovery).
Frequently asked
- Does Lavawall® back up mailbox content like AvePoint?
- Yes. Lavawall® Backup covers Microsoft 365 mail, OneDrive, SharePoint sites, and Teams, and Google Workspace, alongside the tenant configuration backup and rollback described on this page.
- Is AvePoint a good fit for SMB MSPs?
- Usually not. AvePoint is positioned at 500+ user organizations. For MSPs serving smaller clients, the pricing and feature depth are typically over-scoped. Lavawall® is positioned for that segment.
- Does Lavawall® offer BYOK encryption?
- Not in the same form as AvePoint. Backups are encrypted, computer backups are encrypted on each computer with recovery keys only you hold, and you can keep backups in your own S3-compatible bucket. If you need customer-managed keys for Microsoft 365 backups, compare AvePoint's offering.
- Is AvePoint Cloud Backup available in French?
- Yes. AvePoint’s backup console follows the browser language, and French is one of them. Lavawall® works in Canadian French, Canadian English and US English: each person picks a language, and you can set a default for each client.
Related Lavawall® pages
- Canadian alternative to AvePoint
- M365, Entra ID & Azure configuration change monitoring & rollback
- Best M365 / Entra ID / Azure configuration backup
- What is M365 configuration backup?
- What is Entra ID backup?
- What is configuration drift?
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