Article written by Christine Horton and published by CRN UK on 7 May 26.
A legal dispute, evolving pricing strategies and rising partner interest are bringing renewed focus to shifting dynamics in the business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) market
Slide, the MSP-focused start-up founded by former Datto chiefs Austin McChord and Michael Fass, is gaining traction as it expands into EMEA off the back of a recent $70m funding round.
The company is emerging in a market reshaped by Kaseya’s acquisition of Datto. A lawsuit filed by Kaseya alleged that Slide had used trade secrets to build a competing backup platform – a claim Slide denies, stating its technology was built from scratch using modern tools and architecture.
A US court has since dismissed the trade secret claim, removing a significant legal hurdle for Slide as it continues its international expansion. Other elements of the case, along with counterclaims, are set to proceed to trial in 2027.
MSP conversations shape strategy
Speaking to CRN, Slide COO Carlson Choi said the idea for the company stems from discussions with MSPs following Datto’s acquisition, when many partners felt the market had shifted.
“When that moment occurred, the magic disappeared. A lot of MSPs reached out saying, ‘this wasn’t the ending we anticipated’”, he explains.
Choi says Slide’s approach is rooted in those conversations, combining MSP-first principles with a ground-up rebuild of BCDR technology.
“We asked: if we had a blank sheet of paper, what would backup look like today? Tooling has improved. Security is now a requirement, not a nice-to-have,” he says.
That rethink has translated into a platform built around five core pillars: security, reliability, scalability, accessibility, and pricing. The company is pushing a month-to-month model with no long-term contracts.
That pricing stance comes as vendors across the market revisit their own models. In October, Kaseya also announced a move away from “high-watermark” pricing towards a more flexible, consumption-based approach.
“Increased competition will always push vendors to re-evaluate their products, pricing, and contracts,” said commercial director at MSP Brightridge Technology, Andy McKay. “However, meaningful change only happens when competitors bring something genuinely differentiated to the table.”
A Kaseya spokesperson tells CRN the pricing changes came directly from partners.
“MSPs told us they wanted more flexibility, simpler contracts, and commercial terms that match how they run their business – and we built the new model around that feedback,” says the spokesperson.
“The BCDR market is competitive, and that’s healthy for MSPs. Updates to pricing and contract terms reflect where the MSP business is going and our commitment to being the BCDR partner that grows with our community.”
However, when asked about the legal action, the spokesperson says the company doesn’t comment on active litigation.
BCDR beyond legacy platforms
For many MSPs, the decision to evaluate alternative BCDR vendors reflects longer-term shifts on the market.
“I’d sum it up as innovation,” says McKay. “We’ve seen for decades that technology providers reach a certain point in the market where product development begins to slow down that stagnation naturally pushes us to explore alternatives.”
That view is echoed by CEO of Jera IT, Austen Clark, who points to the appeal of a platform built from the ground up.
“Reviewing the Slide offer, this was a bottom-up development – fresh in its delivery platform,” he says. “The hardware is fast, silent and offers advanced performance we had been looking for.”
Clark also highlights early responsiveness from the vendor. “From the first demo we were provided answers to requests that our team have raised we are early engagement, accepting bumps along the journey.”
Early traction, cautious adoption
Despite the interest, MSPs are approaching Slide pragmatically.
“Slide has the potential to be a real market disruptor. But we’re still in the early stages of testing,” says McKay.
Clark adds that existing platforms remain in place. “Our current services are robust, evaluating the Slide service progresses alongside our current offerings.”
Even so, Slide is reporting early traction – according to Choi, Slide has signed close to 1,000 MSP partners globally within its first year, protecting more than 10 petabytes of data. He described a fundamental rethink of the BCDR underlying architecture.
“When Tesla came to market, it was still a car – but completely different inside. That’s what we’ve done with BCDR.”
Among the technical differentiators he notes were mandatory encryption across all storage layers, a fully solid-state infrastructure, and a scalable “sliding storage” model designed to eliminate the need for hardware swaps. He also pointed to full API access, enabling MSPs to automate workflows and integrate with AI-driven tools.
“The integration of AI has brought a fresh perspective to what backup and DR offerings can provide. Initial signs are promising,” says Clark.
The broader BCDR landscape is also evolving. Clark points to the impact of cloud adoption and governance pressures. “Less server on premise equals reduced requirements. At the same time, compliance and governance are now boardroom discussions,” he says.
Managed services relationships still matter
Even as technology and pricing evolve, established relationships remain a key factor in partner decision-making. Slide’s leadership team – many of whom previously held roles at Datto – are drawing on those connections within the channel. Former Datto EMEA director Kester Brooks, for example, is now leading the company’s regional expansion.
“Having dealt with many of the team from prior roles provides a level of trust from an early start,” says Clark.
Choi acknowledges that dynamic but maintained it’s not enough on its own. “Those relationships get you through the door, but you have to prove your value on a daily basis,” he says.
The company’s month-to-month model is designed to reinforce that accountability, he adds. “At any point, a partner can walk away. That forces us to deliver every day.”
As Slide expands into EMEA, the focus will be on whether early interest translates into sustained adoption in an increasingly competitive BCDR market.