Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd
Cortex I.T. Labs (BackupAssist) is an Australian software vendor providing backup and disaster recovery for Windows servers, endpoints, and Microsoft Office 365, serving SMBs, enterprises, government, education, and MSPs across 165 countries through a channel-driven, subscription and perpetual-license model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd does
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd, operating commercially as BackupAssist, is an Australian proprietary limited company headquartered in Box Hill, Victoria, that has built and sold Windows-focused backup and disaster recovery software under the BackupAssist brand since 2002. The company's product portfolio is centered on four engines: BackupAssist Classic for Windows Server backup, BackupAssist Desktop for endpoint and Windows client backup, BackupAssist ER (Envelope Restore) for disaster recovery, and BackupAssist 365 for Microsoft Office 365 coverage spanning Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive. These are complemented by an add-on layer including CryptoSafeGuard, Cyber Black Box, Immutable Cloud Backup, and the BackupCare support subscription, and by Managed Backup Console (MBC) with separate US and EU editions aimed at the managed service provider channel. The platform integrates with Azure, AWS, Wasabi, BackBlaze, MinIO, Hyper-V, SQL Server, and IMAP, positioning BackupAssist as a vendor-neutral backup layer across major cloud and Microsoft stacks, with a reported footprint of more than 200,000 protected servers across 165 countries.
The business model blends perpetual licensing for Classic with annual subscriptions for Desktop, ER, and 365, plus BackupCare support subscriptions and MSP program revenue, providing a mix of upfront and recurring cash flow. Distribution is multi-tier: direct website sales, channel partners, an MSP program, and a network of international distributors covering Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Target customer segments span SMB (primary), enterprise, government, education, managed service providers, and home-office users, with named customers including Technology On Call, Wildcard Dental, Arquitectonica, Charlotte Behavioral Health Care, and the City of Milpitas indicating cross-vertical reach. The company operates with a deliberately small team of approximately five employees, suggesting a lean, cash-generative, channel-leveraged operating model rather than a venture-backed growth posture. No external funding, M&A activity, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed in the available data.
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd
- Legal name
- Cortex IT Labs Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://cortexit.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cortex I.T. Labs (BackupAssist) is an Australian software vendor providing backup and disaster recovery for Windows servers, endpoints, and Microsoft Office 365, serving SMBs, enterprises, government, education, and MSPs across 165 countries through a channel-driven, subscription and perpetual-license model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Data Protection and Backup Software
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Backup & Recovery Software (HDABAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Backup & Restore Platforms (Cloud Backup) (HDABAIAB), Endpoint, SaaS & M365/Google Workspace Backup Services (BPAEALAJ), Cyber Recovery & Ransomware-Resilient Backup Services (BPAEALAG), Managed Backup Operations (On-Prem & Hybrid) (BPAEALAC)
Keywords
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licenses - Perpetual: BackupAssist Classic is sold as a perpetual license with optional add-on features at extra cost. An optional BackupCare subscription provides enhanced protection.
- Software Subscriptions - Annual: BackupAssist Desktop, BackupAssist 365, and BackupAssist ER are licensed through annual subscriptions. All products available through MSP program.
- BackupCare Subscription: Optional subscription providing enhanced protection including CryptoSafeGuard, Cyber Black Box, and advanced recovery features for BackupAssist Classic.
- MSP Program Revenue: Managed Service Providers use the Managed Backup Console to manage client backups, providing recurring revenue through subscription-based managed services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | BackupAssist Classic - Perpetual License |
| Subscription | Annual | BackupAssist Desktop - Annual Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | BackupAssist 365 - Annual Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | BackupAssist ER - Annual Subscription |
| Subscription | Monthly | MSP/Service Provider Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cortex I.T. Labs develops and sells the BackupAssist suite of business-grade backup and data protection software for Microsoft Windows server, workstation, and Microsoft 365/Office 365 environments. The product line includes BackupAssist Classic (Windows Server backup), BackupAssist Desktop (workstation backup), BackupAssist ER (disk-to-disk-to-cloud), and BackupAssist 365 (cloud mailbox and Microsoft 365 backup), supplemented by ransomware protection (CryptoSafeGuard), immutable cloud backup, the Cyber Black Box forensic feature, and the Managed Backup Console for service providers.
Product overview
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd operates BackupAssist as a suite of business-grade backup and data protection software products for Microsoft Windows environments and Office 365. The portfolio consists of four core products: BackupAssist Classic (perpetual license for Windows Server backup with add-on cloud features), BackupAssist Desktop (annual subscription for workstation backup), BackupAssist ER (annual subscription for disk-to-disk-to-cloud workflows), and BackupAssist 365 (annual subscription for Microsoft 365 cloud backup). Additional modules include CryptoSafeGuard and Cyber Black Box for ransomware protection and forensic collection (via BackupCare subscription), and Immutable Cloud Backup for tamper-proof cloud retention. An MSP program provides centralized management through the Managed Backup Console platform. The company targets SMBs (up to 500 staff), corporates, government departments, universities, and MSPs, with deployments in 165 countries protecting over 200,000 servers since 2002.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BackupAssist Classic: Classic backups for Windows Servers and applications.
- BackupAssist Desktop
- BackupAssist ER
- BackupAssist 365
- Managed Backup Console (MBC)
Products and services
- BackupAssist Classic Enterprise-grade backup and data protection software for Windows Servers and business applications. Supports image backup, file and application backup, cloud backup to Azure, AWS, Wasabi, BackBlaze and MinIO, tape/RDX/iSCSI storage, ransomware protection via CryptoSafeGuard, and disaster recovery. Licensed perpetually with optional BackupCare subscription for enhanced features.
- BackupAssist Desktop Professional backup software for Windows 10/11 workstations and laptops. Designed for work-from-home users and small businesses, providing business-grade data resilience adapted from BackupAssist Classic. Licensed through annual subscription.
- BackupAssist ER Specialized backup solution designed for disk-to-disk-to-cloud backup workflows. Provides seamless data protection with local storage and cloud archiving capabilities. Licensed through annual subscription.
- BackupAssist 365 Cloud backup solution for Microsoft 365 environments including Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive for Business. Also supports IMAP mailbox backup from other servers and Exchange Online. Licensed through annual subscription.
- Managed Backup Console (MBC) Centralized management platform for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to manage and automate client data protection. Available in US (MBC-US) and EU (MBC-EU) versions for direct MSPs and distributor MSPs respectively. Provides multi-tenant backup management capabilities.
- BackupCare Subscription Enhanced protection subscription for BackupAssist Classic that includes CryptoSafeGuard, Cyber Black Box, and advanced recovery features. Provides elevated cyber resilience capabilities beyond standard licensing.
- BackupAssist Classic v15 Major version release of BackupAssist Classic that introduced Cloud Immutability to protect cloud backups from tampering or deletion, ensuring backup data cannot be changed, deleted, or encrypted until the retention period expires.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 200,000 servers protected worldwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Feature5 records
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Managed Service Providers (MSPs)coreBackupAssist's MSP program allows service providers to use the Managed Backup Console (MBC) to centrally manage and automate client data protection. The program includes dedicated technical support and client success teams. MBC-US portal for direct MSPs and MBC-EU for distributors' MSPs.
- Classic ResellerscoreBackupAssist Classic Reseller Program provides perpetual license reselling opportunities with dedicated reseller portal access. Partners can locate resellers through the Find a Partner tool.
- Cloud Storage ProviderscoreBackupAssist integrates with major cloud storage providers including Azure, AWS, Wasabi, BackBlaze, and MinIO for cloud backup destinations. Users can configure backups to directly send to these public or private cloud storage options.
- International Distribution PartnersminorLocalized distribution partnerships in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and United Kingdom with dedicated local websites and partner organizations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- AvePoint: Specialist in Microsoft 365 and SharePoint data protection, backup, and governance. Directly comparable to BackupAssist 365 as a focused M365 backup alternative, particularly in regulated mid-market accounts.
Direct peers
- NAKIVO: SMB-focused backup vendor for VMware, Hyper-V, physical servers, and Microsoft 365 with MSP licensing. Comparable product breadth, customer size tier, and direct-to-MSP go-to-market motion.
- Datto (Kaseya): Purpose-built BCDR and backup platform delivered almost exclusively through MSPs. Competes for the same MSP-led SMB buyer that BackupAssist targets through its Managed Backup Console.
- Arcserve (StorageCraft): Long-standing SMB and mid-market backup vendor with image-based Windows Server protection and ransomware-resilient features. Serves the same Windows-centric buyer profile as BackupAssist Classic.
- Hornetsecurity (Altaro): Owner of Altaro, an MSP-focused backup product for Hyper-V, VMware, and Microsoft 365. Competes head-to-head with BackupAssist in the SMB/MSP channel via a similar multi-tenant console model.
- NovaStor: SMB-focused Windows/Server backup software vendor with a long heritage. Closely comparable in target customer, perpetual-plus-subscription licensing, and Windows-only specialisation.
- Acronis: Cyber protection platform combining backup with anti-ransomware and endpoint security. Targets the same SMB/mid-market buyer with bundled backup-and-security messaging analogous to BackupAssist's CryptoSafeGuard positioning.
- Veeam Software: The dominant backup vendor for Windows Server, Hyper-V, VMware, and Microsoft 365. Directly comparable product set, customer base (SMB to enterprise), and channel motion — Veeam is the benchmark competitor for BackupAssist.
- MSP360 (CloudBerry Lab): Cloud-native backup purpose-built for managed service providers, supporting the same cloud storage destinations (AWS, Azure, Wasabi, BackBlaze). Directly overlaps with BackupAssist's MSP program and cloud-storage interoperability story.
Broad incumbents
- Cohesity (incl. Veritas): Enterprise data protection incumbent following the Veritas merger. Competes with BackupAssist indirectly at the high end of the SMB and into mid-market, offering a much broader data security and management portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceCortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd
What does Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd do?
Cortex I.T. Labs develops and sells the BackupAssist suite of business-grade backup and data protection software for Microsoft Windows server, workstation, and Microsoft 365/Office 365 environments. The product line includes BackupAssist Classic (Windows Server backup), BackupAssist Desktop (workstation backup), BackupAssist ER (disk-to-disk-to-cloud), and BackupAssist 365 (cloud mailbox and Microsoft 365 backup), supplemented by ransomware protection (CryptoSafeGuard), immutable cloud backup, the Cyber Black Box forensic feature, and the Managed Backup Console for service providers.
Is Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd a public or private company?
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd founded?
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses - Perpetual is the primary driver. The others are software Subscriptions - Annual, backupCare Subscription and MSP Program Revenue.
Who are Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd's main competitors?
AvePoint is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are NAKIVO, Datto (Kaseya), Arcserve (StorageCraft), Hornetsecurity (Altaro), NovaStor, Acronis, Veeam Software and MSP360 (CloudBerry Lab). Cohesity (incl. Veritas) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd.
What industry is Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd in?
Cortex I.T. Labs Pty Ltd's product category is Data Protection and Backup Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAEAD, Backup & Recovery Software, with a secondary code of HDABAIAB, Backup & Restore Platforms (Cloud Backup). Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 7372.