Keepit & Hammer expand UK, Ireland SaaS backup reach

Keepit has signed a strategic agreement with Hammer Distribution, expanding the data protection specialist's channel reach in the UK and Ireland through the distributor's partner network.

The deal links Keepit's cloud backup and recovery service with Hammer Distribution's enterprise partner portfolio. It focuses on backup and recovery for software-as-a-service (SaaS) data and positions both firms around data sovereignty and resilience requirements in regulated environments.

Keepit sells a cloud-native platform for backing up and restoring data held in SaaS applications. It positions the service as independent of the original SaaS provider and as an additional recovery layer if an application outage, cyber incident, or account compromise disrupts access to production data.

Channel agreement

Hammer Distribution is a value-added distributor focused on infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data products. It works with resellers and managed service providers, which Keepit aims to reach at greater scale in the UK and Ireland.

Keepit said the partnership will broaden local customer support through the channel and increase its presence with UK partners. It also pointed to the use of local data centres as part of its regional offering.

"Across the board, we're seeing a huge increase in demand for specialised SaaS data protection. With data sovereignty becoming a core principle for our partners and customers, Keepit's local data centres and vendor-independent cloud are the perfect answer to the growing need for cloud resilience," said Alex Walsh, Regional Vice President, EMEA North, Keepit.

The emphasis on sovereignty reflects a wider trend among organisations seeking tighter control over where data is stored and processed. Many buyers also want clearer recovery options for SaaS services, which are often treated as critical systems but do not always follow the same backup practices as on-premise workloads.

Product scope

Keepit's platform currently covers 14 SaaS applications and plans to add more. Pricing is based on a per-seat model, which it says supports predictable budgeting for customers and partners.

Backup data is stored separately from the original SaaS environment. Keepit describes the approach as vendor-independent and says data remains accessible regardless of the status of the original SaaS service.

Keepit also highlighted immutability as part of its architecture. Immutability is commonly used in backup systems to reduce the risk of attackers encrypting or deleting backup data during a ransomware incident.

"By teaming up with expert distributors such as Hammer Distribution, we're able to offer high-quality, localised support and scale our presence rapidly across the UK channel," Walsh said.

Partner ecosystem

Keepit runs the Keepit Partner Network, which includes resellers, managed service providers, and distributors. In the UK, it plans to deepen relationships with value-added resellers and MSPs focused on cyber resilience.

Partner-led sales remains a central route to market for many security and data management suppliers in the UK and Ireland, particularly for mid-market and enterprise customers that buy through established service providers. Distributors typically provide enablement, pre-sales assistance, and packaging options for partners building managed offerings.

"Keepit is aiming to be the most partner-friendly organisation in the world. We're excited to add Hammer Distribution to our network to further support our UK partners and customers. We're focused on building long-lasting relationships to benefit our partners and ultimately our customers," said Jan Ursi, Global VP of Channels, Keepit.

Hammer Distribution said it is seeing increased demand for third-party SaaS backup alongside existing cloud investments, and positioned Keepit as an addition to its cybersecurity and data portfolio.

"We chose to partner with Keepit as we see an increase in demand for third-party SaaS backup that complements existing cloud investments. Keepit delivers best-in-class recovery for crucial applications and is a natural, high-value addition to our cybersecurity and data portfolio," said Dominic Ryles, Director of Cloud and Cybersecurity, Hammer Distribution.

Keepit is headquartered in Copenhagen and says it has offices and data centres worldwide. More than 20,000 organisations use its service, and it expects its UK and Ireland channel coverage to expand through Hammer Distribution's partner base.