Abstract: An agreement is created between a first entity and a second entity under which the second entity agrees to provide data protection services for use by a third entity. A backup copy of the third entity's data is created and maintained at a location controlled by the second entity. If the third entity suffers a data loss, a replacement copy of the data is generated from the backup copy. The first entity provides compensation for the second entity's efforts to restore the third entity's lost data. If the second entity is unable to restore the data, the third entity is compensated for its data loss.