diff --git a/lib/kitchen/verifier/inspec.rb b/lib/kitchen/verifier/inspec.rb
index 37dddf1..8e438e1 100644
--- a/lib/kitchen/verifier/inspec.rb
+++ b/lib/kitchen/verifier/inspec.rb
@@ -237,6 +237,12 @@ def runner_options(transport, state = {}, platform = nil, suite = nil) # rubocop
             # default to false until we default to true in inspec
             runner_options[:backend_cache] = false
           end
+          
+          if config[:backend]
+            runner_options[:backend] = config[:backend]
+          else
+            runner_options[:backend] = 'ssh'
+          end
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/kitchen/verifier/inspec_spec.rb b/spec/kitchen/verifier/inspec_spec.rb
index 4dfd535..969d6a6 100644
--- a/spec/kitchen/verifier/inspec_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/kitchen/verifier/inspec_spec.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
       kitchen_root: kitchen_root,
       test_base_path: File.join(kitchen_root, "test", "integration"),
       backend_cache: true,
+      backend: 'gcp',
       reporter: [
         "cli",
         "junit:path/to/results/%{platform}_%{suite}_inspec.xml",
@@ -118,6 +119,27 @@
       config = verifier.send(:runner_options, transport)
       expect(config.to_hash).to include(backend_cache: false)
     end
+
+    it "inspec version warn for backend_cache" do
+      config[:backend_cache] = true
+      stub_const("Inspec::VERSION", "1.46.0")
+      expect_any_instance_of(Logger).to receive(:warn).
+        with("backend_cache requires InSpec version >= 1.47.0").
+        and_return("captured")
+      config = verifier.send(:runner_options, transport)
+      expect(config.to_hash).to include(backend_cache: true)
+    end
+
+    it 'backend option sets to gcp' do
+      config = verifier.send(:runner_options, transport)
+      expect(config.to_hash).to include(backend: 'gcp')
+    end
+
+    it 'backend option defaults to ssh' do
+      config[:backend] = nil
+      config = verifier.send(:runner_options, transport)
+      expect(config.to_hash).to include(backend: 'ssh')
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#finalize_config!" do