Don't Lose Your Data! Why You Need Backup for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace

You've moved your business to the cloud, using amazing tools like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. That's fantastic for teamwork and working from anywhere! But here's a common misunderstanding: just because your data is in the cloud, it doesn't mean it's automatically fully backed up by Microsoft or Google in a way that protects your business from every problem.

It's a big surprise for many business owners, but it's a crucial point.

The "Shared Responsibility" Rule

Microsoft and Google are responsible for making sure the cloud platform itself is working, the servers are running, and their services are available. This is called the "Shared Responsibility Model."

But you, the business owner, are responsible for your data. This means protecting it from things like:

• Accidental Deletion: Someone on your team deletes an important email or an entire folder by mistake. It happens more often than you think! While these services have a "recycle bin," it only holds items for a limited time (often 30-90 days). After that, it's gone for good.

• Malicious Insiders: A disgruntled employee intentionally deletes crucial files or emails before leaving.

• Ransomware and Cyber Attacks: Imagine a hacker encrypts all your files, demanding money to unlock them. Even though your data is in the cloud, ransomware can still spread and encrypt files in your OneDrive, SharePoint, or Google Drive. Without a proper backup, you might be forced to pay the ransom or lose everything.

• Sync Errors: Sometimes, a glitch or a third-party app can cause files to be corrupted or deleted across your synced devices.

You might think these are rare events, but unfortunately, they're not. Even large organizations relying on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace have faced serious data loss due to these very issues.

• Cyberattacks are constantly evolving. Just recently, there have been reports in early 2024 of sophisticated attacks in Microsoft and Google where hackers exploited weaknesses to gain access to emails and documents. While both companies work to fix these, what if your data was affected before a fix was in place, or if the attack came from a phishing email that tricked one of your employees?

• Human error is a constant threat. We've seen countless cases where important documents or entire team drives were accidentally deleted, only to be discovered after the short recovery window provided by Google or Microsoft had passed. Without an independent backup, that data is simply unrecoverable.

• Consider scenarios where, even with Microsoft's efforts to provide recovery, they highlight that they are not traditional backups and for long-term protection against things like ransomware or insider threats, a dedicated solution is needed. They focus on availability of the service, not comprehensive, granular, long-term data recovery for specific incidents.

This is why a separate, specialized backup solution for your Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace data isn't just a "nice to have"—it's essential.

A dedicated backup service provides:

• Longer Retention: Keep your data for as long as your business needs it, not just for a few weeks or months. This is vital for legal and compliance reasons too.

• Point-in-Time Recovery: Easily go back to a specific day or time before data was lost or corrupted. Did an employee accidentally delete a critical spreadsheet last month? You can retrieve that exact version.

• Protection Against All Threats: Whether it's a cyberattack, human error, or a technical glitch, a dedicated backup gives you a safety net to restore your data completely and quickly.

• Control Over Your Data: It gives you true ownership and control over your business's most valuable asset, even when it lives in the cloud.

Don't wait for a data disaster to strike. Understanding that responsibility for your data ultimately rests with you is the first step. Adding a robust backup solution for your Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace environment is the smart next step to keep your business safe and running smoothly.

Ready to make sure your business data is truly safe? Contact Interlock IT today for a simple chat about securing your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace data with the right backup strategy.