9 reasons you need to backup Microsoft 365

Your standard Microsoft365 environment is NOT backed up by Microsoft. Whilst they say it is always available to you, if something goes wrong, there is no backup. Here's 9 reasons you need to be backing up your data...

Accidental Data Deletion

If somebody deletes a file from OneDrive or deletes an email, they may not be recoverable. An effective backup will enable anything deleted to be restored

Duplicate file mismanagement

If you create a high number of duplicate files as part of your normal collaboration process, you need to manage them. Deleting some of the versions is the simplest way to do that. If you attempt to delete earlier versions or true duplicates, you may accidently remove the wrong files. Again, backups will allow the right files to be restored.

Disgruntled employees

Whether it is an unhappy current employee or someone who's been dismissed and still has access (!!!!), they may sabotage or delete key files, such as customer lists, key templates or other data. This action may go unnoticed for some time, at which point, it may be too late to recover them.

Phishing or ransomware attacks

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated and are developing more realistic emails that may trick unsuspecting employees. All it takes is a single click for them to gain access to either exfiltrate data or hold it hostage as part of a ransomware attack. Having a clean backup means you may lose a tiny amount of data, but you are not at the mercy of the cybercriminals. Normal business can be resumed quickly.

Limited storage and/or email retention

When employees leave, IT administrators should back up Microsoft 365 data and reuse the license. Yet this doesn’t always happen, leading to the potential for even more lost data.

Third-party application illicit consent attacks

Third-party applications may lead to illicit consent grant attacks that can steal valuable data.

Lost or stolen devices

Whether you have only company devices (laptops and phones) or you have a more loose BYOD model, allowing staff to use their own devices, lost or stolen devices can lead to data issues.

Overwriting data

With AutoSave's default setting being On, overwriting a key document is easier than ever. It's easy to accidentally do this (we've certainly done it!). Backups of business-critical data enable them to be restored quickly and easily.

Limited backup features

There are ways to backup your Outlook and other Microsoft365 files, but they are time-consuming and tedious. They are not something you want to be doing multiple times a day to protect your data. You have better things to do!

What do we recommend?

There are numerous products on the market, but we prefer the Acronis suite of backup solutions. Available for server backups, Microsoft365 and for email, they are fast, safe, easy to use and secure. If you haven't got a backup solution in place and want to talk about how we can help you protect your business-critical data from all of the above, get in touch.

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