The Microsoft Office 365 productivity apps make perfect sense in today’s work-from-home world. Easy access to documents from any device and any location plus improved collaboration are now a necessity. But what should you do to protect your Microsoft 365 Data?
Some folks believe that migrating to Microsoft 365 eliminates the need for backup. This might be because Microsoft 365 offers some protection against data loss. Others believe that because data resides in the cloud, it gets backed up automatically.
And some believe that Microsoft OneDrive file sync provides a replacement for backup. These misconceptions don’t hold up as we learn that backup is just as important for Microsoft 365 as for on-premises Microsoft applications.
Microsoft 365 Data Risks
Don’t expect complete and fast restores of deleted or corrupted Microsoft 365 data based on Microsoft’s data protection policies. In brief, Microsoft says that it won’t lose your data. In practice, the company doesn’t guarantee that it can recover it.
Here’s the problem. Lost productivity, lost revenue, lost customers, and reputation damage head the list of likely results of failure to recover critical business information. Add legal repercussions if your business is subject to data retention requirements.
Microsoft 365 data carries many of the same risks as data hosted on-site, including:
Ransomware
Many think that Microsoft 365 data is safe from ransomware and other types of malware. Not so. Ransomware has been known to lock Microsoft 365 files in the cloud, hampering many users. It happens like this:
A user accidentally downloads ransomware to their laptop and OneDrive sync (if enabled) immediately copies local infected files to the cloud.
Criminals design ransomware to spread across networks through shared files and folders. Designed for collaboration, OneDrive remains vulnerable to this type of attack.
Accidental Deletion
Users often mistakenly delete data and conversations in Teams, SharePoint or Groups. Or they overwrite important versions of existing files. Restoring from the Recycle Bin remains an option, but deleted files drop out of the Recycle Bin periodically.
Intentional Destruction
Disgruntled employees often intentionally delete files before exiting the company. Or an outsider might copy or destroy Microsoft 365 files and folders using a stolen device with a weak password. When employees can’t perform their usual tasks due to accidental or intentional data destruction, revenue loss follows.
Customization
Microsoft 365 customization offers a lot of benefits. However, modifications to user-facing sites may result in technical problems. The customization may need to be rolled back, and depending on the system affected, data loss can result in significant downtime.
OneDrive Fails as Backup
Even though OneDrive stores a copy of a user’s files in the Microsoft cloud, using it as a form of backup often results in data loss. A file deleted or infected on a local device is quickly synced in OneDrive meaning that the file is automatically deleted or infected on all synchronized devices.
Microsoft 365 retention gives organizations some control over what files to keep and for how long. Retention policies can be based on the creation or last modified date, keywords, or file type, among other criteria.
This helps organizations meet regulatory data retention requirements and reduce risk in the event of litigation or a security breach. However, Microsoft 365 retention settings vary among Microsoft 365 applications, and some apps, like Microsoft Teams, do not have native retention capabilities.
OneDrive does offer some restore capabilities using the Recycle Bin. However, the Recycle Bin lacks many of the features of a true backup, such as isolated recovery points and centralized management of user data. So, a large restore becomes a time-consuming, manual process, taking IT and employees away from their normal tasks.
How to Protect Your Microsoft 365 Data
Protecting your Microsoft 365 data requires three things, modern cyber-security technology, employee education and effective backups.
Modern Cyber Security Technology
Antivirus protection, data loss prevention and cloud-based cybersecurity technologies form the first leg of your protection strategy. Since viruses and malware easily spread from local machines to data in the cloud, effective IT security technology must be implemented.
Criminals constantly modify ransomware to avoid detection. So, take the necessary steps to prevent ransomware damage and keep cyber security technology, such as firewalls and anti-virus software, up to date. Updates to cloud-based cyber security solutions occur automatically, simplifying management.
Employee Education
Many cyber-attacks rely on phishing or infected web sites. Train employees how to identify phishing email and what to do when they encounter it. Also, create and enforce guidelines for safe Internet use. Then, reinforce the importance of strong passwords and train employees how to create and manage them.
Effective Backups
Automatic and verified backup solutions provide the best protection against accidental or intentional file deletion, ransomware, operator errors, and data corruption. Going beyond Microsoft’s built-in protection, third-party backup solutions enable quick and accurate restores and most meet data privacy and data location requirements for all Microsoft 365 data.
Solūt utilizes Datto SaaS Cloud Protect as a secondary Microsoft 365 backup solution that offers protection for all the Microsoft 365 apps. Many others lack support for Microsoft Teams or they don’t offer flexible or permission-based restores.
Implementing an additional Microsoft 365 backup solution also reduces retention costs. If your organization must retain user data for a specified time, maintaining former employees’ Microsoft 365 licenses increases costs. An effective backup solution allows organizations to retain their email and files for much less than the continued Microsoft licensing costs.
For a few dollars per user per month, solūt can provide an effective cloud based additional backup layer to all of your Microsoft 365 data that ensures you will have the protection and coverage you need. Reach out to us today to talk about your M365 backup needs
Business Continuity Services from solūt
Planning the timing, method and storage of backups requires time and resources. solūt also provides comprehensive business continuity planning services that include enhanced backup, storage and recovery options among other innovative solutions.