Cloud providers like Microsoft, Adobe and Dropbox offer seamless access to data, enhanced collaboration, and scalability. However, many businesses often misunderstand the role of cloud services, mistakenly relying on them as their sole data backup solution.
A comprehensive data backup strategy must go beyond cloud storage. In this article, we shed light on the gaps in cloud providers' data retention policies, explain potential problem scenarios, and discuss the critical importance of having a separate backup solution.
The Cloud's Limitations
Are you familiar with your cloud providers’ data retention policy? If the answer is “no,” you’re not alone. While cloud providers offer robust storage capabilities, their primary purpose is to facilitate data accessibility and real-time collaboration. The architecture of cloud storage systems inherently lacks the qualities of a traditional backup solution, such as versioning, point-in-time recovery, and retention of deleted files. Without these features, data can easily be corrupted, overwritten, or accidentally deleted, leaving businesses exposed to potential data loss.
Data-loss scenarios that could put your business at risk:
- Accidental Deletion: A common misconception among businesses is that data stored in the cloud is safe from accidental deletion. However, even a simple human error or a malicious insider can delete critical data, resulting in substantial losses.
- Ransomware Attacks: The rise of ransomware attacks has highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying solely on cloud services. If ransomware infiltrates your cloud storage, it can quickly encrypt all data, leaving your business in a dire situation without a proper backup to restore from.
- Data Synchronization Errors: Cloud storage operates on a real-time synchronization model. If data corruption or errors occur, these issues can propagate across all linked devices, further jeopardizing the integrity of your data.
- Retention Policies: Cloud providers often have limited data retention policies. If data is deleted and the retention period has passed, recovering that data becomes nearly impossible, leaving you with no recourse to retrieve vital information.
Why a Separate Backup Solution is Crucial
- Data Protection and Compliance: Many businesses must adhere to data protection regulations, such as GDPR or HIPAA. A separate backup solution can ensure compliance and provide the necessary tools for data recovery in case of an audit or data breach.
- Comprehensive Recovery: A dedicated backup solution provides the ability to restore data to a specific point in time, preventing extensive data loss and downtime in the case of an incident. For many companies, downtime can translate to a loss of revenue, making a comprehensive recovery plan crucial for their businesses.
- Business Continuity: With a reliable backup solution in place, businesses can maintain continuity during data disasters, minimizing downtime and reducing financial losses.
- Complete Control: Relying solely on cloud providers for backup relinquishes control over data retention policies. Having a separate backup strategy gives you autonomy to customize retention periods based on your business needs.
Cloud Backup Solutions
To best protect your data, businesses must take a multi-layered approach to backups, combining cloud services with a dedicated backup solution. While there are many back-up solutions on the market, here are a few reccommendations:
- Spanning Backup for G Suite and Microsoft 365: Spanning provides comprehensive backup solutions for Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) and Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). It offers automated daily backups and easy point-in-time data recovery.
- Druva inSync: Druva inSync is a cloud-native data protection platform that supports backup and recovery for SaaS applications, including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, along with endpoint devices.
- Backupify (Datto SaaS Protection): Backupify specializes in cloud-to-cloud backup solutions and provides backup services for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and other SaaS applications.
By adopting a proactive strategy, businesses can safeguard their valuable data, ensure compliance, and maintain uninterrupted operations, even in the face of potential data disasters. While the cloud is a powerful tool, it is not a substitute for a well-planned and reliable backup solution.
We Can Help Your Business Backup Cloud Data
Need support with your cloud backup? MicroMenders offers tailored solutions ensuring data resilience, compliance, and business continuity. Get in touch today and we can build a plan that fits your business needs.