Why you need to backup Microsoft 365 (Cloud based Office software)

Microsoft 365 Cloud Backup: The Importance and Process of Backing Up

When it comes to your valuable data, the risk of loss is real.

If you're one of the millions of business owners around the world who have entrusted Microsoft 365 as your cloud storage provider, then it might be time you thought about a backup of your data on its cloud system.

With 47% of businesses trusting that their valuable data is in safe hands, there are still those who may not be aware that Microsoft 365 backup is necessary.

"Data loss? That will never happen to me!"

You may recognise that line because those are the famous last words of most business owners who fall victim to a data loss that wipes out their business.

Microsoft 365 - or Microsoft Office 365 as it was once known - is a great tool for businesses, which is why you need to backup the data on it.

Microsoft does not back up your data, so if anything goes wrong, you’re pretty much on your own.

But when exactly should you backup your data and how do we go about doing it?

According to the Cloud Industry Forum, 84% of UK businesses use cloud storage as their primary method for storing business data and communications (see link for reference).

This means that if something goes wrong with your cloud provider or their systems are compromised by hackers, there is a fair chance your business will be severely impacted.

Microsoft 365 backup needs to become part of an overall strategy aimed at minimising risk exposure within any organisation’s IT environment.

It provides protection against ransomware attacks.

This is where all files on local machines can be encrypted rendering unusable unless people pay a ransom to the hackers.

Have a listen to this latest episode of the "Techcess" technology podcast for more information on this, specifically.

Mark Riddell of m3 Networks runs through the facts and figures associated with data loss.

"But I use a major cloud service provider!"

You could argue that it is highly unlikely that major cloud service providers such as Microsoft, or Amazon, will suffer a data loss, but what about your line of business cloud provider?

How robust is their platform?

What security measures do they have in place to protect YOU?

So what exactly is a Microsoft 365 backup and why should you do it?

Backing up your data simply means making copies of all the information stored on cloud storage. The aim of this process is to restore lost or corrupted files, which can be done at any time, by accessing them from an external source (i.e., a USB stick).

You could say that backing up your cloud provider’s services provides you with added security in case something goes wrong; not only will you have access to essential documents but also email messages, calendars and contact details for every member of staff within the organisation.

So when SHOULD I back-up my Office365 account?

The answer here depends entirely on how much data there is stored within your account. If you have thousands of files, it would be a good idea to back everything up at least once per day – if not more frequently.

If this sounds like too much work and time is an issue for you, then feel free to get in touch with the Techcess team at m3 Networks.

We'll be happy to jump on a call with you and help you out by introducing you to our solution of choice - Skykick.

Listen to the episode to learn more about why we chose this software, but the headline is the fact that it backs up your data six times per day!

Don't leave your Microsoft 365 data back up until too late.

As with all IT and cyber security related issues, if you need to scramble to find a solution, the chances are a lot of damage has already been done.

The key to a successful and painless recovery after data loss is having a robust back-up plan and incident recovery process in place. This is something you should consult with your IT provider on what is best for your business. The cost to restore a single email can be more than the cost of a business-wide backup solution for a year!

The number one mistake that we see people making when it comes to back-up solutions is that they don't have a plan in place at all!

This means if disaster strikes their business could face severe downtime and probably even be forced out of production until data can be recovered through alternative methods which take time away from focussing on sales growth and growing their company's bottom line.

Microsoft even tells you that you should be backing up their software!

As Mark mentions in the show, it's actually written into their terms of service (section 6) that you need to option a third party service to back up your Microsoft 365 to the cloud!

Like with all things business, you probably don't want to put all your eggs into one basket.

Thankfully, we're here to guide you.

At m3 Networks, we understand that when it all goes wrong, you need confidence that not only is your data safe, but that it can be fully recovered quickly, because downtime costs you money.

That's why we offer a free consultation on a Microsoft 365 cloud backup.

We back up all your data, across multiple locations and ensure that it can be restored within hours should the worst happen.

So there you have it.

It is definitely time for you to think seriously about your Microsoft 365 cloud back up.

Get more valuable technology insights from m3's blog pages, here.

Mark Riddell's technology podcast "Techcess" is an m3 Networks production.

Mark and the team have created this podcast to help you and their clients understand how technology can help them in their industry and business, including helping them with cyber security solutions.

To find out more about Mark Riddell and the rest of the m3 team, visit them here and follow them on Linkedin.

If you want to get in touch about technology or cyber security, just address an email directly at Mark here.

He'll be very happy to hear from you.

Thanks for listening!

If you enjoy this episode, make sure you follow the podcast via your favourite app.

Here you can do it on Apple Podcasts!