Contrary to what you might believe, Microsoft is not responsible for the protection and long-term retention of Office 365 data. Microsoft is committed to taking care of their infrastructure and delivering application availability and uptime – it’s down to the user to take care of their data and back-up effectively.
Here’s six reasons why you should be doing just that:
1. Accidental deletion
Native recycle bins and version histories only protect you in a limited way. If you delete a user, you delete their work. A hard delete permanently deletes files and data, making them unrecoverable. Backing up protects from this.
2. Retention policy
Out of the box, Office 365 does not meet the needs of a modern retention policy. Limited backup capabilities mean implementing policies is impossible. With a backup solution, you create flexibility and close any retention gaps.
3. Internal security threats
Backing up Office 365 data is essential to protect against rogue employees. For example, an employee attempting to delete critical company data before they depart. Backing up ensures files can’t be deleted from one workstation.
4. External security threats
Every organisation faces external security threats, be them hackers or Malware. Backing up Office 365 data is essential to keep files safe and uninfected. This makes data recoverable in the event of a breach, so it doesn’t become a disaster.
5. Legal and compliance requirements
Should your organisation face a legal challenge, can you be sure you’ll have access to critical emails? Litigation Hold is a safety net, but it isn’t a complete backup solution. Backing up will protect this information in the event a user is deleted.
6. Managing hybrid email deployments
Organisations transitioning from on-premises Exchange to Office 365 Exchange Online need a transition window to maintain uptime. A good Office 365 backup solution will handle this and make deployment a simpler, smoother process.
