This is definitely a testimonial of sorts.
If you landed here, I assume you have concerns about backups for Office 365, now rebranded as Microsoft 365 (M365). Your suspicions are valid.
According to IDC, 60% of M365 users are not using any backup system. Many businesses simply assume Microsoft is automatically backing up their data. This is not the case.
While M365 does offer high data availability, it does not qualify as a true backup solution. As I was writing this blog, the following pop-up appeared on my screen.
Do you know how to protect against accidental or malicious file deletion, user errors, ransomware, and data corruption?
The purpose of this article is to highlight the business reasons why an MSP like Integris uses Datto Backupify (DB) for our backups, and why we strongly recommend this powerful business continuity solution to our clients.
For a little context, most of our clients have several dozen to several hundred employees, concentrated in the following verticals: healthcare (medical device and pharmaceutical), manufacturing, nonprofit, professional services (accounting, engineering, finance, insurance, legal, and real estate).
Regardless of your specific situation, all or at least some of the following considerations should be applicable to your business.
Compliance
All user data from Microsoft 365, Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, Calendar, and Contacts is backed up three times a day.
Integris has rigid compliance obligations as an MSP. Why? As trusted stewards of our clients’ digital assets, we can’t afford to be compromised then serve as a trojan horse into every last IT system we support.
We apply the same stringent standards to all client matters when assessing cyber security/compliance risk and making recommendations.
DB is a perfect fit since it stores all client data offsite in geographically redundant data centers, each of which meets strict SOC2, Safe Harbor and HIPPA requirements.
Business Continuity
What are the main features of a comprehensive backup solution that truly protects Software as a Service (SaaS) data in the cloud?
- Full Access even if Microsoft has an outage related to hardware and software failure, natural disaster, or a power outage
- Total Control to correct for human error, viruses and malware, programmatic errors, external hackers, and internal malicious actions
- Complete Restore of lost files, folders, or an entire user account
- Convenient Search to save time finding lost emails, files, contacts, and folders
- Easy Export to other file formats
- Automatic Detection of new users
- Automatic Data Archiving for employees who leave
- Unlimited Storage and Retention as add-on options
Time-Tested Performance
Since our founding in 2008, Integris has vetted a lot of different backup solutions. And there are some great ones out there, depending on your needs: Acronis, Axcient, Barracuda, Storage Craft, and Veeam.
We definitely use other alternatives when warranted. However, settling on one primary solution from a reliable, financially solvent company like Datto creates infectious operating leverage.
Datto is easy to administer. It’s standardized across our client base. Our support team is fully versed in its capabilities. There are never any surprises, special exceptions, or workarounds. This means our clients are always protected and don’t waste time on data loss diversions.
Expense Management
DB is a cloud to cloud-based solution. This obviates the need for onsite equipment and allows businesses to say goodbye to network-attached storage device refreshes, licensing headaches, environmental threats, and integration challenges with other endpoints on the network.
Capital outlays are replaced with a cost-effective subscription model that enables monthly fees to be adjusted up and down based on employee headcount.
What’s Next?
Datto isn’t limited to the cloud. If you have on-premise servers, an onsite backup appliance can be configured for a hybrid scenario. Data gets backed up onsite, mirrored to georedundant clouds, and tested nightly to verify success.
We actually employed this solution before making a full migration to the cloud.
Is your Microsoft 365 data being backed up?
The Integris team has decades of experience, and we look forward to helping you figure this out.
