With teams increasingly reliant on cloud-based tools such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workplace, companies without reliable software-as-a-service (SaaS) backup can find their businesses suddenly facing critical data loss. Just in the last week or so, with the unfortunate Google Drive data loss where some users reported nearly six months of data loss, we've seen a painful reminder that no company is immune to these risks.
Many organizations make the assumption that their SaaS vendor protects and safeguards their cloud data. Information like customer lists, customer correspondence, and beyond are extremely important to the operations of your business—their loss would be catastrophic.
However, SaaS providers have no—or very limited—data protection capabilities. Some offer data protection for a limited period of time, but most fall far short of meeting the range of cloud cybersecurity challenges that organizations face.
So, if your SaaS provider isn't providing suitable backup and retention for your critical business information, what's your plan B?
SaaS backup is essential for business continuity
While many IT pros and managed service providers (MSPs) know the risks of neglecting SaaS application backup, it can be challenging to communicate the urgency to clients who often mistakenly believe that their SaaS application provider is already backing up their data indefinitely. Horror stories from the news might get their attention, but what can be equally impactful is outlining the risks within their own team, like accidental deletion.
When relying on Google, anything deleted by a user more than 25 days ago cannot be restored. There are also limitations to SaaS application data recovery based on the provider. Users can face irreversible data loss due to:
- Accidental deletion
- Malicious attacks
- System failures
- Vendor/provider errors
Your clients may not realize they risk losing months of data, such as standard operating procedure documentation, client details, transaction records, and critical conversations. Rework and process dysfunction resulting from data loss can be extremely costly, while loss of trust and a tarnished reputation can cause irreparable damage.
While showing the value of SaaS backup often means painting a bleak picture for your clients, the time spent impressing upon them the importance of this solution pays dividends every time one of their team members makes what they fear is a critical error or another provider incident shows up in the news. ConnectWise RMM™ partners on the Premium package—where Google Workspace SaaS backup is included—or who secured Google Workspace as an add-on option can now pat themselves on the back.
Benefits of an independent backup solution
When teams rely entirely on the SaaS application provider for their data backup, they are at the mercy of what the provider has decided is essential to restore, and they could end up as one of thousands of clients reporting data loss and asking for assistance simultaneously. With the additional security and control afforded by an independent SaaS backup solution, as their chosen IT solution provider (TSP), you have access to restore their data quickly and minimize downtime, becoming, if you're not already, their IT hero.
If you are in the market for a solution, ConnectWise SaaS Backup™ powered by Keepit includes Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Dynamic 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce—all so you can provide peace of mind to your clients who rely on these tools to do business.
Some of the benefits include:
- Full cloud data protection
- Easy setup and recovery
- Configurable retention, 30 days to 99 years
- Efficient methods for finding and restoring data
Recent headlines are a powerful reminder that relying entirely on SaaS app providers for data loss protection is not wise. Don't leave your clients' emails, application data, files, and metadata unprotected.
Companies relying on cloud-based SaaS apps aren't always aware that their SaaS data needs protection. Having a conversation with your clients about data loss and recovery will help you help them keep their data secure and stay focused on what matters most—their success.
