Imagine this: your business has smoothly transitioned to the cloud, leveraging the power of Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. The convenience is undeniable, and the risks of hardware failure, fire, or theft seem like concerns of the past. But is your data truly safe in the cloud?

The Illusion of Complete Safety in the Cloud

While services like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace have indeed minimised traditional data loss risks, they haven’t removed them entirely. The cloud, often perceived as an invincible fortress, is still susceptible to threats – in particular, cybercrime!

The Cybercrime Threat

Data Deletion and Manipulation: If a cybercriminal gains access to your cloud accounts, they possess the skills to delete or alter your data permanently.

Overcoming Version Protection: Hackers can exploit version protection by creating numerous document versions, leaving your original data vulnerable and unusable.

Perception vs. Reality: The belief that cloud data is completely secure is a dangerous misconception. The risk of cybercrime is real and ever-present.

Exploring Backup Solutions

Cost-Effective Strategies: The idea of backing up all Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace data might sound ideal, but the costs can be daunting over time. A more economical approach could be to back up only the data of key personnel.

NAS as an Alternative: Network Attached Storage (NAS) boxes, like those from Synology and QNAP, offer a one-time investment solution. They come with software to back up cloud data, requiring just an initial investment in the NAS box and setup time – no ongoing costs!

User-Friendly and Verifiable Solutions: Choose a backup solution that’s easy to use (to restore) and offers verification methods, like daily email alerts, to confirm that your data is being backed up effectively.

Choosing the Right Backup Product

When selecting a backup product, consider factors like cost, ease of use, verification methods, and data retention capabilities. It’s crucial to pick a solution that fits your business’s unique needs and budget.

Conclusion

The transition to cloud services like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace has undoubtedly brought many benefits. However, it’s crucial to remain vigilant about the security of your data. Cybercrime poses a real threat, and a robust backup strategy is your best defence.