Microsoft 365 Cloud Backup
What Is Microsoft 365 Cloud Backup?
Microsoft 365 cloud backup is a recoverable copy of Microsoft 365 data securely stored in the cloud. Backups protect data in Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams, ensuring accessibility and recovery in case of data loss or corruption.
Does Microsoft 365 Offer Cloud Backup?
Yes, Microsoft provides a native Microsoft 365 backup to cloud for SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, and OneDrive for Business. However, Microsoft 365 Backup does not support Microsoft Teams, offers limited granular recovery options (currently available only for Exchange), and lacks customization for backup schedules and recovery point objectives.
Additionally, native m365 cloud backups are stored within the Microsoft infrastructure, with no option to choose a specific Azure region for backup storage. This increases user dependency on Microsoft and the availability of its services, including Azure Cloud. It also introduces a potential single point of failure, as both primary and backup data reside within the same ecosystem.
Key Benefits of Cloud Backup for Microsoft 365
Microsoft Office 365 cloud backups are a crucial part of a comprehensive data protection strategy, together with offline and local backups. While Microsoft ensures infrastructure uptime, it is not responsible for protecting your data. Regulatory authorities impose compliance requirements on data owners, creating compliance pressure. Additionally, cybersecurity laws emphasize the importance of business continuity and disaster recovery – areas where native Microsoft tools have significant limitations.
The key advantage of Office 365 cloud backups is their accessibility. Cloud providers manage the cloud infrastructure and ensure uptime, allowing IT admins to focus on business-critical tasks. This way, your backup data remains readily available and easily accessible whenever your organization needs it.
Cloud storage offers high scalability, often with unlimited capacity. Third-party Office 365 cloud backup solutions integrate with multiple cloud platforms, enabling you to diversify storage based on your needs and budget. For example, you can use Amazon S3 Glacier for cost-effective long-term archival while using Microsoft Azure Blob for fast, frequent access.
Major public cloud storage providers comply with cybersecurity regulations and standards, helping improve your o365 cloud backup resilience. Cloud storage is protected from physical damage and offers key security features such as backup immutability, strict access controls, and advanced cybersecurity measures to enhance data protection.
Public cloud storage offers many benefits, but it also has drawbacks. Cloud can be a target for cyberattacks, and since you don’t own the infrastructure, your control over it is limited. Relying on the cloud also increases dependency on third-party providers. Additionally, M365 cloud backups may have lower speed and performance.
PRO TIP: For reliable data protection, follow the 3-2-1-1 rule. Create at least 3 data copies, store them on 2 different types of storage media, and ensure 1 copy is offline and another 1 is immutable. Choose Microsoft 365 cloud backup solutions like NAKIVO Backup & Replication which allow you to store backups in multiple locations – not just in the cloud – for better security and flexibility.
What Types of Data Should You Encrypt During the Backup Process?
In short, you should encrypt all your backup data to enhance security and prevent unauthorized access.
Microsoft applies data encryption at different stages. For example, when a user uploads data to the Microsoft cloud, data is encrypted using internet protocols like Transport Layer Security (TLS). Within Microsoft data centers, native data encryption software ensures encryption at rest, using algorithms like AES-256. Files stored in Exchange Online mailboxes, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint Online are encrypted with BitLocker. Additionally, admins can configure customer-controlled encryption for added security.
However, what is data encryption without proper backup protection? For an additional layer of security, you need to encrypt cloud backups for Office 365 before sending them over the network. For example, NAKIVO Backup & Replication allows you to encrypt backups at the source, during transfer, and at rest in backup storage, ensuring complete end-to-end security against breaches.
