Backing up your Microsoft 365 environment will require you to create backup and data storage for your business. Data is always vulnerable and at risk from various possible sources. For instance, you not only have to be concerned about malicious activity for the safety of your data, but also be vary of natural hazards.  Tornadoes, power outages, and fires can causes damage to server outlets, leading to data corruption and destruction.

Not to mention, your data is also vulnerable to the common human error. This highlights the multitude of different things that can go wrong. Whether it is accidental, purposeful, or a natural disaster, it is very important to be prepared with backups and disaster recovery plans. Despite incorporating Microsoft 365 to your network as a service, the responsibility for data protection will essentially be yours.

Reasons for Backing up M365 Environment

Business owners will often refrain from backing up their Microsoft 365. This is because they believe that moving their data to the cloud rids them from worrying about backup. However, this is only partially true. Despite the protection that Microsoft offers, you will still need to backup your data, and protect secondary backups as well.

Application Support

It is Microsoft’s responsibility to ensure that all the applications on the M365 platform continue to function seamlessly. When you move your data to the M365 cloud, you are essentially moving your business data from the work premise to giant servers at Microsoft data centers.

Microsoft have data centers that are located all across the world, and it is their responsibility to keep them running. For instance, if there is a hardware or software failure, they are responsible for fixing them so that it does not impact your business.

Overall, storing your data in Microsoft’s cloud means that it will be stored in multiple data centers across the world. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the backups on Microsoft are limited. There are various 365 products that you may use.

All of these products come with various features. If you do happen to delete these features by accident, you can get it back. For instance, you have SharePoint online and OneDrive where you can store your files and folders. If you do happen to delete something from here, it will sit in the recycle bin for 90 days since you may happen to restore it.

What is a Backup?

To better understand why Microsoft 365 environment is missing the mark when it comes to data recovery, it is important that you understand the fundamental principles of a backup. A backup involves taking data, and putting it somewhere else, in case you need it in the future.

You need backups for countless reasons. Storage devices are vulnerable to malfunction, human errors and more. When it comes to M365, the same principle applies since it does the same job of a storage device, except that it also helps protect and manage your data as well.

This means that it is only sensible to take your Microsoft 365 data and move it to another location. In the age of today, the best place to move digital data is a cloud that is managed by a third-party center. Accidental deletion is a reality, and 1 in 3 users have reported that they have lost data from a cloud application.

Overall, cyber attacks are also on the rise, an attempt on your local network will affect your data. All of the reasons combined make paying for a data management source a worthy investment.

VAST’s Data Storage Ability

From M365’s terms and service, they have made it clear that it is recommended for users to regularly back up data that you store using third-party services. VAST, in this instance, is a third-party cloud service that can optimize your storage management. Equipped with hyperconverged infrastructure and cloud technology, your business will experience storage capabilities that not only provide protection, but also help your business scale.

With the help of intelligent cloud integrations for protection, you no longer have to worry about increasing storage capacity. Instead, a data management moderator will help you determine storage devices so that you can selectively make place for valuable data on the interface. VAST helps secure, sort, and streamline data management for your business. There are many more VAST solutions that can enable businesses to proficiently back up their data.

High Compatibility with Different Backup Solutions

The company partners with other data protection entities such as Veritas, Cohesity, Veeam, and Druva. Thanks to its multiple partnerships, VAST helps enable a multidimensional compatibility with a varied range of backup solutions. For instance, partnership with Veritas helps users leverage from managed services.

On the other hand, Cohesity by VAST, businesses get to enhance their secondary data storage and recovery. This solution is highly efficient due to its unorthodox, yet highly proficient data recovery. Equipping your system with Cohesity’s hyperconverged infrastructure means that you can deploy a recovery solution that maximizes secondary data protection, while also allowing you quicker and easier access.

Veeam is another partnership of Vast that ensures data protection and recovery. It is more geared towards minimizing downtime costs than recovering data. When faced with a data issue, Veeam helps swift backups for servers, M365 and virtual machines.

By a granular approach of protecting data at selective segments of the interface, you can reside to a more versatile recovery option with the help of Veeam. Similar to Veeam, another data recovery and protection based partnership takes shape in the form of Druva. This helps utilize the protection and management qualities of the public cloud for your backup and recovery needs.

Concluding Thoughts

VAST provides users with a cost effective backup solution to their M365 environment. With the help of smart backup solutions, you not only protect your valuable data, but also scale your business.  Get in touch today and we will help craft your business’s path towards a more secure and sustainable future.