Managing and Recovering Microsoft 365 Data

Many organizations consider Microsoft 365 (initially known as Microsoft Office 365) to be one of their most critical business applications and, naturally, want to ensure that their data is protected. Even as a SaaS product, Microsoft 365 is susceptible to many of the same types of data loss events as on-premises data. Some events, such as ransomware attacks, originate outside the organization, while others can occur internally, such as users accidentally deleting files or overwriting data.

Given the potential for accidental or malicious data loss events, regular backups are vitally important (Microsoft stresses this point in its Microsoft 365 service agreement). But choosing the right backup solution can be difficult: there are many options, and the right choice will vary depending upon the organization’s needs.

In this short report, I’ll provide an overview of how to think about protecting your organization’s Microsoft 365 data. We’ll start by looking at who is responsible for data protection, as well as some common misconceptions. From there, we’ll examine the native tools that come with Microsoft 365. Finally, we’ll look at the most important criteria for backup solutions with an eye toward helping you evaluate your organization’s requirements so that you can choose the solution that fits best. By the end of this report, you’ll be ready to make an informed decision about your Microsoft 365 backup solution.

The Shared Responsibility ...