Ask an MSP Expert: Offering comprehensive Microsoft 365 protection 

It’s estimated that Microsoft 365 is used by over one million companies globally. This widespread adoption is led by more than just the Microsoft name. Its ease of use, seamless integrations and collaboration capabilities, streamlined IT management, and built-in security features make it a compelling offering. Its reputation often leads users to think that the tool and the data stored with Microsoft is protected by Microsoft. 

However, this is not the case! Microsoft operates in a ‘shared responsibility’ model where it is the users’ responsibility to ‘regularly backup content and data stored on the Services or store using Third-Party Apps.’ 

I sat down with Rob Anderson, Director of Sales Engineering at Barracuda Networks, to better understand what this means and how managed service providers (MSPs) can capitalize on this opportunity. 

When it comes to Microsoft 365 data protection, what have you heard from MSPs?

While the importance of backup is obvious to MSPs, many organizations are not actively backing up their Microsoft 365 data, because they think Microsoft is doing it for them. As a result, MSPs are recognizing this opportunity, and are looking for a scalable, comprehensive backup and recovery solution for all Microsoft 365 data.

What should MSPs be looking for in a solution?

They should look for a solution that backs up Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. Their number one priority needs to be to mitigate the risk of accidental data loss for their customers. That’s why looking for something that covers all these areas is critical. The ability to recover from ransomware, disaster, accidental deletion, and restore lost files is also critical in today’s cybersecurity climate.

This helps identify a few key features that many MSPs in the market are searching for in a solution. Some of these include:

• Easy to use 
• Unlimited backup 
• Extensive Microsoft 365 support 
• SaaS backup for SaaS applications 
• Transparent reporting 

For those looking today, many MSPs are turning to Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup, a cloud native backup solution for all Office 365 data. You might want to give this a look yourself! Having unlimited storage and retention, granular recovery options, and an easy to deploy and manage solution is the goal to protect customers’ Microsoft 365 data.

You and your customers deserve flexible data protection that works and empowers you to safeguard your customers’ business-critical data. Discover how closing the data protection gap can begin with Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup by scheduling a free product demonstration today. 

For further information on this topic, including tips for demonstrating value, illustrating the importance of, and generating conversations on Microsoft 365 backup, stay tuned for another post on SmarterMSP.com coming soon!

Photo: Ar_TH / Shutterstock