I've noticed that many small organizations, usually with 20 to 80 employees, are relying heavily on Microsoft 365, but they often think that Microsoft automatically backs up everything for them. Spoiler alert: that's not true! Here are some issues I've encountered:
- Deleted items disappear much quicker than they expect.
- Restoring from SharePoint and OneDrive can be quite a hassle.
- Compliance and long-term archiving aren't typically on their radar.
- Many users assume that the recycle bin is a backup, which it definitely isn't.
While larger organizations usually invest in proper solutions, smaller ones often have tighter budgets and seem unsure of how to manage their backups. So, how are others tackling this? Are you increasing retention policies, creating your own scripts, opting for inexpensive solutions, or just hoping everything stays intact?
5 Answers
I’ve got a small 8-person team using M365. We opted for a QNAP NAS with RAID 1 and sync it with OneDrive. It's a cost-effective solution that helps us follow the 3-2-1 backup rule.
I use Synology's active backup for M365 too. It’s free, works like a charm, and backs up SharePoint, Teams, and important mailboxes without any monthly fees!
A solid option is to get a Synology NAS. You buy the hardware once and can use free plugins for backups. It's also great because there's no per-user licensing, which helps keep costs down. Might be what smaller organizations need!
Veeam is another popular choice. Though it's well-known, some organizations find it a bit pricey compared to alternatives. Still, many swear by it for M365 backups!
True, but I've heard Veeam isn't always the best option for smaller budgets.
Druva is another solution that works well for backups of M365. It's pretty straightforward and doesn't involve much hassle.
But aren't people put off by having to invest in hardware? Many small businesses seem to prefer straightforward and lightweight solutions.