Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and Salesforce have transformed the way organizations work. It is estimated that organizations today use an average of 80 SaaS applications in their daily operations and 70% of the business applications they use are SaaS-based. According to Gartner’s 2020 I&O Leaders Survey, 70% of organizations are currently investing in SaaS and will continue to do so.
There’s no doubt that SaaS platforms provide impressive benefits to organizations. However, the question is, do they protect your data? There’s a common misconception among organizations that it’s the SaaS vendors’ responsibility to protect their data and that SaaS backup isn’t necessary.
Unfortunately, when it comes to SaaS data protection, the onus is on you. If you use SaaS applications or are considering moving to cloud platforms, it is important to know that cloud service providers follow a shared security responsibility model. This means that SaaS providers are responsible for application uptime and availability and you are responsible for the protection of your data. According to the shared responsibility model, SaaS vendors are not responsible for data loss that result from mistakes at your end.
Top Five Reasons Why You Need SaaS Backup
Although SaaS platforms offer flexibility and reliability, it doesn’t equate to data security. Assuming that your data is safe simply by being on SaaS platforms is a risk you won’t want to take. Despite their many advantages, SaaS platforms are not immune to data loss. As per research conducted by IDC, nearly 80% of the companies surveyed experienced at least one cloud data breach in the past 18 months.
While there are several factors responsible for data loss, listed below are the top five.
- Human Error: Human error is one of the leading causes of data loss and is, unfortunately, inescapable. Simple errors, such as inadvertently deleting an account or an important email, or mistakenly downloading a malicious attachment, can turn into a disaster if it goes undetected. Since SaaS providers can’t determine whether the request is intentional or unintentional, they will consider it a legitimate command and process it.
- SaaS Retention Policies: SaaS applications, such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, have a limited retention period. Microsoft allows for a maximum retention period of 180 days, after which the data is permanently deleted. Google Workspace automatically deletes the Trash folder after 30 days. Once the trash has been deleted, the data can’t be recovered or restored.
- Programmatic Errors: These types of errors are also known as sync errors and are a common scenario when integrating multiple SaaS applications. Such errors can potentially corrupt your critical data and can lead to permanent data loss. As per research conducted by global intelligence firm IDC, which surveyed around 300 CISOs, 67% indicated that security misconfiguration was among the top concerns associated with cloud production environments. In fact, eight in 10 companies across the United States have experienced a data breach due to cloud misconfigurations.
- Malicious Insider Activity: Your employees are arguably the greatest threat to your data, especially when their intentions are malicious. Since disgruntled or malicious employees have access to your data, they can easily bypass security controls to overwrite or delete critical business information. According to McAfee’s Grand Theft Data report, insider threats are responsible for an astounding 43% of all breaches.
- Cyberattacks: According to FBI reports, there has been a 300% increase in reported cybercrimes since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cyberthreats, such as phishing, malware and ransomware attacks, aren’t showing any sign of slowing down. More than 80% of data breaches are due to phishing attacks and nearly 95% of malware is delivered via email. Cybercriminals are getting smarter and cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Verizon’s 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report indicates that over 80% of breaches that result from hacking involve brute force attacks (password cracking) or the use of lost or stolen credentials while nearly 90% exploit SaaS apps.
Strengthen Your SaaS Data Protection Strategy With Unitrends Unified BCDR
SaaS platforms are not as safe as you think. Regardless of what a Service-Level Agreement defines, you must have appropriate security measures in place to protect your organization’s critical data stored in the cloud. Let’s face it: it’s your data and it’s your responsibility to protect that data. Having a robust backup solution will not only help you enjoy the benefits of SaaS platforms but will also ensure business continuity in the event of a breach.
Unitrends Unified BCDR provides end-to-end protection for your Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace data. Automated daily backups with unlimited storage and point-in-time and granular restore capabilities ensure data security and hassle-free recovery. With fast search and an intuitive interface built for recovery, you can recover a lost email in seconds instead of hours. Built-in dark web monitoring alerts you of compromised or stolen credentials, enabling you to take proactive steps to secure those accounts before any malicious activity occurs.
Contact us to find out how Unitrends Unified BCDR can help secure your SaaS environment, minimize downtime and maximize productivity.