While Google Workspace is packed with features that enhance productivity and include security measures like encryption and two-factor authentication, data protection through Google alone is not sufficient for organisations.
Google Vault, while helpful for data retention and eDiscovery, is not a true backup solution. Here’s why businesses using Google Workspace should consider a dedicated backup tool to truly safeguard their data.
Understanding the Threat Landscape
Today’s cyber threats are increasing both in volume and sophistication. Ransomware, malicious insiders, accidental data deletion, and administrative errors can all lead to data loss. According to industry statistics, incidents of cyberattacks have surged, doubling in some sectors as attackers leverage AI to launch increasingly complex attacks.
In addition to the operational costs of data loss, regulatory fines are mounting as frameworks like DORA and the NIS2 directive mandate data protection and continuity measures for businesses handling sensitive data.
The Limits of Google Vault
Google Vault is often mistaken for a backup tool. However, its purpose is to ensure data retention and facilitate eDiscovery, not data restoration or long-term backup. Some of the limitations of Google Vault as a data backup option include:
- Temporary and Limited Protection: Google backs up data within Google Workspace only to meet their own SLA requirements and maintains data redundancy in its own data centres. However, this only provides temporary protection—after 25-30 days, deleted items are often permanently lost.
- Lack of Version Control: Google Workspace’s Trash allows retrieval of recently deleted items, but there’s no granular version control. You’ll only be able to access the latest version of the file, which can be problematic if you need an older version to recover from accidental changes or data corruption.
- Limited Restoration Capabilities: Google Vault doesn’t allow mass restoration, and recovered data, such as emails, may only be accessible in certain formats (like MBOX for emails), complicating the restoration process for organisations needing to reapply organisational structure or labels.
Why You Need a Dedicated Backup Solution
For organisations using Google Workspace, a dedicated backup solution ensures data is truly protected. Here’s how such solutions fill the gaps left by Google Vault:
- Granular Data Recovery: Dedicated tools allow organisations to restore data at a granular level, recovering files or emails from specific points in time, including multiple previous versions.
- Mass Restoration Options: In case of a large-scale data loss event, a dedicated backup tool provides mass restoration capabilities, helping you quickly return to business as usual.
- Improved Compliance and Security: Dedicated backup solutions aid in regulatory compliance by offering better protection against data breaches and giving IT teams greater control over data retention and recovery processes.
A Tailored Solution for Google Workspace
For businesses seeking a robust and user-friendly backup solution for Google Workspace, managed services provide peace of mind with streamlined, scalable data restoration and secure backup. This protects against accidental deletions, malicious changes, and more, all while ensuring compliance and reducing the risks associated with data loss.
Is your business ready for robust data protection and award-winning IT support for Google Workspace? At Dial A Geek, our Protect & Grow plans offer comprehensive backup solutions alongside ongoing IT management, tailored to keep your business secure, compliant, and productive.
Get in touch today to explore how we can safeguard your data and streamline your IT, just as we have for over 1,000 businesses across Bristol and the UK.