backup – DSM Group

August 19, 2025August 19, 2025 By DSM Group Cloud Backup

Acronis 365 Backup Solutions with DSM Group

Protecting Your Microsoft 365 Data

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) has become the backbone of business productivity – with Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams central to daily operations. However, what many organisations don’t realise is that Microsoft operates on a shared responsibility model. While Microsoft ensures service uptime and infrastructure resilience, protecting your business-critical data is your responsibility.

That’s where Acronis 365 Backup, delivered by DSM Group, comes in.

Why Microsoft 365 Data Still Needs Backup

Relying on the default retention policies within Microsoft 365 can leave your organisation exposed. Common risks include:

Accidental Deletion – A user mistakenly deletes files, emails, or Teams messages.
Malicious Actions – Disgruntled employees or external attackers intentionally remove or corrupt data.
Ransomware & Malware – Malicious code can spread through shared mailboxes and OneDrive.
Compliance & Legal Hold – Regulatory requirements often demand longer data retention than Microsoft provides by default.

Without a third-party backup, once Microsoft’s retention period lapses, your data is permanently lost.

DSM Group’s Acronis 365 Backup Solution

DSM Group leverages Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud to deliver comprehensive Microsoft 365 backup and recovery. Our solution covers:

Exchange Online – Protect mailboxes, calendars, contacts, and attachments.
SharePoint Online – Secure entire sites, documents, libraries, and permissions.
OneDrive for Business – Backup files and folder structures with versioning.
Microsoft Teams – Preserve chat messages, shared files, and team site content.

All data is stored securely in DSM’s UK Data Centres, ensuring compliance with GDPR and local data residency requirements.

Key Features & Benefits

Automated Backups – Schedule daily or more frequent backups for complete peace of mind.
Fast Recovery – Granular restore options let you recover a single email, file, or entire mailbox in minutes.
Ransomware Protection – Built-in Acronis Active Protection detects and blocks suspicious activity.
Compliance Ready – Meet GDPR, FCA, and other regulatory obligations with extended retention and audit trails.
Scalable & Flexible – Pay only for what you need – easily scale up as your Microsoft 365 usage grows.
UK Data Sovereignty – Your backups never leave DSM’s secure UK facilities.

How It Works

Seamless Integration – DSM connects your Microsoft 365 tenant to the Acronis backup platform with no downtime.
Policy Setup – Backup frequency, retention policies, and security settings are tailored to your business needs.
Ongoing Protection – Your data is backed up automatically to DSM’s secure cloud.
Quick Recovery – Restore lost or corrupted data on-demand, whether it’s a single file or an entire SharePoint site.

Why Choose DSM Group?

With nearly 40 years of experience in data protection, colocation, and business continuity, DSM Group provides more than just backup software. We deliver:

End-to-End Management – From configuration to ongoing monitoring and support.
UK-Based Support – Expert helpdesk and technical support available when you need it.
Trusted Infrastructure – Hosted within DSM’s eco-friendly UK Data Centres.
Proven Experience – Trusted by businesses across multiple industries for secure data management.

Get Started Today

Don’t leave your Microsoft 365 data unprotected. Whether it’s a single accidental deletion or a ransomware attack, the cost of data loss can be devastating.

DSM Group’s Acronis 365 Backup solution ensures your data is always secure, compliant, and recoverable.

June 12, 2025June 12, 2025 By DSM Group Cloud Backup

Why Google Workspace Backup Matters: Protecting Your Data Beyond Google’s Defaults

Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) has become the backbone of collaboration for millions of organisations worldwide. With its cloud-native apps like Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, and Docs, it offers incredible productivity and accessibility.

But here’s a critical question: is your Google Workspace data really safe — and recoverable — when you need it most?

Many businesses are surprised to learn that Google’s built-in tools don’t offer comprehensive data protection, particularly when it comes to accidental deletions, misconfigured policies, or offboarding users. In this post, we’ll explore the hidden risks and explain why a dedicated Google Workspace backup solution is now considered essential.

The Common Misconception: “Google Backs Everything Up, Right?”

While Google ensures platform availability and redundancy of infrastructure, it does not guarantee recovery of deleted or altered data beyond specific limits. Here’s what that means in practice:

Risk Area	Google’s Native Protection	Gaps
Accidental deletion	Trash (30-day retention)	Data gone after 30 days
Malicious deletion	Audit logs and vault (if configured)	Requires pre-configured retention rules
Departing employees	Account can be suspended	Data lost if account deleted without backup
Ransomware	Limited protection via Drive versioning	Encrypted files may still be synced
Legal hold/discovery	Only with Vault (enterprise tier)	Not available to all customers
Misconfigurations	No rollback of admin policy changes	Unintended changes hard to reverse

In other words, your data is only as safe as your policy design — and human error is a frequent culprit.

What Happens When an Employee Leaves?

One of the most overlooked causes of irreversible data loss in Google Workspace is the deletion of user accounts during offboarding. When an employee departs, it’s common practice to remove or repurpose their user license — but unless data is manually migrated or backed up, it’s gone permanently.

You may lose:

Gmail conversations with clients
Google Drive files and shared documents
Calendar history and meeting notes
Shared Drive ownership links

With no way to restore deleted accounts after 20–30 days (depending on admin action), businesses risk losing years of operational knowledge.

The Growing Importance of Backup for Compliance and Insurance

Much like Microsoft 365, insurers and regulators are now asking harder questions about cloud backup:

Can you demonstrate recoverability of Gmail or Drive data?
Is your data retained beyond Google’s default timeframes?
Are shared drives and collaborative content preserved after staff turnover?

For many, the answer is no — unless a third-party backup solution is in place.

What a Reliable Google Workspace Backup Solution Should Offer

A robust backup solution for Google Workspace goes beyond redundancy — it enables full control, fast recovery, and long-term retention. Here’s what to look for:

✔️ Automated Daily Backups

Capture all user and shared data automatically, including:

Gmail
Google Drive (incl. Shared Drives)
Contacts and Calendars
Google Meet and Chat history (if applicable)

✔️ Granular Restore

Recover:

Individual emails
Specific files
Calendar entries
Entire user accounts

…without needing to perform a full data restore.

✔️ Retention Policies

Configure retention beyond Google’s defaults — whether for compliance, legal hold, or peace of mind.

✔️ Immutable Backup Storage

Ensure backups are tamper-proof with immutability, a key requirement for insurance claims and audits.

✔️ Backup for Deactivated/Deleted Accounts

Preserve and access the data of ex-employees or service accounts, without consuming a live Workspace license.

✔️ Security & Audit Trail

MFA, encryption at rest and in transit, and detailed logging of backup access and restores.

How DSM Supports Google Workspace Backup

At DSM, we deliver fully managed cloud-to-cloud Google Workspace backup solutions tailored to your business needs. Hosted in our secure UK data centre, our services include:

Automated daily backups
Immutable and encrypted storage
Granular and full-account recovery
Preservation of deprovisioned user data
GDPR-compliant retention policies

All managed by our experienced, ISO27001-accredited team.

Final Thoughts

Google Workspace is a powerful tool — but it’s not immune to data loss. Human error, accidental deletions, and overlooked deprovisioning can leave critical gaps in your data continuity strategy.

With insurers, regulators, and business continuity planners now treating backup as a baseline, it’s never been more important to ensure your Google Workspace data is properly protected.

Want to assess your current data protection coverage or explore a backup solution?
Contact DSM today for a no-obligation consultation.

May 14, 2025July 15, 2025 By DSM Group Uncategorized, Cloud Backup

Cyber Insurance and the Need for Microsoft 365 Backup

Why Backup is Becoming a Policy Requirement — and What That Means for Your Organisation

Cyber insurance has become an essential component of business continuity planning. However, as cyber threats grow more advanced, insurers are tightening their requirements. One of the most significant emerging conditions is the requirement for Microsoft 365 (M365) backup — something many organisations still overlook.

At DSM, we’re seeing this shift first-hand, as clients look to ensure their data protection posture meets evolving cyber insurance standards. In this article, we explain what’s driving this requirement, what constitutes a compliant backup solution, and how businesses can prepare effectively.

Understanding the Change

Microsoft’s Shared Responsibility Model

Many organisations mistakenly believe that Microsoft fully protects M365 data. In fact, Microsoft’s cloud services operate under a shared responsibility model: they maintain the platform’s availability, but customers are responsible for protecting their own data against deletion, corruption, ransomware, and retention misconfiguration.

Native tools such as recycle bins and retention policies offer limited protection, often for short periods (typically 30–90 days), and do not meet insurer expectations for full recoverability.

The Rise of Cloud-Based Threats

Microsoft 365 environments are increasingly being targeted by ransomware, phishing, and Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks. In these scenarios, data loss is common — and without third-party backup, often irrecoverable.

From an insurer’s perspective, the inability to restore critical business data significantly increases claim risk, operational disruption, and potential reputational harm.

What Are Insurers Looking For?

To reduce their exposure and improve resilience among policyholders, many cyber insurers now require customers to:

Demonstrate that M365 data is backed up externally
Show evidence of backup schedules and retention policies
Confirm that data is restorable in full or in part
Prove that storage is secure, monitored, and immutable

Insurers may request this information at the point of application, during renewal, or even during a claim investigation.

What This Means for Your Organisation

1. Backup Is Now Essential for Compliance

Whether you’re a regulated entity or a small business, having a suitable Microsoft 365 backup solution in place may now be a prerequisite for cyber insurance eligibility. Without one, insurers may:

Decline coverage
Increase premiums
Apply exclusions for cloud-related losses

2. Greater Scrutiny During Due Diligence

Expect more technical questions from underwriters, such as:

What backup technology do you use?
How often is data backed up?
What’s your retention period?
Is backup data immutable?
Have you tested your recovery processes?

3. Operational Benefits Beyond Insurance

Having robust backups of your Microsoft 365 environment doesn’t just satisfy insurers — it also strengthens your business continuity and disaster recovery planning, enhances compliance, and reduces recovery time in the event of an incident.

What Does a Compliant Backup Look Like?

At DSM, we recommend businesses deploy a dedicated backup solution that meets or exceeds the following criteria:

✔️ Comprehensive Coverage

Protection for all core Microsoft 365 workloads:

Exchange Online (emails, calendar, contacts)
OneDrive for Business
SharePoint Online
Microsoft Teams (chats, files, meetings)
M365 Groups and Public Folders

✔️ Granular Recovery

Ability to restore individual items such as emails, documents, calendar entries, or conversations — not just full mailboxes or accounts.

✔️ Immutable Storage

Backups must be tamper-proof, using WORM (Write Once, Read Many) technology. This prevents attackers or internal users from modifying or deleting backup data — a key insurer requirement.

✔️ Automated Scheduling and Retention

Daily or more frequent backups, with configurable retention periods to align with organisational needs or regulatory obligations.

✔️ Role-Based Access and MFA

Administrator access to the backup platform should be restricted, audited, and protected by multi-factor authentication.

✔️ Data Location and Compliance

Ensure data is stored in a secure UK or EU facility, in accordance with data protection regulations such as GDPR and DPA 2018.

How DSM Can Help

At DSM, we offer fully managed Microsoft 365 backup solutions that align with the expectations of both cyber insurers and regulatory bodies. Our platforms are:

Hosted within our UK-based Tier 3 data centre
Integrated with secure, immutable backup storage
Monitored and maintained by our accredited support team
Available with custom retention policies and rapid recovery SLAs

Whether you’re looking to improve resilience, achieve cyber insurance compliance, or simply secure your cloud data, DSM can provide a tailored backup strategy to meet your needs.

Next Steps

If you’re unsure whether your current Microsoft 365 environment is sufficiently protected — or if your insurer has introduced new data protection requirements — we recommend taking the following steps:

Audit your existing M365 backup arrangements
Consult your insurer or broker to confirm their backup requirements
Speak with a DSM advisor to explore compliant backup solutions

Get in touch today to discuss how DSM can help you meet cyber insurance standards with confidence.

Opening Hours

Email Support

Head Office

Tag Archives: backup