Microsoft SharePoint is Microsoft’s ingenious mobile intranet sharing software that allows users to simultaneously share, organise content, jot down ideas and even gives them empowering tools that further enhances collaborative teamwork amongst employees. Whether it be a team intensive project or an entire website that needs to be built, multiple departments can work together on Microsoft SharePoint to share files, pictures, hyperlinks, resources and data all in one place. Streamlined collaboration is made infinitely easier with Sharepoint’s practical and user-friendly interface and even allows team members to work with those who are not in the organisation. What’s more, is the fact that SharePoint is available across desktops and mobile devices so team members can even access files on the go. When it comes to such a teamwork reliant software application, where multiple people can share hundreds of files, there’s also a lot of room for error and foul play that may jeopardise the integrity of the work that others have put in. Here are a few reasons why you should always back up your Microsoft SharePoint.
Limited retention period
Microsoft SharePoint only has an overall retention period of 107 days. After a document has been deleted it gets moved to the administrator recycling bin, or the user-facing recycling bin where it will remain for a total of 93 days. After 93 days, it gets moved to Microsoft’s standard backup system where it will remain for a total of 14 more days. After the 14-day period is over, the files are permanently deleted. Overall, getting rid of deleted files doesn’t seem like a bad thing however, you never know when these files may come in handy again for future projects or to be used as reference material. Instead of eating up space from the SharePoint servers, these miscellaneous files can be moved to a safer storage option where they would still be accessible if the time were to arise. This is where a third-party cloud storage system would come in handy and serve as a great facility for these files.
Malicious hackers
Cyber security is a growing concern all over the globe. Hackers are always evolving and testing out new methods to breach even the most secure of cyber security protocols. Microsoft has a relatively secure network, but it would be unwise to claim that their servers are completely 100% hacker-proof. With that being said, in the case of malware or ransomware hijacking the SharePoint servers, all work will be put to a halt due to the inaccessibility of the files on the servers. This would put back employees’ work time and make it impossible for them to achieve their deliverables for the client. Clients will also frown upon the fact that your business’s software is suffering a cyber security breach, even though it’s through a third-party service provider.
All in all, it’s always best to have a backup of your files on a third-party software application, regardless of the situation. Emergencies, cyber security breaches and server downtimes may happen when we least expect them to, so investing in a third-party cloud service provider such as Datto SaaS Protection can really turn your business around in any case where Microsoft SharePoint were to become inaccessible for the company. Read more about Datto SaaS in our very own blog, ‘The cloud isn’t people proof.’
