Microsoft 365 — still commonly known as Office 365 — is a top productivity solution for small and medium-sized businesses in Wylie and Plano, Texas, thanks to its versatility and robust security features. But while Microsoft promises advanced protection from cyberattacks, there are several crucial reasons why local businesses should also back up their data independently. Here’s why CEOs and business owners in these cities should take that extra step.
1. Supply Chain Attacks Can Lead to Data Loss
Supply chain attacks target vulnerabilities in software, infrastructure, and networks, allowing cybercriminals to inject malicious code. Microsoft 365 and Azure cloud services, with over 250 million users globally, are prime targets for these sophisticated attacks. A 2021 Vectra survey revealed that about 10% of machines are especially at risk, and over 70% of businesses have experienced some form of account takeover.
While your business in Wylie or Plano may not be directly targeted, you could still become collateral damage in a larger attack. Keeping clean, isolated backups of your Office 365 data can protect your business from data breaches and financial loss.
2. Global System Attacks Can Disrupt Your Operations
Nation-state hackers often target large platforms like Microsoft 365, not necessarily to harm your business specifically, but as part of broader cyberwarfare efforts. As global tensions rise, cyberattacks that bring down Microsoft’s services can happen at any time, leaving your data at risk. Even if the outage is brief, the impact on your business can be significant if your data isn’t properly backed up.
In addition to cyberattacks, unexpected events like power outages — similar to those that hit European Microsoft 365 users in 2020 — can cause data loss. Local businesses in Wylie and Plano can safeguard their operations by regularly backing up Office 365 data.
3. Internal Threats Could Wipe Out Your Data
One of the biggest risks to business data comes from within. Internal attacks, whether caused by a disgruntled employee or human error, can wipe out critical information in an instant. Ransomware and other cyber threats continue to rise, but internal sabotage can be just as damaging. Without a local, secure backup of your Office 365 data, your company could lose valuable information permanently.
For these reasons and many more, Wylie and Plano businesses should consider regular backups of their Office 365 data to protect against potential threats, ensuring business continuity and data security.