Cloud Backup for Google Workspace: 4 Things to Know About AvePoint’s New Solution

Countless organizations rely on Google Workspace and its suite of productivity tools (including Calendar, Drive, and Gmail) to conduct business every day. And that number is growing: In October 2020, Google shared that Workspace has more than 2.6 billion monthly active users!

But the service lacks a key native component: comprehensive and extended backup.

Without a long-term solution to back up and restore data in Google Workspace beyond the platform’s short retention limits, users could lose access to important information in the event of accidental or intentional deletion, or a ransomware attack, among other unpleasant scenarios.

The 2020 rebrand of Google Workspace — formerly known as G Suite — was inspired by a need for more streamlined collaboration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This seismic shift to remote work has prompted a surge in data creation and a heavier reliance on collaboration tools as we work from a distance.

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Being able to recover lost data easily and fully has never been more important.

That’s why we’re proud to announce AvePoint’s latest offering: Cloud Backup for Google Workspace. Our secure solution makes backup and restore easy, and it’s designed to make your data in Google Workspace accounted for and compliant.

Cloud Backup for Google Workspace can benefit large and small businesses, as well as managed service providers that may deliver it via our Elements portal.

Here’s what all organizations should know about the solution.

1. It Extends Beyond the 30-Day Google Workspace Retention Limit

Recovering recently deleted files in Google Workspace can be done, but the period is brief. Let’s say someone on your staff accidentally sends a file to the Trash. In Google Workspace, that content is only held for 30 days; administrators may recover it within the first 25 days of that window. After that, the data is inaccessible.

Ask yourself: Is this enough time to avert a situation? It’s likely that your team won’t notice a piece of content is missing for at least a month, so the added protection is critical to respond to many instances of lost data.

Give yourself peace of mind for the long term with the ability to recover data anytime via Cloud Backup for Google Workspace.

2. Google Workspace Doesn’t Protect Data Against User Error or Cyberattacks

Google Workspace is responsible for protecting against a loss of service — from instances such as its own hardware or infrastructure failures, a natural disaster, or a data center outage — but NOT from human error or cybercrime that could prompt an irreparable loss of data. The latter incidents are all too common.

Google Vault, an information governance and eDiscovery tool for Google Workspace, is NOT a backup solution, and it doesn’t support all Google services (including Calendar and Contacts). And unlike those found in Microsoft tools, admin functions in Google Workspace to roll back and recover users are limited.

There are other concerns: The collaborative nature of Google tools, though convenient, means that shared documents can easily be deleted or overwritten. Consider the risks of ransomware that, if downloaded and automatically synced to Google Drive, could affect not just one team member but anyone who works on an infected file.

These issues all underscore the value of an outside backup solution. In fact, recent reports from Forrester, Gartner, and IDC all recommend third-party backup for G Suite with a third-party partner such as AvePoint.

3. AvePoint’s Google Workspace Backup Is Frequent, Secure, and Unlimited

Cloud Backup for Google Workspace can perform backups for Gmail, Google Drives, Calendars, Contacts, and Shared Drives up to four times daily — with the option to schedule backups if preferred. The solution offers the ability to automatically scan for, update, and protect selected content by users (executives vs. students, for example) or application, so you’re always in control of the data.

Regarding safety, users can rest easy. Microsoft Azure Encryption ​and user account tokens add a layer of security to meet sensitive data compliance needs. Our Cloud Backup solutions are ISO:27001 and SOC Type II certified and GDPR compliant, and they support “right to be forgotten” requests, data sovereignty (choosing where the information is physically located), and extended retention.

Finally, Cloud Backup’s unlimited storage options give you the flexibility to protect as much Google Workspace content as your organizational needs dictate. There’s no need to worry about running out of space.

4. Comprehensive Monitoring and Granular Restore Options Give Admins an Edge

With a simple dashboard display, Cloud Backup for Google Workspace delivers immediate insights for protected services so admins can easily access backup history or determine if a backup is running smoothly.

Accurate reporting on each backed-up service — as well as each backed-up user and all their files — can be called up with a click. By having a clear understanding of each object and its status, you never have to assume a backup was successful; you’ll know it for certain.

When it comes to restoring data in Google Workspace, the process is easy. You can restore users, shared drive content, labels, files, mail, and contacts — all with point-in-time snapshots looking back through the length of your contract with our tool. And, of course, we’re always available with 24/7 support. Sign up for a demo today!

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