What Is SaaS Backup & Why Do You Need It?

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Yash Maheshwari

Senior Writer:

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green tickPublished : April 28, 2023

Data has emerged as one of the most valuable assets for companies of all sizes in today’s digital environment. The demand for trustworthy backup and recovery solutions is greater than ever due to the growing reliance on cloud-based applications and SaaS data storage. 

A form of cloud-based data protection solution called SaaS backup software enables businesses to keep their crucial data and guarantee its accessibility in the case of a catastrophe or cybersecurity threat.

We’ll talk about the value of SaaS software, its advantages, and how it can assist your business.

What is SaaS Backup?

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) backup is making copies of data kept in SaaS applications. Data stored in cloud-based applications like Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, and Dropbox, among others, are protected by SaaS backup solutions.

what is saas backup? Source

Data loss can still happen even if SaaS programs are typically dependable and secure due to inadvertent deletion, human error, malicious intent, or other reasons. SaaS backup gives users an additional layer of security by enabling them to recover lost or deleted data from an earlier backup.

SaaS backup is crucial for any firm using cloud-based apps to store sensitive data. Even in the event of a data loss or outage, it can assist in guaranteeing that data is always accessible when needed.

Why Does Your Business Need a SaaS Backup?

Businesses rely on cloud-based applications to store and manage important data in today’s digital world. Although SaaS services are typically safe and dependable, data loss can still happen for several causes, including inadvertent deletion, user mistakes, or even natural disasters.

Any firm that loses crucial data could suffer serious consequences, including missed sales, unhappy clients, and reputational harm. SaaS backup solutions can help with this.

By automatically backing up data housed in cloud-based services like Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, or Google Workspace, SaaS backup solutions give businesses an added degree of protection. 

SaaS backup solutions ensure that crucial data is always accessible in this way, even in the case of data loss or system failures. This helps businesses retrieve lost data quickly and effectively, minimizing downtime and preserving business continuity while lowering the risk of data loss.

Key Benefits of SaaS Backup

SaaS backup solutions offer several benefits to businesses, including compliance, easy on- and off-boarding, data quality checks, and faster data restoration than SaaS vendors.

1. Compliance

One significant benefit of SaaS backup is compliance. Many industries have strict data retention and privacy regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for healthcare or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the European Union. 

SaaS backup solutions can help businesses comply with these regulations by providing additional data protection and ensuring that backup data is secure and accessible only to authorized personnel.

2. Easy on- and off-boarding

Businesses frequently hire and terminate employees. SaaS backup solutions can make this process much smoother by ensuring that data associated with these employees are properly backed up and available for use by other team members. This can be especially important when dealing with confidential or sensitive data, as it ensures that only authorized personnel can access this data.

3. Data quality checks

Data quality checks are crucial especially for companies that utilize cloud-based services to store and manage crucial data, which includes client information or financial records. SaaS backup solutions can assist in finding and fixing data issues, ensuring that data is accurate and current. This can aid in avoiding data-related problems that could have a negative effect on a company’s operations, such as failed transactions or inaccurate reports.

4. Restore data faster than a SaaS vendor

Businesses that use SaaS backup solutions instead of relying solely on the SaaS vendor’s backup service can restore data more quickly. SaaS companies frequently have a short retention period for backed-up data, and data restoration can be a laborious procedure.

By enabling companies to restore data from a longer retention period and directly from the backup solution rather than depending on the SaaS vendor’s backup process, SaaS backup solutions can help organizations achieve faster data restoration times.

What to Look For in a Suitable SaaS Backup Solution?

When looking for a suitable SaaS backup solution, businesses should consider several factors, including the environment, volume, security and compliance, granular backup and recovery, and cost factor.

1. Environment

One of the most important factors to consider is the environment of the SaaS backup solution. A reliable SaaS backup solution is compatible with the cloud-based apps that your business is currently using. For example, Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, or Google Workspace. These should be easily integrated with the current IT infrastructure.

2. Volume

Businesses should consider the volume of data that needs to be backed up. Some SaaS backup solutions have restrictions on the amount of data that can be backed up, while others may charge based on the volume of data. Businesses should select a solution that can accommodate their data backup needs and growth potential.

3. Security and compliance

Security and compliance are critical factors when choosing a SaaS backup solution. Businesses should look for a solution that offers advanced security features, such as encryption and multi-factor authentication, to ensure that backed-up data is secure.

Additionally, compliance with industry regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2 is essential for businesses that handle sensitive data.

4. Granular backup and recovery

In the event of data loss, granular SaaS backup and recovery solutions are essential. Businesses can recover specific data more quickly and effectively if they have the option to restore it at the file, folder, or even record level. The solution should also include various recovery choices, such as downloading data locally or returning it to the original SaaS application and automated backup scheduling.

5. Cost factor

Cost is an important factor when selecting a SaaS backup solution. Businesses should choose a solution that provides value for money, considering factors such as data volume, storage capacity, and pricing plans. It’s also essential to consider the total cost of ownership, including hardware, software, maintenance, and support.

Which Solution Types Need SaaS Backup?

A SaaS provider requires enterprise backup to ensure that critical data is not lost in case of a cloud data loss or system outage.

These include customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, e-commerce SaaS solutions, and communication, collaboration, and productivity solutions.

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms

CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho CRM are central repositories of customer data, including customer contact information, interactions, and purchase history. Losing this data can significantly impact a business’s operations, customer service, and revenue. Therefore, it’s essential to back up CRM data to ensure that it is always accessible and secure.

2. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software

ERP software such as NetSuite, SAP, or Microsoft Dynamics 365 are critical for managing a business’s operations, including finances, inventory, and supply chain management. Losing ERP data can cause significant disruptions to a business’s operations, including inaccurate reporting, delayed orders, and financial errors. Hence, it’s essential to back up ERP data to ensure that it is always available and secure.

3. E-commerce SaaS solutions

For online businesses to handle their storefronts, items, and customer information, they need to use e-commerce SaaS solutions like Shopify, Magento, or WooCommerce. Lost orders, unfinished transactions, and a decline in client confidence can all be brought on by e-commerce data loss. So, in order to guarantee that e-commerce data is constantly accessible and secure, it is essential to regularly back it up.

4. Communication, collaboration, and productivity solutions

Team collaboration, communication, and productivity are all facilitated by the use of saas backup tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or Slack. 

The ability of a company to collaborate and communicate can be severely hampered by the loss of data such as emails, chat logs, or files. It is therefore essential to backup this data to guarantee that it is always available and secure.

In order to prevent the loss of crucial data, a number of SaaS solution types need to be backed up. These include communication, collaboration, and productivity tools as well as CRM platforms, ERP software, e-commerce SaaS solutions, and others. To ensure company continuity, data security, and consumer trust in these solutions, data backup is crucial.

How Does SaaS Backup Protect My Critical Data?

SaaS backup plays a crucial role in protecting your critical data stored in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. Here’s how it safeguards your data:

1. Data recovery from accidental deletion or data loss:

Accidental deletion or data loss can occur due to human errors, software glitches, or application malfunctions. SaaS backup solutions create regular copies of your data, allowing you to recover files or data that have been accidentally deleted or lost. By having backups readily available, you can quickly restore the missing data and minimize any disruptions to your business operations.

2. Protection against malicious activities and cyberattacks:

SaaS applications are potential targets for cyberattacks, such as ransomware, malware, or unauthorized access attempts. These security threats can compromise your data integrity and availability. SaaS backup solutions provide an additional layer of protection by creating backups of your data at regular intervals. In the event of a cyberattack or security breach, you can restore your data from a clean backup point before the attack occurred. This ensures that your critical data remains intact and allows you to resume normal operations swiftly.

3. Compliance with legal and industry requirements:

Many industries have specific regulations and compliance requirements for data protection, retention, and privacy. SaaS backup solutions help you meet these obligations by creating backups that are securely stored and easily accessible. In the event of an audit or compliance check, having comprehensive backups ensures that you have the necessary data to demonstrate your adherence to regulatory requirements.

4. Business continuity and disaster recovery:

SaaS applications are not immune to service outages, system failures, or natural disasters. These events can lead to extended periods of downtime, resulting in loss of productivity and revenue. SaaS backup solutions help mitigate these risks by creating copies of your data in a separate location or cloud environment. In the event of an outage or disaster, you can quickly restore your critical data and applications from the backups, minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity.

5. Data migration and platform transitions:

As businesses evolve, they may need to switch SaaS providers or migrate data between different platforms. During these transitions, data integrity and continuity can be at risk. SaaS backup solutions enable a smooth data migration process by creating backups of your data in the source platform and facilitating its transfer to the new platform. This ensures that no data is lost or corrupted during the migration process, and you can seamlessly continue your operations in the new environment.

6. Protection against SaaS provider data loss:

While SaaS providers generally have their own data redundancy measures in place, they may still experience data loss due to various reasons such as technical failures, human errors, or natural disasters. By having an independent SaaS backup solution, you mitigate the risk of data loss even if the SaaS provider experiences a catastrophic event. Your backups provide an extra layer of protection and ensure that you have control over your critical data.

5 Best SaaS Backup Software To Consider

Data backup is crucial for any organization to ensure data availability and business continuity in case of any data loss or disasters. There are many SaaS backup solutions available, hence you need to consider various factors before selecting one.

SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) backup software provides an automated, secure, and reliable way to back up data from physical, virtual, and cloud environments. Here are the five best SaaS backup software.

1. Veritas

Veritas is a SaaS backup and recovery software for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers complete data protection for Windows, Linux, VMware, and other physical, virtual, and cloud environments.

The program provides integrated deduplication, automated backups, granular recovery, and central management. Veritas minimizes backup time and storage expenses while ensuring data integrity. A smooth interface with other Veritas products is also offered, as well as flexible licensing options.

Key Features

  • Comprehensive data protection
  • Centralized management and automated backups
  • Granular recovery and integrated deduplication
  • Data analytics and reporting capabilities 

Pricing 

  • The cost starts at $4 per user per month.

2. Acronis

Acronis is a data backup and recovery software for businesses of all sizes. It provides data protection across physical, virtual, and cloud environments, including Windows, Linux, and VMware. 

The software offers block-level backups, integrated deduplication, ransomware protection, and instant recovery. Acronis ensures data security, compliance, and scalability with flexible licensing options and cloud-based management. It also integrates with other Acronis products, such as Cyber Protect and Cyber Disaster Recovery.

Key Features

  • Versatile backup and recovery software for businesses of all sizes
  • Data protection
  • Block-level backups, integrated deduplication, and ransomware protection
  • User-friendly interface and easy-to-use wizards 

Pricing 

  • The pricing starts at $85.

3. Druva

Druva is a data backup and recovery software for enterprise-level companies. For endpoints, cloud applications, and cloud infrastructure, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, it offers data protection.

Global deduplication, automated backups, secure cloud storage, and compliance reporting are all features of the product. Utilizing unified data management and security standards, Druva guarantees data availability, governance, and compliance. Additionally, it offers analytics and insights to enhance data management and lower expenses.

Key Features 

  • SaaS cloud backup and recovery software for enterprise-level businesses
  • Data protection for endpoints, cloud applications, and cloud infrastructure
  • Global deduplication and secure cloud storage
  • Advanced data governance capabilities for ensuring regulatory compliance

Pricing 

  • Pricing starts at $2 per user per month.

4. Commvault

Commvault 

Commvault is an enterprise-level backup and recovery software designed for businesses of all sizes. It provides comprehensive data protection for physical, virtual, and cloud environments. The software supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and VMware. 

Commvault also offers a unified management console that enables administrators to manage backup and recovery operations across multiple platforms and locations.

Key Features

  • Enterprise-level backup and recovery software for businesses of all sizes
  • Comprehensive data protection for physical, virtual, and cloud environments
  • Automated backups, granular recovery, and integrated deduplication
  • Disaster recovery and unified management console for managing backup and recovery operations across multiple platforms and locations

Pricing

  • Custom pricing. 

5. Veeam

Veeam is a powerful backup and replication software designed for virtualized environments. It provides data protection for VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix AHV. Veeam also offers advanced monitoring and reporting capabilities that enable administrators to track backup and recovery activities and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

Key Features

  • Powerful backup and replication software for virtualized environments
  • Data protection for VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix AHV
  • Instant VM recovery and automated backups
  • Granular recovery and integrated deduplication
  • Advanced monitoring and reporting capabilities for tracking backup and recovery activities

Pricing 

  • Custom pricing options.

Wrapping Up

SaaS backup software is an essential tool for businesses of all sizes, providing comprehensive data protection across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. With the rise of cloud-based applications and data storage, the need for reliable backup and recovery solutions has become more critical than ever before. 

By investing in SaaS backup software, businesses can ensure that their data remains secure and accessible, even in the event of a disaster or cybersecurity threat.

SaaS Backup FAQ's

Customers' data is often stored by SaaS companies either in their own data centers or those of third parties, such as Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, or Amazon Web Services. The data's actual location may vary depending on the vendor and the particular service being used.
Still, in general, SaaS companies use secure, dependable data centers with redundant architecture to guarantee data availability and protection.

IaaS backup refers to the process of backing up data and applications hosted on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
IaaS backup solutions typically involve taking regular snapshots or copies of data stored in virtual machines or cloud-based storage and replicating it to an offsite location for disaster recovery purposes.

In SaaS applications, data ownership can be a complicated topic that changes based on the particular service being utilized and the conditions of the service agreement. Customers typically own the data they generate and store in SaaS applications.
However, the SaaS vendor may have the right to access or use the data for specific objectives, such as service improvement or legal compliance. Customers should carefully read the terms of service and make sure they are aware of the ownership and usage rights pertaining to their data.

Depending on the exact service being utilized and the backup and recovery needs of the customer, the frequency of SaaS backups can change. While some SaaS companies might offer automated backups that run repeatedly throughout the day or even continuously, others might offer backups that run just once a day or less frequently.

Updated : February 15, 2024

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