Many businesses assume their data is safe just because they use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. It’s in the cloud, so it must be backed up… right?

Not quite.

These platforms are excellent for keeping you connected and productive, but when it comes to recovering lost files, emails, or folders that were accidentally deleted or compromised, they won’t always step in to save the day. If something goes missing and enough time has passed, it’s often gone for good — unless you’ve taken steps to back it up properly.

Cloud Storage Is Not the Same as Backup

Microsoft and Google focus on uptime and keeping their systems online. What they don’t do is protect your business from everyday risks like user mistakes, ransomware, or accidental deletion.

  • If someone deletes a file, it’s treated as intentional — even if it wasn’t.
  • If ransomware encrypts files on a synced computer, the corrupted versions can be uploaded straight into your cloud storage, replacing the originals.
  • Deleted files aren’t retained forever: Google Drive keeps them for 30 days, and OneDrive/SharePoint for around 93 days. After that, recovery is no longer possible.

Version history can sometimes help, but only if you spot the issue quickly. Leave it too long, and you may be left with nothing to recover.

The Real Threats Are Closer Than You Think

Most data loss doesn’t come from hackers; it comes from us.

Think about it:

  • A team member assumes an old folder isn’t needed and deletes it.
  • Someone accidentally overwrites a spreadsheet that contained last quarter’s figures.
  • Files are dragged into the wrong location during a tidy-up.
  • An employee leaves, and with their account goes everything they ever created or shared.

Here’s an anecdote:
We recently spoke to a local accountancy firm who discovered a vital client folder had vanished. One staff member thought it was a duplicate and deleted it. By the time they noticed, it was 10 weeks later. OneDrive’s recovery window had already closed — and the data was gone for good.

And then there’s ransomware. If a local machine is infected and syncing is enabled, encrypted files can spread silently into your cloud environment before anyone realises.

What Proper Backup Looks Like

A true backup solution doesn’t just mirror your cloud storage; it creates a secure, independent copy of your files, emails, calendars, and more. That means:

  • You can recover a single email from six months ago.
  • You can restore an entire user’s files long after they’ve left the business.
  • You’re protected against ransomware, accidental deletions, and human error.

Neither Microsoft 365 nor Google Workspace includes this kind of protection out of the box — it has to be set up separately.

Time to Cover What the Cloud Doesn’t

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are powerful tools, but they don’t protect you from everything. If a file is deleted, overwritten, or encrypted, it may be gone forever unless you have the right backup in place.

That’s where we come in.

At Hilt Digital Solutions, we help businesses across Wirral, Liverpool, Chester, and the wider North West put proper cloud backup systems in place. You get peace of mind, knowing your critical data can be recovered quickly — no matter what happens.

👉 Not sure if your setup is safe? Get in touch today and we’ll review your current protection, with clear advice on how to put the right safety net in place before you need it.

Not sure which cloud storage is right for your business – click here for our guide