Why Microsoft 365 Is Not a Backup: The 5 Most Dangerous Misconceptions
An independent backup with a specialized provider is not optional – it’s a necessity.
1. Synchronization Is Not Data Backup
The most common misconception: “My data is in the cloud anyway.”
The problem:
OneDrive and SharePoint synchronize data. If a file is deleted locally, overwritten, or encrypted by malware, this state is immediately replicated to the cloud.
The result:
The original and the “copy” are corrupted at the same time.
The difference compared to a backup:
A real backup stores time-separated, immutable snapshots – independent of the current state of production data.
2. The Recycle Bin Is Not a Backup
Microsoft retains deleted data for 30 to a maximum of 90 days, depending on the service.
The risk:
Many data losses are only discovered weeks or months later – for example due to:
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stealth ransomware attacks
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accidental deletion of entire folders
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faulty automations or scripts
Once the retention period expires, the data is permanently lost.
Professional backups, on the other hand, allow freely configurable retention periods – over many years.
3. Ransomware Knows the Cloud
A widespread misconception: “Cloud data is automatically protected against ransomware.”
The reality:
Modern ransomware specifically targets:
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local systems
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network drives
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cloud storage via synchronization
The consequence:
Versions and cloud files can also be encrypted.
The solution:
A backup that is separated from the production system and stored externally ensures that Microsoft 365 data can be restored independently of synchronization, user errors, or ransomware.
4. Shared Responsibility: Your Data, Your Risk
Microsoft states this clearly in its contracts:
- Microsoft → operation and availability of the platform
- Customer → backup and protection of the data
Without an additional backup, your company bears the full risk of:
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data loss
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cyberattacks
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compliance violations
An external backup is therefore not a vote of no confidence in Microsoft – it is best practice.
5. Data Protection & Swiss nDSG: Data Location Matters
Microsoft stores data in globally distributed data centers. For Swiss SMEs, this can be legally and organizationally challenging.
The Swiss advantage:
A backup stored in Switzerland – for example in MOUNT10’s SWISS FORT KNOX – offers:
- a clearly defined data location
- full data sovereignty
- high legal certainty under the Swiss nDSG
Microsoft 365 is a powerful productivity tool – but it is not a backup.
Anyone who truly wants to protect their corporate data needs an independent, immutable, and geographically separated backup.
