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AT YOUR SERVICE: XaaS Phishing attempts, which Microsoft reports are the basis for 91 percent of cyberattacks, are at record highs. SMBs must be vigilant in thwarting bad actors and have a reliable data recov- ery and business continuity strategy in place. As a reminder, data loss doesn’t require an attack for those SMBs feel- ing confident in their security protocols and anomaly protection software. One study from Aberdeen found that 64 percent of data loss is attributed to accidental deletion – just plain old user error. In short, it makes good business sense for MSPs and their customers to utilize cloud backup ser- vices in these unprecedented times and moving forward. On its own, Microsoft 365 has lim- ited retention policies. So, if an end user accidentally deletes an email, a OneDrive for Business folder, or even an entire SharePoint site – and the retention period expires – the data is unrecoverable. Information is not backed up in Microsoft 365, as many SMBs would believe. M365 replicates data to pro- tect against hardware failures and catastrophic incidents (such as a COVID-19 cyberattack) that could bring down the data center. However, replication is not the same as backing up the data. Replication only ensures data is available in its current state. Meaning, if a file is deleted by an end user or corrupted in a phishing attack, that deletion or corruption is replicated throughout the cloud. There is no way to quickly and easily restore the data to where it was. Even with M365 limited reten- tion policies (which do expire) and protections such as Legal Hold and Archiving, SMBs are still susceptible to data loss at the end of the day. During the pandemic, cloud backup services are not just another recur- ring revenue stream for MSPs but rather a vital safeguard for SMBs and partners. Even without a global pan- demic and an economic crisis, ITSPs and SMBs do not want to spend hours restoring a single deleted email (up to six hours in some cases) or have to foot the bill – which can be in upwards of $4,000 at times. The Green Field Opportunity This crisis has underscored the need for SMBs to adopt better cloud and data recovery, but these safe- guards should not only be in place during times of struggle. The current market reality shows that most SMBs have not taken the critical step to pro- tect themselves from a sudden attack or data loss incident.  Research shows that an alarming 85 percent of SMBs have yet to move to the cloud. The good news, however, is that SMB decision-makers are lis- tening and increasingly prioritizing these efforts. MarketWatch surveyed CIOs at the onset of the pandemic and found that 86 percent said secu- rity was a higher budget priority, with 68 percent stating that cloud services were similarly more crucial than before. Comparably, 84 percent of SMBs reported flagging IT budgets on backup/disaster recovery, specifically at a much higher level than any other security-related offering. These findings make it clear; there is an opportunity for the MSP commu- nity to provide support and guidance to their SMB customers now more than ever, and they are becoming increas- ingly open to the idea of a cloud-based data protection solution and services in these times.   Most SMBs are using popular pro- ductivity tools such as Microsoft 365, so naturally, MSPs want to focus on data protection efforts on cloud SaaS services. As outlined earlier, providers including Microsoft only offer limited data retention capabilities and, in fact, actively encourage end users to lever- age third-party services for the safe- keeping of their essential data.  During this challenging time, a practical solution such as cloud backup affords MSPs protection and peace of mind for their customers, while simul- taneously keeping their doors open in uncertain financial times. o Mark Pender- grast is director of product marketing at SkyKick. Source of Data Loss Among Businesses Source: Aberdeen Group Which of the following financial actions is your company considering as a result of COVID-19? Source: PwC (Select all that apply) 64% 13% 10% 7% 7% User Error (64%) Malicious Deletion (7%) Hackers (13%) Third-Party Software (7%) Closing Account (10%) 82% 82% 82% 46% 56% 67% 70% 58% 44% 43% 44% 44% 32% April 8 2020 April 22 2020 May 6 2020 28% 30% Implementing cost containment Deferring or canceling planned investments Changing company financing plans Adjusting guidance Changing M&A strategy Which clo have you ource: Colt System D Reliable Security Managin Monitori Disaster Stakehol Governa Securing Other 2% W i 14 CHANNEL VISION | May - June, 2020