Barracuda Expands Data Protection Functionality for Businesses Running Microsoft Office 365, Adds SharePoint Online Backup

Barracuda Networks, Inc. announced expanded data protection functionality in its Cloud-to-Cloud Backup offering, with the addition of SharePoint Online Backup.

Click to enlarge

This feature provides businesses using SharePoint Online granular backup and recovery options with the ability to restore individual files that have been deleted, corrupted, or encrypted by ransomware – without having to complete a full recovery of the SharePoint environment. With the SharePoint Online functionality, the company offers solutions to help customers running Office 365 detect, prevent, and recover from malicious attacks, and enables resellers and MSPs to offer customers more robust email security and data protection offerings.

“One of the most commonly requested features we get from customers regarding Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 has been the ability to backup and restore files in SharePoint Online,” said Rod Mathews, GM and SVP, data protection business, Barracuda. “In many ways, SharePoint Online simplifies deployment and management of the solution; however, there’s always a risk of losing files for various reasons. With the new SharePoint Online backup capability in Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup and Barracuda Essentials for Office 365, we’re giving businesses added control and peace of mind knowing that regardless of the data-loss scenario, their files are saved and available only a few clicks away.“

Click to enlarge

Fast and efficient granular restores enhance SharePoint Online
While migrating to SharePoint Online eliminates servers, storage, and the overhead that comes with on-premises management, corruption or deletion at the individual file level requires full-site recovery, which takes time and resources and depends on Microsoft to perform the recovery. Firm’s Cloud-to-Cloud Backup allows protection of a complete SharePoint site in the event of accidental or malicious data loss by ransomware or other threats, giving control back to IT to provide granular recovery services and meet RTOs. Restoring individual files can now be done with Cloud-to-Cloud Backup and accessed directly from the company’s Essentials for Office 365 user interface. Additionally, using Cloud-to-Cloud Backup allows IT to preserve SharePoint data beyond the default 14-day retention window without eating into storage quotas. The SharePoint Online backup functionality offers businesses a critical piece of a ransomware protection strategy.

“A comprehensive security and data protection plan is key to a successful IT strategy, and that is truer today than ever before,” said Eric Bouvier, director, IT, Auburn Public Schools. “It’s rare to read the news and there not be an article about a company hit with a ransomware attack – and unfortunately the headlines came true for us. Fortunately, keeping regular backups with Barracuda is a part of our overall strategy. We were able to work with Barracuda to restore our data quickly and avoided paying a ransom, which certainly minimized the impact to our organization, students and staff. We are excited that Barracuda is adding features like SharePoint Online backup. As we consider various cloud migrations, with Barracuda we know we’ll be protected no matter where our data resides.“

Gartner estimates that by 2022 more than 70% of enterprises will be using cloud office tools. In fact, Microsoft Office 365 is quickly gaining momentum in the modern workplace, and according to Windows Central, Microsoft Corp. is now reporting 70 million active Office 365 users per month. Many of these businesses are leveraging SharePoint Online as a secure place to store, organize, share, and access team information from just about anywhere. Company’s Essentials for Office 365 gives businesses added control of their cloud environments, with multi-layered security and data protection for Office 365.

“Barracuda is a great example of the type of partner we like to work with – the team has a keen understanding of the cloud and reputable brand with customers,” said Steve Guggenheimer, CVP, developer experience (DX), Microsoft Corp. “Barracuda Essentials leverages Microsoft Office 365 as the common language, which helps customers deploy faster and confidently, while empowering partners with the same secure infrastructure where they can quickly roll out new services. It’s a great tool that’s helping customers and partners get the most out of Office 365.“

Essentials for Office 365, with SharePoint Online Backup
Cloud-to-Cloud Backup is available as a standalone product or as part of Essentials for Office 365, which combines multi-layer security, archiving, and backup into an easy-to-use, affordable suite of cloud services for businesses running Office 365:

Cloud-based email security – Extends security protection for Office 365 Exchange Online with granular controls, data loss protection, encryption, and real-time advanced threat protection against dangerous ransomware and phishing attacks, and other email-borne threats.
Cloud-based archiving – Assists organizations with compliance retention and enables timely response to eDiscovery requests – with archives separate from the production mail environment – when used with Exchange, Office 365, and other on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments. Company’s Cloud Archiving Service offers productivity features, including mobile applications for end users to access, search, and retrieve email at any time from any device.
Cloud-based backup and recovery – Provides IT administrators and MSPs with real-time backup that can simplify the process of recovering accidentally or intentionally deleted emails and files in Office 365, including Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint Online files.

The company recently announced the Email Threat Scan for Office 365, a cloud-based service that identifies latent threats, including hidden advanced persistent threats, within corporate email accounts. With Essentials for Office 365 and Email Threat Scan, the firm offers customers solutions to detect, prevent, and recover from ransomware and other malicious attacks.

Pricing and availability:

Essentials for Office 365 Complete Protection and Compliance edition, including SharePoint Online backup, is available and includes simple per user licensing offered at $4.50 per user, per month or less for customers in the United States.

Additional Essentials for Office 365 editions are available. MSP partners should contact their account representatives for pricing information. Pricing and availability vary by region.
Cloud-to-Cloud Backup, including SharePoint Online backup, is available, with subscriptions starting at $2 per user, per month for customers in the United States. Pricing and availability vary by region.
Email Threat Scan for Office 365 is available free of charge for a limited time.