Why your Microsoft 365 business data might not be as protected as you think

Thousands of businesses have entrusted their critical data to Microsoft 365. Emails, documents, spreadsheets, presentations and collaborative workspaces all live in the cloud, accessible from anywhere. That’s great. But it’s also risky.

The uncomfortable truth is that Microsoft doesn't protect Microsoft 365 data the way many users think it does.

Many organizations operate under the dangerous misconception that Microsoft will protect their Microsoft 365 data against cyberattacks, accidental deletions or data loss incidents. Unfortunately, that's not how it works.

Under the shared responsibility model outlined in the Microsoft 365 service agreement, Microsoft is responsible for the infrastructure and uptime of its services. But businesses themselves are responsible for protecting, backing up and restoring their own data in the event of a cyberattack, user error or other data loss scenario.

This isn't just a technical detail. It's a critical business risk that could have serious consequences:

• Cyberattacks and ransomware: When attackers compromise Microsoft 365 environment, Microsoft won't restore encrypted or deleted data.
• Accidental deletions: When a user permanently deletes critical emails or documents, they may be unrecoverable.
• Legal and compliance requirements: Businesses subject to e-discovery requests in lawsuits need to be able to produce data that may have been deleted.
• Regulatory compliance: Industries governed by HIPAA, GDPR and other regulations face significant fines for failing to protect sensitive customer or patient data.

Webinar

Protect your Microsoft 365 data against AI-enabled cyberthreats

The cybersecurity landscape is becoming increasingly dangerous. Cyberattacks on businesses, specifically ransomware, continue to grow in both frequency and sophistication. Now, cybercriminals have a powerful new tool in their arsenal: AI.

Generative AI tools are enabling attackers to:

• Create more convincing phishing emails that bypass traditional detection.
• Scale up attack frequency and reach more targets.
• Identify and exploit new vulnerabilities faster than ever before.

Microsoft 365, filled with valuable business data, is a prime target. And without proper backup and protection measures in place, a successful attack could be devastating.

This is where Acronis Cyber Protect comes in. Purpose-built to address the gaps in Microsoft's native protection, Acronis Cyber Protect provides comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities specifically designed for Microsoft 365 environments.

With Acronis Cyber Protect for businesses, you can:

• Automatically back up all your M365 data: Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams data is continuously protected.
• Deploy email archiving: Preserve communications for legal and compliance purposes.
• Recover quickly from ransomware attacks: Restore your data to any point in time, ensuring business continuity even after a successful cyberattack.
• Meet compliance requirements: Maintain immutable backups that satisfy e-discovery, HIPAA, GDPR and other regulatory mandates.
• Protect against accidental deletion: Easily recover emails, files and documents that users have permanently deleted.

By taking ownership of your Microsoft 365 data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect, you're not just defending against today's threats. You're building cyber resilience that will protect your business for years to come.

Want to learn more about protecting your Microsoft 365 data and defending against AI-enabled cyberthreats? We're hosting a comprehensive 60-minute webinar that will give you the practical knowledge you need to improve your Microsoft 365 security posture.

When: October 30, 2025, 2:00 p.m. EDT

What you'll learn:

• How to deploy a comprehensive set of integrated solutions, including email archiving, to protect your Microsoft 365 data.
• The latest cyberthreats targeting Microsoft 365 environments and how AI is making them more dangerous.
• A detailed breakdown of the Microsoft shared responsibility model and what it means for your business.
• Best practices for Microsoft 365 cyber resilience from Microsoft MVPs and cybersecurity experts.
• A live demonstration of Acronis Cyber Protect for Microsoft 365.

The session will conclude with a live Q&A where you can get answers to your specific questions about M365 data protection.

Don't wait until a cyberattack or data loss incident forces you to confront the reality of Microsoft's shared responsibility model. Register today and take the first step toward true Microsoft 365 cyber resilience.

Webinar

Protect your Microsoft 365 data against AI-enabled cyberthreats