Can You Really Trust the Cloud with Your Data?
Why Xero, Google & Microsoft Won’t Save You
“If my data’s in the cloud, it’s backed up, right?”
What happens if someone accidentally deletes your financial records, or a third-party sync corrupts your contacts?
This article explains exactly what your cloud provider does and doesn’t protect. You’ll discover what kind of backup protection your SME actually needs to stay resilient.
What Most businesses get wrong about cloud backups
Cloud platforms like Xero, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365 are built for uptime not data recovery. That means they’ll keep services running, but won’t protect your data if something goes wrong on your end.
What Cloud Providers Actually Protect
- ✅ High uptime and disaster recovery at the platform level
- ✅ Basic retention tools like Recycle Bin or version history
- ❌ No rollback after user deletion or sync errors
- ❌ No granular or point-in-time restore unless you use a third-party solution
Real Cloud Data Loss Scenarios from SMEs
- Xero: An admin bulk-deleted 3 months of data. No undo.
- Google: A CRM sync corrupted 300+ contacts—no backup available.
- Microsoft 365: A former employee deleted sensitive files before being offboarded. Recovery window had passed.
In all three cases? The cloud provider couldn’t recover the data.
Why Backup ≠ Security
You’ve invested in antivirus, firewalls, and employee training—but without backup, you’re missing a critical piece of protection.
- Human error is still the #1 cause of data loss.
- Ransomware encrypts cloud-based files too.
- Sync tools can wipe or corrupt your entire dataset.
What a True Backup Solution Looks Like
If your SME uses cloud tools, your backup system should include:
- ✅ Daily, automated backups
- ✅ Point-in-time restore (e.g. "before the error")
- ✅ Granular file or record recovery
- ✅ Immutable storage (can’t be edited or encrypted)
- ✅ Retention policies that meet insurance and compliance requirements
Can You Recover If Something Goes Wrong?
Ask yourself:
- If an invoice is deleted in Xero, can you restore it?
- If a sync corrupts your Google or Microsoft data, can you roll it back?
- Do you know who to call when something breaks?
If you’re unsure, it’s time to act.
📞 Book Your Free Cloud Backup Audit
We help SMEs across the North East protect their cloud systems from data loss. Let’s identify the gaps in your current setup—before it’s too late.
👉 Contact us today or call 01325 369 950
TL;DR: Why Xero, Google & Microsoft Don’t Protect You Fully
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| “The cloud backs everything up.” | Only at platform level, your data isn’t recoverable. |
| “Xero/Google/Microsoft keeps us safe.” | They protect infrastructure, not human error. |
| “It’s all automatic.” | Not in a way you can control or test. |
FAQs
Is Xero backed up automatically?
Xero backs up the platform—not individual user data. You can’t recover records deleted by mistake.
Do Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace have backups?
They offer limited retention features but not full point-in-time or granular backups unless integrated with third-party tools.
What is the Shared Responsibility Model?
Your cloud provider secures the infrastructure. You must secure your data, users, and backup.
Final Word
The cloud is secure, until someone clicks the wrong button. When that happens, Xero, Microsoft, and Google won’t save you. But the right backup solution will.
Let Bondgate IT help you build that safety net, before you need it.