Will Your SaaS Data Survive IT Outages?
Imagine you’re running a business and you’re using various Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. By 2028, it’s expected that 75 percent of businesses will see backing up these SaaS apps as a must-have, a huge leap from just 15 percent in 2024. The reason for this shift is simple: the data generated by these apps is growing fast and becoming crucial for businesses.
Gartner’s latest forecast shows that worldwide spending on SaaS is set to soar. In 2024, it's projected to reach US$247.2 billion, and it’s expected to climb to nearly US$300 billion by 2025. This surge underscores the increasing reliance on SaaS technologies and highlights why backing up this data is critical.
Michael Hoeck from Gartner explains that IT outages can pose significant risks, making regular backups and data recovery essential. Since businesses depend more on SaaS, ensuring that this data is protected and recoverable is crucial. SaaS data can be vulnerable to errors, cyberattacks, and issues with the service provider, so having a solid backup plan is vital.
Hoeck emphasises that integrating Backup as a Service (BaaS) is key for protecting cloud workloads and maintaining operational continuity. Businesses need to be aware of their shared responsibility for data protection in SaaS models and check their vendors’ data protection measures. If these are lacking, considering third-party backup solutions is advisable for comprehensive data protection.
Currently, many enterprises have not prioritised SaaS backup, often due to confusion about data protection responsibilities and the lack of standardised solutions. However, this is changing rapidly. By 2028, Gartner predicts that 75 percent of large enterprises will use BaaS alongside traditional on-premises tools to cover both cloud and on-premises data.
To effectively protect your SaaS data, Gartner recommends:
Governance Assessment: Ensure data protection and recovery capabilities are part of your evaluation of SaaS applications.
Vendor Capabilities: Check that your SaaS vendor can handle data protection and recovery in all scenarios.
Third-Party Solutions: Consider using third-party backup solutions to enhance the native capabilities of SaaS vendors. These solutions can centralise and streamline protection for multiple SaaS applications and offer better recovery options.
In short, as the market for SaaS backup solutions grows, it’s essential for businesses to thoroughly assess their data protection strategies and consider third-party solutions to ensure their data remains secure and accessible.
