“M365 has become an indispensable tool for businesses. Housing every facet of organisational data, from generation of data with Word and Excel to distribution and storage of data with emails and documents to OneDrive and SharePoint, M365 is truly central to operations. But despite its widespread use, a major shortcoming is its backup process,” says Doug Morrison, Strategic Head at Braintree.

qwerti, a subsidiary of Vivica, has entered into a strategic partnership with Braintree to provide customers with a free hosted Microsoft 365 (MS365) backup solution that meets all local governance requirements.

While Microsoft does perform back-end data backups, these don’t cater to individual companies. The risk here is significant: once an item is deleted, users have a 30-day window before it's gone forever—unless it's purged from the deleted items earlier. This poses a serious threat, especially when disgruntled employees intentionally remove data.

Morrison says that backups in the M365 environment is a critical need. “Our discussion led to an agreement rooted in delivering a significant value-add to our customers.”

The importance of M365 backup is evident, but the costs associated with it are discouraging. After investing between R180 to R350 on MS365 licensing per user, spending for an additional backup licence can quickly see costs spiral. This financial concern often pushes companies into risky territory where they choose not to backup.

"It's crucial to clarify that simply storing data isn't the equivalent of backing it up. Our collaboration with Braintree aims to challenge and change this notion," says Craig Freer, Head of Division at qwerti.

Through this partnership, qwerti will provide customers who migrate their tenant to Braintree with unlimited managed backups that cover SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, and Teams at no additional cost. This is designed to help overcome the misconception that storage equals backup.

Implementing backups for essential systems isn't just about data security—it's a legal obligation. Directors could face serious repercussions if backups aren't in place and data loss arises. This partnership effectively bridges the gap between what Microsoft provides and the comprehensive solution qwerti and Braintree offer.

"Our shared vision extends beyond just backups. This partnership is about highlighting the business value which M365 delivers in a managed service provider offering. Through this, we aim to put the spotlight on the potential security risks companies expose themselves to when it comes to not backing up their mission-critical data,” continues Freer.

Now, customers can benefit from the combined strengths of qwerti and Braintree. With qwerti offering backup services under the Braintree brand, clients receive a complete solution, with the promise of more joint offerings in the pipeline.

Freer emphasises the broader picture: “Our collaboration ensures our customers are equipped with tools that not only add value but also give peace of mind. Essentially, we're empowering them with the best managed backup solution, and that free of charge.”

This innovative approach is estimated to save customers hundreds of rands per user licence, serving as a compelling incentive to switch to Braintree. With a seamless migration process, businesses can expect zero disruption.

“In the realm of Microsoft backup, free is unbeatable. This partnership is the culmination of trust and shared vision built over many years of working together. It emphasises the benefits of collaboration. Both Braintree and qwerti are devoted to giving back to their clients, ensuring optimal data safety and seamless digital operations,” says Morrison.