The number of Google Workspace™ (formerly GSuite) backup solutions is overwhelming, and choosing the right one can be critical in preventing data loss. Should you choose the most promoted product? Or should you vet just a little more to get the backup software with more functions and at a better price?In this guide, we compare 4 popular cloud-to-cloud backup tools and help you find the best Google Workspace™ backup for your business:Afi.aiSpanningBackupifySpinBackupBefore we start, if you still hesitate about whether the backup for your Google Workspace™ is essential, read about the best practices for Google Workspace™ (G Suite) Security.Why You Need a Third-Party Backup SolutionGoogle runs on one of the most reliable cloud infrastructures in the world, so why would you need a separate backup? The answer boils down to something called a shared responsibility model. Google is responsible for keeping its own servers running, protecting against any form of hardware failures, and maintaining uptime. But the data inside your Google WorkspaceTM account is on you. Native tools like Google Vault are built for eDiscovery, not backup and recovery. Google Takeout lets you export data manually, but there’s no automation or easy restore. And once something is deleted from Trash, admins have only about 25 days to recover it before it’s gone permanently. This is where a third party backup solution shines! It gives you an independent copy of your data that you can control and isn’t affected by what happens inside Google Workspace.What to Look for in Google Workspace™ Backup SolutionIf you’re researching a backup solution for your Google Workspace™, here are some helpful areas to consider: Comprehensive Application CoverageMost backup solutions cover Gmail™ and Drive. But the real question is what else does this coverage extend to? While Shared Drives are critical for teams, some vendors treat them as a separate add-on. Google Sites, Calendar, Contacts, Chat, Tasks, Keep often get overlooked until one needs to recover something and realize it was never backed up! Thus, it is imperative to gain an understanding of a complete list of what’s included and what isn’t, basis of everything that your organization uses and needs to be protected.Automated and Scheduled BackupsBackup solutions which support automated and scheduled backups will ensure that the data is consistently backed up without any human intervention.You can look for solutions that allow flexible scheduling such as daily, multiple times per day, or continuous backups, based on the criticality of your data. The best solutions often run in the background, capturing incremental changes and minimize bandwidth usage while keeping your backups up-to-date.Granular Restore CapabilitiesHaving the option to restore individual items like specific emails, files, and folders is vital, such that one can minimize downtime and data loss, during an accidental deletion or data corruption. Having the option for a point-in-time restore functionality that lets you roll back to a specific date is also helpful. The ability to restore data to a different user account or export it in various formats adds flexibility when handling a variety of recovery scenarios. Security and ComplianceThe backup solution should encrypt data both during transmission(in-transit) and while stored (at-rest) to meet enterprise security requirements. The solution should be compliant with regulations like GDPR, HIPPA, SOC 2 or other industry specific compliance standards to safeguard sensitive information. It is also important to verify that the vendor undergoes regular third-party security audits and can provide documentation for the same upon request.Ransomware Protection and Anomaly DetectionWith the increase in cyber threats, a backup solution that provides protection against ransomware and aids in anomaly detection can provide an additional layer of security! These tools can use machine learning and behavioral analysis to identify unusual activities, such as mass deletions, encryption of files, or suspicious access attempts. It would be a useful feature for administrators to receive real-time alerts when activities indicate a potential breach, thus allowing them to respond quickly and address issues promptly.Reporting and Administrative DashboardA good backup solution will come with comprehensive reporting and an intuitive dashboard to keep track of all backups, restorations, changes in configurations or configuration settings, thus aiding the managing of the backups less complicated. The ability to get customizable reports, audit logs and the ability to export data for stakeholders would be a huge benefit. A well-designed dashboard gives administrators visibility into backup health, storage consumption, and any imminent issues requiring attention.Data Retention PoliciesA solution which helps is setting up granular retention settings per application or data type gives you the control needed to balance regulatory requirements with practical storage management. The solution should allow you to define how long data is retained, say indefinitely for compliance purposes or for a set period to control costs. Data Residency and Storage LocationIt is important to consider where the backup data is physically located, especially if your region has data sovereignty requirements. Storage options should address operational as well as legal obligations, with the ability to choose specific geographic regions or data centers. Some industries and jurisdictions mandate that data never leaves certain borders, so ensure your backup provider can accommodate these requirements.Customer Support and Service Level AgreementsA dependable customer support and transparent service level agreements( SLAs) ensure you can get crucial assistance when necessary and receive assurances about the performance and uptime of the solution. One must evaluate the support channels available (phone, email, chat), response time guarantees, and whether premium support tiers are offered. Additionally, also review SLAs carefully for uptime commitments, backup success rate guarantees, and remediation processes when issues occur.Transparent and Scalable PricingOne must ensure that the pricing model aligns with the company’s budget while meeting one’s backup needs. In addition to the initial cost, consider any additional expenses such as extra storage, premium features, advanced functionality or per-user fees that may apply as your organization grows. Thus, it is important to look for predictable pricing that scales reasonably with your user count and data volume, while being transparent about costs like data egress fees or charges for restores, which can be hidden fees in many scenarios.Google Workspace™ (G Suite) Backup Solutions: OverviewSpinBackup (Recommended)SpinBackup is a versatile SaaS for cloud drives and a Google Workspace™ Backup solution. It fits the needs of both small businesses and enterprises, enabling companies to scale from 5 to 1000+ user licenses. The tool provides incremental backup and granular point-in-time recovery for Google Services. Furthermore, it offers an additional layer of security guarding your Workspace against ransomware and risky applications.Afi.aiAfi is a backup solution for Google Workspace™ or Microsoft 365. It protects Google Workspace™ data, including Drives, Gmail™, Calendars, Contacts, and Sites with preserved user rights and permissions. SpanningSpanning is a backup solution for medium to large businesses that use Salesforce, Google Workspace™, and/or Microsoft 365. It works with multiple Google services like Gmail™, Drive, and Calendars. Spanning offers automated backup and quick restoration of lost data.BackupifyBackupify is a tool for large companies that use Google Workspace™ or Microsoft 365. Similar to Spanning, it automatically backs up various services within cloud drives (like Drives, Contacts, mailboxes). Backupify provides granular restoration.Google Workspace™ Backup Solution Comparison Table AfiBackupifySpanningSpinBackup(by Spin.AI)Starting Price (user/mo)$3$3$4$3Rating on Google Workspace™ Marketplace4.74.04.64.8Ease of Use Rating on Capterra4.84.13.94.8Customer Service Rating on Capterra4.73.93.34.724/7 Support–Online SupportGoogle ServicesGmail™,Drive, Shared Drive™,Calendar,Contacts,Google Sites, Google Chat, HangoutGmail™,Drive, Shared Drive™,Calendar,ContactsGmail™,Drive, Shared Drive™,Calendar,ContactsGmail™,Drive,Shared Drive™,Calendar,Contacts,Google Sites, Google Chat, SpacesBackup FeaturesAverage Backup Onboarding SpeedUp to 24 hoursN/AN/ALess than 1 hourAutomated backupOn-demand BackupBackup LogBackup Scheduling–Cloud ProvidersGCPAzureBYOSDatto CloudAWSGCPAzureAWSBYOSUnlimited RetentionVersioningIncremental BackupArchiveRecovery FeaturesDisaster recoveryPoint-in-time restorationGranular recoveryOn-demand restorationSecurity FeaturesProactive ransomware protection with SLA–––Risk assessment of 3rd party apps & browser extensions–––Data leak prevention–––Misconfiguration management–––Applications protectedGoogle Workspace™, Microsoft 365Google Workspace™, Microsoft 365Google Workspace™, Microsoft 365, SalesforceGoogle Workspace™, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, SlackEncryption at-restEncryption in transitSecure Data StorageComplianceGDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, ISO 27001GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAAGDPR,SOC 2,HIPAA,ISO 27001GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, CCPA, EU-U.S., PCI DSS, ISO 27001ManagementMultiple domains management––Fast searchLicensing deleted accountsGoogle Workspace™ Backup Solution AlternativesWe’ve outlined the most popular backup products however there are others in the market. Here are a few other alternative Google Workspace™ Backup solutions offering some of the features listed above:Acronis Cyber Protect CloudAcronis provides active protection against cyber threats, backup, and disaster recovery services, ensuring data protection and security for Google Workspace™.CloudAllyWith CloudAlly, you can back up your Google Workspace™, including Gmail™, Drive, Calendars, Contacts, and Tasks, securely and automatically. It provides unlimited storage and retention, with easy data recovery and export options.CubeBackupLets businesses back up Google Workspace™ data to a local server or the cloud, providing a cost-effective and simple backup storage solution.OwnBackupThough primarily known for Salesforce backup, OwnBackup also offers solutions for Google Workspace™, providing comprehensive backup and recovery services that ensure data is secure and easily recoverable.SaaS BackupSaaS Backup, offered by Commvault, provides comprehensive backup and recovery solutions for Google Workspace™. It emphasizes data protection across various Google Workspace™ services like Gmail™, Drive, Sites, and Calendar, with flexible recovery options.SysCloudSysCloud offers backup and security solutions for Google Workspace™, providing automated backups with security support through threat protection and compliance monitoring, making it a comprehensive solution for data protection.Selecting a Google Workspace™ Backup SolutionBusinesses must prioritize speed, reliability, security, and comprehensiveness when choosing a Google Workspace™ backup solution. All Google Workspace™ applications (Gmail™, Drive, Calendar, Contacts, and others) should be automatically, and regularly backed up by the solution, so data can be recovered in case of accidental deletion, ransomware attacks, or other data loss events. A backup provider’s security measures should be assessed, including encryption, compliance with industry standards, and protection against external and internal threats. To ensure that your backup solution can grow with your business and provide quick data restoration when necessary, scalability, user-friendly management interfaces, and seamless data recovery are all crucial factors.SpinBackup stands out as an ideal Google Workspace™ backup solution by addressing these key considerations effectively. All Google Workspace™ data is automatically backed up by SpinBackup daily, providing peace of mind and comprehensive coverage. Data breaches and unauthorized access are prevented by our advanced security features, including 256-bit encryption. Intuitive dashboards and granular recovery options make managing backups and restoring data straightforward, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.In addition, SpinBackup’s scalability provides flexible plans that adapt to your business’s needs as it grows. A fast and reliable solution like SpinBackup can help businesses protect their Google Workspace™ data, make it easy to recover, and keep it safe.Frequently Asked QuestionsDoes Google automatically backup my Workspace data?Google maintains infrastructure-level redundancy to protect against hardware failures, but this isn’t the same as a backup you can restore from. If a user deletes a file, that deletion is replicated across Google’s infrastructure. Google Vault provides retention and eDiscovery features, but it’s not designed for quick backup and recovery. For a true backup, you need a third-party solution.How often should one backup Google Workspace?It depends on how much data one can afford to lose. Daily backups are minimum for most organizations. If a team makes frequent changes to critical documents or handles high-volume email, then it might be wise to consider solutions that back up multiple times per day or offer near-continuous protection.Do backup solutions work with shared drives?Most do, but some treat Shared Drives as a separate add-on or have limitations. It is important to verify that the solution explicitly supports Shared Drives and also validate if there are additional costs or restrictions.What happens to backups when an employee leaves?This varies by solution. Some allow you to retain backup data for former employees without continuing to pay for their licence, while others require you to keep the licence active or export the data before offboarding. Share this article Share this post on Linkedin Share this post on X Share this post on Facebook Share this post on Reddit Was this helpful? Yes No What was missing / how can we improve? Submit Cancel