While often overlooked, data protection is an important piece of the overall data management puzzle, since it protects organizations from the consequences of unauthorized access, loss, corruption, and misuse of sensitive information—all of which can damage reputations and bottom lines. There are different approaches to effective data protection, making it a crucial consideration for leaders as they build their tech stacks. In particular, decision makers must weigh whether to build their own solution (we cover the pitfalls of this approach here), extend their legacy on-premise backup provider to cover SaaS data, or invest in a solution purpose-built for the unique challenges of cloud environments.
To help you decide which approach best fits your needs, let’s break down the differences between generalist and specialized SaaS data protection solutions.
Generalist solutions: Jack of all trades, master of none?
Legacy backup providers have expanded into SaaS protection to keep pace with modern business needs. For companies already using these platforms, it’s tempting to stick with what they know. After all, it’s convenient to manage everything in one place, and cost-cutting pressures often make the idea of adding new tools seem like a luxury. But convenience comes with trade-offs.
Generalist backup and recovery providers often struggle to deliver effective protection for SaaS applications because each SaaS platform is fundamentally different in its architecture and functionality. Unlike on-premises environments, SaaS applications are built with unique data models, APIs, and integration requirements that require a tailored approach to data protection. A one-size-fits-all solution may fail to account for the specific nuances of a platform like Salesforce versus Microsoft 365, leaving gaps in coverage. These gaps can result in missed backup opportunities, slower recovery times, or even compliance risks.
Benefits of a specialized solution
Data is the lifeblood of your business, and losing access to it creates numerous risks. Reputation, revenue, and productivity are just a few of the things at stake in your data protection strategy. Specialized solutions often outperform generalized products because catch-all tools are designed for broad use cases, while specialized ones have one job to do—so they do it well.
Technical ability
Consider this: A generalist software engineer may know the basics of five programming languages, while a specialist may only know one, but they know it inside and out. As such, they will be much better equipped to perform the most challenging tasks using their specific skill set.
We can apply this same approach to data protection. While a generalized solution may cover the basics, they may not be able to address the nuances of a niche industry or a complex organization’s unique needs. They may also be slower to adapt to the latest trends/updates in the SaaS application your business is interested in protecting. On the other hand, specialized providers must necessarily prioritize ongoing innovation and staying up to date on the latest threats and compliance demands.
Expert support
Effective data protection hinges on robust support just as much as technology. While generalist vendors often struggle to provide specialized expertise for diverse SaaS environments, specialist vendors prioritize support as a core component of their offering. Their teams possess in-depth knowledge of specific SaaS platforms, enabling faster response times and more effective issue resolution. Specialists often offer proactive monitoring, personalized support, and 24/7 availability, ensuring that expert help is readily accessible during data emergencies.
Trust Your Salesforce Data to Own from Salesforce
While generalist vendors may claim to offer all-encompassing protection, some, like Own, understand that certain platforms require a more focused, purpose-built approach.
Salesforce is one such platform. Its architecture is fundamentally different from other SaaS tools like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, and it presents unique data protection challenges. That’s why Salesforce demands a specialist backup and recovery solution from a provider with deep expertise in the platform.
As part of the Salesforce ecosystem for nearly a decade and now part of Salesforce outright, Own is a verifiably specialized solution for Salesforce data protection and management. We’ve built our platform for specificity to help you navigate the intricacies of Salesforce data with an unmatched level of attention and expertise. We’re proud specialists.
Don’t wait until a data loss event forces your hand. Let’s talk about how we can elevate data protection for your business.
