Google Workspace backup for Consultancies
Consultancies rely on Google Workspace for project deliverables and client data. But Google only retains deleted data for 30 days. Your retention obligation lasts 5 years after project completion. Mindtime closes the gap.
(GDPR + contractual data handling obligations)
permanently deleted after this
GDPR-compliant ยท no US jurisdiction
How Consultancies use Google Workspace
Consultancies use Google Workspace as a central workspace for Gmail, Drive, Google Slides and Meet. What most users don't realise: all that data is not automatically protected when an account is deleted, ransomware strikes or an employee makes a mistake.
Gmail
Client communications, engagement letters and project status updates
Google Drive
Strategy decks, analysis files, reports and project archives
Calendar & Meet
Client workshops, steering committee meetings and recorded briefings
Shared Drives
Project team drives shared across consultants and client stakeholders
Google Chat
Internal project updates and client-facing Chat spaces
Google Sheets
Financial models, KPI trackers and data analysis workbooks
Does Google Workspace automatically back up your data?
Google Workspace is reliable as a platform โ 99.9% uptime, secure infrastructure, automatic redundancy. But Google does not back up your data. That is the core of the Shared Responsibility Model: Google is responsible for the platform, you are responsible for your data.
What Google does offer: deleted files and emails remain available for 30 days via the Trash. After that they are permanently gone โ even for Google itself. Ransomware doesn't wait 30 days. Neither does an accidental account deletion.
Ransomware via Drive sync
Ransomware encrypts files on your local computer. Google Drive immediately syncs those encrypted versions to the cloud โ overwriting your 'cloud copy'. After 30 days there is no recovery.
Account deleted
When an employee leaves and their Google account is deleted, everything disappears: Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Meet recordings, Chat history. By default you have 20 days to export data โ after that it's gone.
Data loss during consultant offboarding
When a consultant leaves, their Google account is often deleted within days โ along with project files, client emails and analysis that may still be needed for follow-on work.
Is Google Vault a backup? No โ here's the difference
Many Consultancies use Google Vault for email archiving or e-discovery. That's valuable โ but it is not a backup. Vault archives data for legal purposes. It does not restore data after an attack or error.
| Feature | Google Workspace (built-in) | Google Vault | Mindtime GW Backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery after ransomware | โ | โ | โ |
| Restore deleted account (>30 days) | โ | Limited | โ |
| Item-level email/file recovery | โ | โ | โ |
| Drive file recovery | 30 days | โ | โ |
| Retention compliance 5 years after project completion | โ | Email only | โ All apps |
| Data on Dutch servers | โ US/EU mix | โ US/EU mix | โ 100% NL |
| ISO 27001 certified | Google-level | Google-level | โ Mindtime + Google |
Conclusion: Google Vault and Mindtime are complementary, not interchangeable. Vault archives for e-discovery. Mindtime recovers after incidents. Learn more about Mindtime's Google Workspace backup โ
What Mindtime backs up in Google Workspace
Mindtime connects via the official Google Workspace API and continuously backs up all content from your Google environment โ per user, per app, in the background.
Gmail
All emails, attachments, labels and folders. Item-level recovery โ including emails deleted by users or administrators.
Google Drive
All files, folders and version histories โ including Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. Restore individual files or entire folder structures.
Shared Drives
Team Drive content, including permissions and folder structure. Critical for Consultancies who collaborate via shared folders.
Google Calendar
Appointments, meeting invitations and calendar items. Restore per user or per calendar.
Contacts
Personal contacts and directory data. Essential for sectors with extensive client and relationship databases.
Google Chat & Meet
Chat histories and Meet recordings. Essential for Consultancies who record client conversations or meetings.
Google Workspace and your retention obligation as consultancy
Data that Consultancies manage in Google Workspace falls under GDPR + contractual data handling obligations. That obligation means you must be able to reproduce data for at least 5 years after project completion โ even after an incident.
Google is GDPR-compliant as a platform. But the duty to recover lies with you, not Google. If data is lost due to an error, attack or account deletion, Google is not responsible for recovering your data.
Mindtime automatically configures retention policies based on your legal obligations โ including the exact terms required by GDPR + contractual data handling obligations. All data is stored on exclusively Dutch servers, fully within GDPR jurisdiction. No US law, no Patriot Act exposure.
ISO 27001 certified โ independent proof that our processes meet the highest security standards.
What happens when things go wrong โ a scenario for Consultancies
Imagine: a project lead departs and their account is closed โ removing three months of client-facing deliverables, workshop outputs and final reports from Drive.
Automatic alert โ within minutes
Mindtime detects the change and immediately sends an alert. You don't need to check the backup manually.
Choose a recovery point โ to the minute
Via the Mindtime dashboard you select the moment before the incident. You choose the exact user, app and timestamp.
Selective or full recovery
Restore a single email, a Drive folder, or a complete employee Google account. No big-bang recovery when it's not needed.
Operational โ within 2โ4 hours
Your Consultancies team has full access restored to project deliverables and client data. No ransom paid, no data lost, no GDPR breach notification needed.
Secure your Google Workspace data in five steps
Setup via the Google Workspace Admin Console takes less than an hour. After that, everything runs fully automatically.
Request a demo โ free and no obligation
We show you how Mindtime works for Consultancies โ including per-app coverage and retention settings for 5 years after project completion.
Connect via Google Workspace Admin Console
No software installation. Mindtime connects via the official Google Workspace API. Authorise via your Admin Console โ done in minutes.
Configure your retention policy
Set which users, which apps and how long โ aligned to GDPR + contractual data handling obligations (5 years after project completion retention obligation).
First backup + test recovery
The first full backup starts automatically. We run a test recovery together โ so you know it works before you ever need it.
Runs automatically โ quarterly review
Mindtime runs fully in the background. Monthly backup reports + quarterly review to keep the scope up to date.
How Consultancies use Google Workspace
How Consultancies use Gmail, Drive, Calendar and more
Consultancies use Google Workspace as their central workspace for Gmail, Drive, Google Slides and Meet. What many don't realise: data is not automatically protected if an account is deleted, ransomware strikes, or an employee makes a mistake. Gmail contains client communications, engagement letters and project status updates. Google Drive holds strategy decks, analysis files, reports and project archives.
- Consultancies
- Google Workspace
- GDPR + contractual data handling obligations
Does Google Workspace back up your data?
The Shared Responsibility Model explained
Google Workspace is reliable as a platform โ 99.9% uptime, secure infrastructure, automatic redundancy. But Google does not back up your data. That is the Shared Responsibility Model: Google is responsible for the platform, you are responsible for your data. Deleted files remain recoverable for 30 days via the Trash โ after that they are permanently gone.
Ransomware via Drive sync
Ransomware encrypts local files. Google Drive immediately syncs the encrypted versions โ overwriting your cloud copy. After 30 days there is no recovery.
Account deleted
When an employee leaves and their account is deleted, everything disappears: Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Meet recordings, Chat history. You have 20 days to export โ then it's gone.
Data loss during consultant offboarding
When a consultant leaves, their Google account is often deleted within days โ along with project files, client emails and analysis that may still be needed for follow-on work.
Google Vault vs Mindtime
Is Google Vault a backup? No โ here's the difference
Many Consultancies use Google Vault for email archiving or e-discovery. That's valuable โ but it is not a backup. Vault archives data for legal purposes. It cannot restore data after a ransomware attack, account deletion or human error. Mindtime is a full backup and recovery platform for all Google Workspace apps.
| Feature | Google Workspace (built-in) | Google Vault | Mindtime GW Backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery after ransomware | โ | โ | โ |
| Restore deleted account (>30 days) | โ | Limited | โ |
| Item-level email/file recovery | โ | โ | โ |
| Drive file recovery | 30 days | โ | โ |
| Retention compliance 5 years after project completion | โ | Email only | โ All apps |
| Data on Dutch servers | โ US/EU mix | โ US/EU mix | โ 100% NL |
| ISO 27001 certified | Google-level | Google-level | โ Mindtime + Google |
What Mindtime backs up
Gmail, Drive, Shared Drives, Calendar, Contacts, Chat & Meet
Mindtime connects via the official Google Workspace API and continuously backs up all content from your Google environment โ per user, per app, in the background.
Gmail
All emails, attachments, labels and folders. Item-level recovery โ including emails deleted by users or administrators.
Google Drive
All files, folders and version histories โ including Docs, Sheets and Slides. Restore individual files or entire structures.
Shared Drives
Team Drive content including permissions and folder structure. Critical for Consultancies who collaborate via shared folders.
Compliance for Consultancies
GDPR + contractual data handling obligations โ 5 years after project completion retention obligation
Data that Consultancies manage in Google Workspace falls under GDPR + contractual data handling obligations. That means you must be able to reproduce data for at least 5 years after project completion โ even after an incident. Google is GDPR-compliant as a platform, but the duty to recover lies with you. If data is lost due to an error, attack or deletion, Google is not responsible for recovering your data. Mindtime automatically configures retention policies aligned to GDPR + contractual data handling obligations, storing all data exclusively on Dutch servers โ fully within GDPR jurisdiction.
Recovery scenario
A real scenario for Consultancies โ back up within 2โ4 hours
Imagine: a project lead departs and their account is closed โ removing three months of client-facing deliverables, workshop outputs and final reports from Drive. With Mindtime, your team restores the data via a point-in-time backup within 2โ4 hours โ no ransom paid, no data lost, no GDPR breach notification required.
Automatic alert โ within minutes
Mindtime detects the change and immediately sends an alert. You don't need to check the backup manually.
Choose a recovery point โ to the minute
Via the Mindtime dashboard you select the moment before the incident. Choose the exact user, app and timestamp.
Selective or full recovery
Restore a single email, a Drive folder, or a complete employee Google account. No big-bang recovery when it isn't needed.
Operational โ within 2โ4 hours
Your Consultancies team has full access restored to project deliverables and client data. No ransom, no data loss, no GDPR notification required.
Five steps to secure your data
Set up in under an hour via Google Admin Console
Setup via the Google Workspace Admin Console takes less than an hour. After that, everything runs fully automatically. Mindtime configures retention for GDPR + contractual data handling obligations โ 5 years after project completion โ out of the box.
- ISO 27001
- 100% Dutch servers
- GDPR-compliant
- GDPR + contractual data handling obligations
Request a demo
Free demo, no obligation
Connect via Admin Console
Official API โ done in minutes
Configure retention
Aligned to GDPR + contractual data handling obligations
First backup + test recovery
Automatic, verified
Runs automatically
Monthly reports + quarterly review
Frequently asked questions about Google Workspace backup for Consultancies
Frequently asked questions about Google Workspace backup for Consultancies.
Does Google Workspace automatically back up my data?
Google Workspace offers high platform availability but no backup. Deleted files are recoverable for 30 days via the Trash โ after that they are permanently gone. Mindtime adds an independent, immutable backup outside Google's platform.
What is the difference between Google Vault and Mindtime?
Google Vault is an archiving tool for legal e-discovery and email retention. It does not restore data after ransomware, account deletion or human error. Mindtime is a complete backup and recovery platform for all Google Workspace apps.
Can we restore files from a project that was completed two years ago?
Yes. Mindtime retains backups for the configured period โ up to the full retention obligation. You can browse and restore files from any point in time within that window.
Does Mindtime work alongside Google Workspace's native version history?
Yes. Mindtime operates independently of Google's version history. It creates immutable off-platform snapshots โ so even if Google's version history is unavailable, your data is safe.
Is Mindtime compliant with GDPR + contractual data handling obligations?
Yes. Mindtime is ISO 27001 certified and stores all data exclusively in Dutch data centres within GDPR jurisdiction. Retention is automatically configured to comply with GDPR + contractual data handling obligations โ including the 5 years after project completion obligation for project deliverables and client data.
How quickly can I recover data?
A single email or file is recoverable within minutes. A full user account within 2โ4 hours. Mindtime restores directly into Google Workspace โ no manual import required.
Does Mindtime also work for related sectors?
Yes. Mindtime provides Google Workspace backup for various sectors. View the Google Workspace page for more information.
Protect your Google Workspace data as consultancy
ISO 27001 certified ยท 100% Dutch servers ยท Connect via Admin Console ยท Operational within one hour
Learn more about Mindtime Google Workspace Backup โFree and no obligation ยท Average setup time: < 1 hour via Google Admin Console