How to Backup Google Workspace Shared Drive Data?

[steveenmiller07]

I am responsible for managing Google Workspace accounts and need to create an independent backup of our organization's Shared Drive data. Unlike personal My Drive folders, Shared Drives contain files owned by the organization and accessed by multiple team members. I want to make sure important documents remain available even if permissions, memberships, or user accounts change.

One challenge is understanding how Shared Drive permissions and file ownership affect the backup process. If a user is removed from a Shared Drive, does that affect the ability to retrieve previously stored files? Also, should administrators back up each Shared Drive separately or include it in a centralized organizational backup?

While researching available options, I came across the SysInfo Google Workspace Backup Tool. It provides backup options for Google Workspace data, including Google Drive content. I am considering it as one possible way to maintain local copies of important cloud files.

Before implementing anything, I would like to understand a few technical points:

• Do backup applications require separate permissions to access Shared Drives?
• How are files with restricted sharing permissions handled?
• Can administrators preserve the original folder hierarchy during export?
• What is the best way to verify file counts and identify missing items?

I am particularly interested in practical methods for Google Workspace Shared Drive backup that help administrators protect organizational files without disrupting existing access permissions.