Hi Amanda,
Thanks for your response — I’ve read the full post you linked, however it doesn’t address the core issue we’re experiencing.
Your explanation doesn’t clarify why an online user accessing an AccountRight online file through the desktop app can no longer perform a local backup. Our company has used AccountRight online (not offline) from the moment it became available, and until the 2026.5 update we were always able to create local backups directly from the desktop version.
Could you please confirm:
How can an online AccountRight file be backed up locally now — either via the MYOB web browser version or the AccountRight desktop application while the file is online?
We need to maintain local backups for compliance and internal policy, so understanding the correct process under 2026.25is essential.
Thanks in advance for your clarification.
Hey CarolineG
The offline version of MYOB AccountRight desktop is built on technology that no longer meets today’s performance standards. The removal of offline functionality in AccountRight means that offline backups are no longer available with the software, only online backups. More information about online backups can be found here.
I find this decision extraordinary at a time when cyber threats are increasing.
By disallowing customer-controlled local backups, MYOB is removing an important layer of resilience from businesses' data protection strategies. While provider-managed cloud backups have benefits, preventing customers from maintaining independent backup copies appears inconsistent with widely accepted principles of cyber risk management and business continuity.
I will now have to disclose to my business practice insurer that I can no longer maintain local backups of MYOB data, (one of the questions asked at our last renewal).
With this decision MYOB is accepting 100% responsibility for all security risks against my data.
What assurances do MYOB provide that my backups are completely protected from cyber threats?
What happens to backups that age past the 6 months?
Apparently they are deleted from MYOB's data centre altogether. They don't keep them any longer than the 6 months. We now have to advise are QA manager that keeping our own backups is no longer an option.
Access to backups older than 6 months is important particularly for forensic accounting purposes.
What MYOB are forcing users do is find an alternative method of capturing snapshots of historical transactional data.
Seems like old school exports to spreadsheets will be the only option available to capture data locally.
At least Xero users have access to third party backup solutions. I have advised clients away from Xero because of Xero's failure to provide local backup solutions.
This decision is an epic fail from MYOB.
