Single email
Bringing back one specific email deleted from a mailbox.
Managed IT services
Microsoft 365 backup for coastal businesses
A backup stored separately from Microsoft 365 lets an item be restored after Microsoft's window has passed.
Separate data storage
Built-in retention is not a backup
Microsoft's built-in retention and recycle bins keep deleted items for a limited window. After Microsoft's window passes, data is gone permanently unless a separate copy exists.
- 1
Copied outside Microsoft 365
Exchange Online mail, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams data are captured and stored in a separate system outside Microsoft.
- 2
Sitting in one tenant
File versioning and the recycle bin sit inside the same tenant as the files. Ransomware or a compromised admin account can destroy both at once.
- 3
Restoring after Microsoft deletes
A backup stored separately allows an item to be restored long after Microsoft's built-in retention window has passed.
Microsoft deletes files after a short window
Microsoft keeps deleted items for a limited number of days. Dragging the slider shows whether Microsoft can still restore an item, or if a separate copy is needed to bring data back.
Days since deletion
Deleted email14 days, up to 30 if raised
In the separate backup
Deleted SharePoint file93 days
In the separate backup
Deleted user account mailbox30 days
In the separate backup
Ended subscription90 days in a limited account, deleted within 180
In the separate backup
Days count from deletion, and the backup column applies to items captured before deletion.
Typical restore requests by organization
Owners and office managers across Charleston rely on Microsoft 365. Selecting an organization type shows the kind of restore typically requested and Microsoft's retention window for those items.
Typical restore request
Microsoft retention window
Selecting data to bring back
Restoring requires picking a data type, choosing a restore point, and selecting the items. A person carrying out the restore can pick a single email, a file, a folder, or a whole mailbox.
Choosing a restore location
Items can be restored directly back to their original location in Microsoft 365, or placed into a new location such as a separate folder.
Capturing a departing employee's mailbox
A departed employee's mailbox is among the most requested restores, usually months later. Capturing data requires the correct order of events before a Microsoft 365 license is removed.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Items that can be restored
Restores are tested, not assumed. Bringing data back can mean retrieving a single file or recovering an entire site.
Single file
Recovering one specific document from a SharePoint library or OneDrive.
Entire folder
Restoring a complete folder full of documents to its original location.
Whole mailbox
Recovering an entire mailbox with all its folders and messages intact.
Whole SharePoint site
Restoring an entire SharePoint site and all its contained document libraries.
Departed employee mailbox
Retrieving a former staff member's mailbox months after they have left.
Teams posts
Recovering specific posts from a channel using Microsoft Graph Teams Export APIs.
Restore to new folder
Placing restored items into a completely new folder instead of their original place.
Process for protecting data
- 1
Covering Microsoft 365 apps
Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams are covered by Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365.
- 2
Running on Microsoft Azure
Backup, security monitoring and remediation run on Microsoft Azure alongside Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Sentinel.
- 3
Capturing departing employee mailboxes
Leavers are captured before the Microsoft 365 license is removed from their account.
- 4
Testing every restore
Restores are tested to ensure data comes back correctly, not just assumed.
Storage destinations for data
Veeam can write Microsoft 365 backups to multiple destinations.
Local or network storage
Writing backups to local disks or on-premises network storage.
Microsoft Azure Blob Storage
Storing data within Microsoft Azure object storage.
Amazon S3 and Wasabi
Utilizing popular object storage services like Amazon S3 and Wasabi.
Other S3-compatible storage
Sending backups to other S3-compatible object storage services.
Common questions about Microsoft 365 backup
- Does Microsoft back up my email and files?
Microsoft provides built-in retention and recycle bins for a limited window. File versioning and recycle bins sit inside the same tenant as the files. A separate backup outside Microsoft 365 is required to protect data.
- How long does Microsoft keep deleted email?
Exchange Online keeps deleted email for 14 days by default. An administrator can raise this window to at most 30 days. After that window passes, data is permanently gone without a separate backup.
- How long does SharePoint keep deleted files?
SharePoint keeps deleted files in its recycle bins for 93 days from the moment of deletion. Microsoft then removes them completely.
- Is versioning a backup?
File versioning is not a backup. SharePoint versioning and the recycle bin sit inside the same tenant as the files, meaning ransomware or a compromised admin account can destroy both at once.
- What happens to a departed employee's mailbox?
Microsoft 365 keeps a deleted user account mailbox for 30 days before permanently purging it. Capturing the mailbox requires a backup to run before the Microsoft 365 license is removed.
- What does the backup cover?
Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 covers Exchange Online mail, SharePoint sites, OneDrive files and Teams posts. Backup data is captured and stored outside of Microsoft's built-in retention systems.
- Where are backups stored?
Backups can be written to local or network storage, Microsoft Azure Blob Storage, Amazon S3, Wasabi, or other S3-compatible storage services.
Protect business data today
Call (844) 422-7000 or book a walkthrough to set up a separate Microsoft 365 backup for your organization.
CharlestonMount PleasantNorth CharlestonIsle of PalmsFolly BeachKiawahBeaufortBlufftonHilton HeadSavannah