I’ll also focus primarily on Exchange and SharePoint/OneDrive – primarily because these are the core services that backup vendors truly support backup and full restore for. In both parts, I’ll primarily link to Microsoft guidance in particular, because ultimately they provide the service, and if you make a decision to use Microsoft capabilities for protection then you should use Microsoft documentation as the reference to support your reasons. In part two, we’ll think about the wider protection and consider what other Microsoft 365 customers do. In the first part of this article, we’ll examine the above statements and what recovery and protection is available in the service. These statements have a foundation in fact, but if you consider them in a little more detail, they don’t stand up well. Microsoft 365 doesn’t provide the ability to quickly (or at all) restore data.Your data could become encrypted by ransomware on your desktops.A rogue administrator or hacker can delete data in Microsoft 365.Microsoft 365 default retention periods for storage of deleted data are not long enough.Most backup vendor’s marketing material aims to convince the reader in several ways: Some are written with the express aim of convincing the reader that backups for Microsoft 365 are essential. But more often than not the content is sponsored, paid for, or authored by a company selling a Microsoft 365 backup or continuity solution.

When you research whether you need to backup Microsoft 365 though, you’ll usually find lots of content telling you that you do need to. Sure – there are some valid reasons to backup data in Office 365, but in general, most organizations don’t need to do this. Backing up Microsoft 365 can be a fairly controversial question – with some people suggesting you definitely, absolutely need to backup – and others saying there is no need.

Microsoft to dos