Does Microsoft back up Office 365 data?

We get ask this a lot...

Contrary to popular belief, Microsoft does in fact back up Office 365 data, actually it's more based on retention of data. You can dig in and find more details about the resiliency, recovery, and other protections of data on Microsoft docs see link below.

To understand more on how office 365 data is protected against loss, security & compliance perspective please click on the link below.

Microsoft 365 Security - Dashboard

Link to - Home - Microsoft 365 security

Link to - Microsoft Trust Center Home | Microsoft Trusted Cloud

• Data resiliency in Office 365
• Exchange Online data resiliency
• SharePoint Online data resiliency
• Defending Microsoft 365 cloud services against denial of services attacks

Link to - Exchange Admin Center (microsoft.com)

What happens if users accidentally delete data from their mailboxes?

Deleted items are stored in the Deleted Items folder of the mailbox. Items removed from the Deleted Items folder or deleted by pressing Shift+Delete are most likely recoverable if they're dealt with promptly. An Exchange Online mailbox keeps deleted items for 14 days, by default, this can be updated to 30 max, see link below.

Change how long permanently deleted items are kept for an Exchange Online mailbox | Microsoft Docs

Note, under exchange admin centre you will find a recipients/mailboxes like admin, click on a user under the mailboxes list. Details of that mailbox will display; this is where you will find recover deleted items link.

Additionally, with Office 365 Enterprise subscriptions, or any Microsoft 365 subscription (including Business), you will also have the ability to define Retention policies, which can preserve data (even deleted data) for whatever time period you specify in the policy.

To apply new retention policy go to Microsoft 365 compliance / policies / retention or information governance / retention & click on New retention policy & follow the steps. I say just build a test and then review, must light you want to update the name & description to the policy.

Microsoft 365 Compliance - Dashboard

Link to - Default Retention Policy in Exchange Online & Exchange Server

Link to - Retention policies & retention labels what the different

Link to - Microsoft 365 compliance center

Knowing what I know about the Microsoft 365 services, I do not see the need for a third-party backup. But this will depend on your business circumstances in some case business may not be comfortable having all their eggs in one basket, on only one set of data protections, no matter how robust & the work Microsoft is putting in.

Additionally, some may find that third-party products is a better experience and accessibility for individual file or message restores. But be sure you know why you’re getting the other backup & it’s adding value. A demo is good, & most of the major services out do support both Exchange mailboxes and SharePoint/OneDrive data.