At its recent Inspire 2023 conference, Microsoft has unveiled two new products designed to enhance data protection and management: Microsoft 365 Backup and Microsoft 365 Archive.
Microsoft 365 Backup: Enhancing Data Security
In response to the escalating threat of ransomware encryption attacks and security breaches, Microsoft has developed Microsoft 365 Backup. This solution is engineered to back up OneDrive, SharePoint, and Exchange data at unparalleled speeds, while ensuring all data remains within the secure Microsoft 365 boundary.
Microsoft 365 Backup allows administrators to configure the system to back up all or selected SharePoint sites, OneDrive accounts, and Exchange mailboxes. It also supports the restoration of files, sites, and mailbox items to a previous point in time, either on a granular level or on a massive scale. Additionally, the solution includes search and filtering functionality, enabling users to locate data in backups using key metadata such as item or site names.
Microsoft 365 Backup will be accessible via the Microsoft 365 admin center, and administrators will also have the option to use partner applications for backing up non-Microsoft 365 data or if they prefer to use a different partner. Microsoft plans to launch Microsoft 365 Backup as a preview in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Microsoft 365 Archive: A Cost-Effective Solution for Long-Term Storage
Microsoft 365 Archive is a cold storage solution designed to help organizations reduce storage costs. This solution is particularly beneficial for businesses that need to retain data that may not be actively used but is still essential for business records and compliance.
Microsoft 365 Archive introduces a cold storage tier to keep inactive or aging data within SharePoint at a cost-effective price point that aligns with the value of the data's lifecycle stage. The solution supports full site archiving and is set to include support for file-level archiving in the second half of 2024.
Partner Collaborations and Future Plans
Microsoft is extending its APIs to allow partners to integrate its capabilities into their data management and protection apps. Early partners working with Microsoft to extend the benefits of Microsoft 365 Backup to customers include AvePoint, Barracuda, CommVault, Rubrik, Veeam, and Veritas.
Both Microsoft 365 Backup and Microsoft 365 Archive are set to launch as previews later this year. The pricing details for the two products have not yet been revealed. One of the main advantages of Microsoft 365 Backup and Archive is that both products operate within the secure boundaries of Microsoft's infrastructure.
Tip: As an alternative to Microsoft´s offering, you can also use third-party solutions like Microsoft 365 Backup from BDRSuite. It is a cost-effective service that works with Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams. Backup data can be flexibly stored on a local disk, NAS, SAN, BDRCloud, S3, Azure Blob, Google Cloud, Wasabi, MinIO, and other solutions.
Last Updated on October 19, 2023 12:33 pm CEST by Markus Kasanmascheff
