Best Microsoft 365 Backup Solutions for Recovery, Resilience, and Compliance

Microsoft 365 is the productivity backbone for many organizations, but it doesn’t include a ‘complete’ backup solution out-of-the-box. Microsoft has improved the native story with Microsoft 365 Backup and Microsoft 365 Backup Storage, but third-party backup solutions remain important because they often cover more workloads, offer richer retention and recovery options, and provide additional data separation, compliance, ransomware recovery, and management capabilities.

Why Microsoft 365 data protection is still your responsibility

One common misconception is that Microsoft is responsible for restoring your data in the event of an issue. But Microsoft has always stated that it is only responsible for service availability and infrastructure resilience. While you, the customer, are responsible for protecting and recovering your own business data under Microsoft’s shared responsibility model.

That distinction matters. Native Microsoft 365 features such the recycle bin, retention, litigation hold, and version history can help in some recovery scenarios, but native Microsoft 365 backup capabilities lack the configurable backup controls required by many organizations, and comprehensive backup and restore is not included in a standard Microsoft 365 subscription.

It’s also important to understand that backup, retention, and litigation hold serve different purposes: backup is for recovery, retention is for discovery, and litigation hold is for preservation and compliance.

Quick picks: the best Microsoft 365 backup solutions

Product	Best for
Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft 365	Best overall
AvePoint Cloud Backup for Microsoft 365	Enterprise Microsoft 365 breadth
Druva Microsoft 365 Backup	SaaS-native cyber resilience
Commvault Cloud Backup & Recovery for Microsoft 365	Regulated enterprise and government
Rubrik for Microsoft 365	Zero-trust enterprise recovery
Acronis Backup for Microsoft 365	MSPs and security-led backup
Keepit Backup and Recovery for Microsoft 365	Independent-cloud backup and data sovereignty
Cohesity Microsoft 365 Backup and Recovery	Enterprise BaaS and hybrid data protection
Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup	SMB and mid-market simplicity
Backupify / Datto SaaS Protection+	SMB and MSP set-and-forget backup

What to look for in a Microsoft 365 backup solution

The best Microsoft 365 backup tools should protect the core Microsoft 365 workloads: Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Teams. But buyers should also look at how well a product handles other services such as Microsoft Entra ID, Planner, Groups, Power Platform, Viva Engage, and Exchange public folders, because Microsoft 365 data is increasingly distributed across services.

Recovery depth is just as important as backup coverage. Vendors increasingly differentiate around granular recovery, metadata support, and scalable recovery operations.

For Microsoft Teams specifically, chats and channels create recovery limitations because chats and channels can be exported but not restored in place in the same way as many file-based workloads.

Security and resilience should be core buying criteria. Look for immutable or logically isolated storage, encryption, role-based access control (RBAC), multifactor authentication (MFA), audit trails, malware or anomaly detection, clean recovery, and recovery testing.

Finally, match the deployment model and pricing approach to your organization. Some products are fully Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) with bundled storage, some support bring-your-own-storage, some are optimized for Microsoft managed services provider (MSP) multi-tenancy, and others fit better into enterprise backup platforms. Make sure you are validating recovery workflows and recovery performance through regular testing rather than relying on vendor claims.

Where Microsoft 365 Backup fits and where third-party tools still matter

Before we get to the main list, let’s address the elephant in the room: Microsoft 365 Backup. Microsoft’s native service provides fast backup and recovery for Exchange Online, OneDrive, and SharePoint while keeping data within the Microsoft 365 security and trust boundary. It supports backing up all or selected SharePoint sites, OneDrive accounts, and Exchange mailboxes, and it provides full Exchange mailbox restore or item-level restore for mail, calendar, contact, and task items.

The strongest reason to use Microsoft 365 Backup is speed. It provides fast backups, low recovery times and frequencies, and recovery within the Microsoft 365 network boundary, while Microsoft 365 Backup Storage gives partner products high-speed recovery capabilities and low RPO/RTO options.

But Microsoft 365 Backup is not a full replacement for third-party tools in every environment. It is unlikely to replace third-party backup vendors where customers need all their data backed up, and the one-year retention period and partial Teams support could be a big limitation. Teams chats, and other content stored in Teams, are not currently protected, although files stored in SharePoint sites for Teams channels are backed up if those sites are in the protection policy.

Petri.com’s recommendation: treat Microsoft 365 Backup as a fast native recovery layer for critical Exchange, SharePoint, and OneDrive data, or as the underlying speed layer used by partner products. For broader workload coverage, independent storage, long retention, granular Teams recovery expectations, eDiscovery workflows, MSP operations, or enterprise cyber-resilience programs, third-party tools remain highly relevant.

1. Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft 365

Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft 365 is the strongest overall pick because it combines market relevance, broad Microsoft 365 coverage, SaaS convenience, flexible packaging, and strong recovery options. Veeam protects Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Entra ID, bundles software, backup infrastructure, and unlimited storage, and it is available as either a SaaS backup service or self-managed backup software.

Key strengths

• Protects Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Entra ID.
• Offers an all-inclusive SaaS service with unlimited storage included.
• Includes granular recovery, advanced search, MFA, RBAC, encryption, immutability, and threat detection capabilities.
• Supports multiple plans, including Foundation, Advanced with Entra ID coverage, and Premium with disaster recovery capabilities.

Differentiator

Veeam’s differentiator is its combination of broad Microsoft 365 coverage, enterprise-scale recovery, predictable SaaS packaging, and alignment with Microsoft 365 Backup Storage for high-speed recovery scenarios.

Ideal use case

Veeam is a strong fit for mid-market and enterprise organizations that want a mainstream, Microsoft-focused backup platform with broad coverage, strong restore options, and predictable per-user packaging.

2. AvePoint Cloud Backup for Microsoft 365

AvePoint Cloud Backup for Microsoft 365 is one of the most comprehensive options for complex Microsoft 365 environments. It protects Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Viva Engage, Planner, Project Online, Power Platform, and more, and it offers Backup Express powered by Microsoft 365 Backup Storage.

Key strengths

• Protects a broad set of Microsoft 365 services beyond email and files, including Teams, Viva Engage, Planner, Project Online, Power BI, Power Apps, and Power Automate.
• Provides self-service recovery through ReCenter, enabling users to search for and restore lost Microsoft 365 content.
• Supports granular restore of files, versions, permissions, and settings.
• Offers unlimited 256-bit encrypted storage or bring your own storage options.
• Supports bring your own storage (BYOS), bring your own key (BYOK), immutable audit records, multi-geo, and granular storage control for compliance and sovereignty requirements.

Differentiator

AvePoint’s differentiator is depth and breadth across Microsoft 365. It is particularly strong where organizations need to protect workloads such as Teams, Planner, Power Platform, Project Online, and Power BI, not just Exchange, SharePoint, and OneDrive.

Ideal use case

AvePoint is best for enterprises with large, complex Microsoft 365 estates, compliance requirements, delegated recovery needs, and a desire for broad workload coverage from one platform.

3. Druva Microsoft 365 Backup

Druva Microsoft 365 Backup is a cloud-native option built around SaaS simplicity, cyber resilience, and governance. The platform as 100% SaaS with air-gapped immutable backups, centralized protection, clean recovery, and support across Microsoft 365 workloads.

Key strengths

• Provides a 100% SaaS platform with air-gapped, immutable backups and no infrastructure overhead.
• Supports fast point-in-time recovery, granular restores, and clean recovery to reduce reinfection risk after ransomware.
• Includes AI-driven anomaly detection and 24×7 expert threat monitoring for ransomware, mass deletions, and insider threats.
• Supports compliance and governance features such as retention automation, legal hold, eDiscovery, and user activity monitoring.
• Covers Microsoft 365 workloads including SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange Online, Teams, Planner, Groups, Public Folder, Group Mailbox, and Entra ID.

Differentiator

Druva’s differentiator is its SaaS-native model and cyber-resilience focus: the platform combines backup, immutability, anomaly detection, clean recovery, compliance, and governance without requiring customers to manage backup infrastructure.

Ideal use case

Druva is a strong fit for cloud-first mid-market and enterprise organizations that want SaaS simplicity, strong cyber recovery, and governance capabilities without maintaining backup servers or storage.

4. Commvault Cloud Backup & Recovery for Microsoft 365

Commvault Cloud Backup & Recovery for Microsoft 365 is built for enterprise data protection, compliance, and regulated environments. Commvault protects Microsoft 365 data from deletion, corruption, and cyber threats, with automated backup, air-gapped backups, granular recovery, advanced search, and coverage across Commercial, GCC, and GCC High environments.

Key strengths

• Provides policy-driven backups with customizable retention schedules.
• Supports air-gapped backups isolated from production environments.
• Restores individual files, emails, folders, mailboxes, or entire sites to point-in-time, in-place, or out-of-place targets.
• Includes zero-trust access controls, privacy protocols, advanced search, and eDiscovery support.
• Covers Commercial, GCC, and GCC High Microsoft 365 environments.

Differentiator

Commvault’s differentiator is enterprise-grade coverage and compliance depth, including support for government cloud environments. Commvault is transparent about its pricing, which start at $1.70/user/month for Standard, $3.60/user/month for Enterprise, and $4.50/user/month for Enterprise with Compliance Search.

Ideal use case

Commvault is best for regulated enterprises, public sector organizations, and Microsoft-centric organizations that need Microsoft 365 backup as part of a broader enterprise cyber-resilience and compliance program.

5. Rubrik for Microsoft 365

Rubrik for Microsoft 365 is positioned around cyber resilience rather than simple backup. The platform helps secure data, identity, posture, and AI agents across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams, with business-aware recovery and identity resilience capabilities.

Key strengths

• Protects Microsoft 365 data across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Automates classification and recovery of mission-critical groups to restore a “Minimum Viable Business.”
• Includes Entra ID and Active Directory (AD) recovery capabilities for identity resilience.
• Supports sensitive data discovery, access governance, and remediation to reduce blast radius.
• Offers Microsoft 365 Backup Storage integration for lower RTO scenarios where needed.

Differentiator

Rubrik’s differentiator is its business-aware cyber-resilience model, combining data recovery, identity recovery, posture management, and AI resilience in one Microsoft 365 recovery story.

Ideal use case

Rubrik is best for large enterprises that prioritize cyber recovery, zero-trust architecture, identity resilience, and rapid recovery of the most business-critical Microsoft 365 users and data.

6. Acronis Backup for Microsoft 365

Acronis Backup for Microsoft 365 is especially relevant for MSPs and security-led IT teams because it combines backup, cyber protection, endpoint management, and Microsoft 365 data protection in the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud platform.

Key strengths

• Protects Microsoft Teams, Exchange Online, OneNote, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint Online.
• Offers granular restore for emails, files, sites, contacts, and attachments.
• Provides enhanced search across mailboxes, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint content.
• Supports AES-256 encryption, reporting, notifications, alerts, and backup status monitoring.
• Offers adjustable backup frequency up to six times per day.

Differentiator

Acronis stands out by combining Microsoft 365 backup with broader cyber protection and MSP-focused service delivery, including security, backup, recovery, and management capabilities in one platform.

Ideal use case

Acronis is ideal for MSPs, SMBs, and mid-market organizations that want Microsoft 365 backup bundled with cybersecurity and operational management capabilities.

7. Keepit Backup and Recovery for Microsoft 365

Keepit is a strong choice for organizations that want Microsoft 365 backups stored outside Microsoft’s cloud. Keepit’s Microsoft 365 backups are stored in an independent, purpose-built cloud, with immutable storage, fast smart search, and recovery in place, share, or PST download options.

Key strengths

• Uses an independent, purpose-built cloud and immutable storage architecture.
• Covers Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Groups, Teams, Planner, public folders, permissions, metadata, and Teams channel data.
• Provides fast search, smart search, deleted items view, and granular recovery.
• Includes storage, data traffic, installation, maintenance, support, updates, automatic backups, and immutable retention in its platform packaging.
• Stores data in two mirrored data centers in the selected region to support availability and sovereignty requirements.

Differentiator

Keepit’s differentiator is data independence. Its vendor-neutral cloud architecture provides separation from Microsoft’s infrastructure and supports data sovereignty requirements for organizations that do not want their backup copy hosted in the same cloud ecosystem as production data.

Ideal use case

Keepit is best for compliance-sensitive organizations, EU/global enterprises, and buyers that value independent-cloud backup, predictable pricing, and simple SaaS administration.

8. Cohesity Microsoft 365 Backup and Recovery

Cohesity Microsoft 365 Backup and Recovery is an enterprise-grade option for organizations that want Microsoft 365 protection as part of a broader data security and management platform. Cohesity protects Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and Teams, and offers both backup-as-a-service (BaaS) and self-managed software deployment models.

Key strengths

• Protects Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and Teams.
• Offers both BaaS and self-managed deployment options.
• Uses policy-based automation to protect new mailboxes, documents, and files.
• Provides global search for individual documents, files, and emails to support legal and compliance inquiries.
• Supports rapid clean-file recovery after ransomware and granular mailbox recovery to meet RTO targets.

Differentiator

Cohesity’s differentiator is its fit within a broader enterprise data platform. It is especially compelling for organizations already using Cohesity for hybrid, cloud, or SaaS data protection and wanting a unified administrative experience.

Ideal use case

Cohesity is best for enterprise customers that want Microsoft 365 backup as part of a broader data security, ransomware recovery, and hybrid-cloud backup strategy.

9. Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup

Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup is a strong SMB and mid-market option because it emphasizes simplicity, cloud-native deployment, granular recovery, and security. Barracuda protects Microsoft 365 Teams, Groups, Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Planner, OneNote, and Entra ID.

Key strengths

• Backs up Teams, Groups, Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Planner, OneNote, and Entra ID.
• Supports advanced search, point-in-time retrieval, scheduled backup, and on-demand backup.
• Provides full SharePoint support, including site templates, custom lists, permissions, and metadata.
• Includes ransomware protection features such as immutable storage, MFA, role-based access control, encryption, and multiple copies of backup data.
• Offers malware detection on restore using Barracuda Advanced Threat Protection.

Differentiator

Barracuda’s differentiator is ease of use combined with practical security. It is a good fit for organizations that want Microsoft 365 backup without the complexity of larger enterprise platforms.

Ideal use case

Barracuda is ideal for SMB and mid-market IT teams, especially organizations already using Barracuda’s email security or data protection portfolio.

10. Kaseya Backupify / Datto SaaS Protection+

Backupify and Datto SaaS Protection+ are strong options for SMBs and MSPs that want straightforward, automated Microsoft 365 backup. Backupify provides automated backup and recovery for Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams, while Datto SaaS Protection+ combines SaaS Protection with SaaS Defense for Microsoft 365 backup plus advanced threat protection.

Key strengths

• Protects Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams.
• Provides automated daily backups, on-demand backups, and customizable retention.
• Supports granular item-level recovery, advanced search, non-destructive restore, and user lifecycle management.
• Stores data in Backupify’s private immutable cloud with encryption at rest and in transit and SOC 2 Type II certification.
• Datto SaaS Protection+ scans Microsoft 365 for cyber threats and backs up data three times daily.

Differentiator

Backupify / Datto SaaS Protection+ stands out for MSP-oriented simplicity. Datto emphasizes streamlined onboarding, single-pane-of-glass backup management, predictable per-license pricing, and MSP delivery.

Ideal use case

Backupify / Datto SaaS Protection+ is best for SMBs, education, and MSPs that want a simple, reliable, set-and-forget Microsoft 365 backup service with fast restore and minimal administrative overhead.

Microsoft 365 Backup is now a core data protection requirement

The bottom line: Microsoft 365 backup should no longer be treated as optional for organizations that rely on Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Entra ID. SaaS application backup is a critical data protection requirement, and the market is moving toward platforms that combine granular recovery, operational simplicity, cyber resilience, and centralized policy management.