Mention data safety, and backup will instantly spring to mind. What is not immediately available, even to seasoned IT professionals, is information about what makes a good backup solution. With more businesses embracing Microsoft Office 365, it is essential to fill this informational void lest their production environments are left exposed to a host of data loss threats.
To help you sort through the bewildering information on Microsoft Office 365 data backup solutions, we have reviewed multiple backup solutions from the industry’s most trusted vendors. Ahead is a roundup of our top picks.
NAKIVO Backup & Replication
NAKIVO Backup & Replication is an enterprise-grade data protection solution for core Microsoft Office 365 applications. Tight integration with OneDrive for Business, Exchange Online, and upcoming support for SharePoint Online is what sets NAKIVO Backup & Replication apart.
Despite its comprehensive array of features, NAKIVO Backup & Replication is moderately priced, especially the subscription license for Backup for Microsoft Office 365. A 3-year subscription billed per user/month starts at $0.75. However, what makes NAKIVO Backup & Replication our top pick is not its gratifying affordability but rather its versatility.
NAKIVO Backup & Replication is equally efficient at backing up Microsoft Office 365 data as it is at protecting virtual, physical, and cloud environments. Therefore, instead of juggling several backup solutions, you can simply let NAKIVO Backup & Replication protect your production environment. Note, however, that licenses and subscriptions for the expanded backup functionality are purchased separately.
Other standout attributes of the solution are built-in backup to cloud support (Amazon EBS, Amazon S3, Azure, and Wasabi), self-backup, advanced bandwidth throttling, and role-based access control, to name a few. When it comes to usability, NAKIVO Backup & Replication is second to none. It comes as a single software package, which makes the deployment process a breeze. Similarly simple is backup job management facilitated by a serviceable step-by-step wizard. Those in need of technical assistance can receive it via the built-in chat without leaving the application. Finally, the web interface allows for seamless solution management from any location.
With 24/7 customer support, a dazzling set of features, and UI that is as sleek as it is intuitive, NAKIVO Backup & Replication offers, arguably, the easiest way to attain data safety.
Acronis Cyber Backup
Acronis Cyber Backup is a reliable backup solution that supports Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams. However, a caveat is in order here. When sold as an on-premises solution, Acronis Cyber Backup offers data protection only for Exchange Online. To back up other Microsoft applications, one has to deploy Acronis Cyber Backup as SaaS. Under this deployment model, the user’s control of data is circumscribed by a service agreement.
Acronis Cyber Backup boasts a wide range of features such as agentless backup, data deduplication, in flight/at rest encryption, and granular restore, to name a few. As much as it has to offer to the user, the core set of Acronis Cyber Backup functionality is still lacking. Prominently absent are built-in cloud integration, advanced bandwidth throttling, role-based access control, BaaS, DRaaS, and global search among others.
Acronis Cyber Backup charges $4.31 per user/month with a 3-year subscription for Microsoft Office 365 data protection. Although the price is not as exorbitant as one commanded by the vendors who didn’t make it on this list, it can be too steep a price for organizations with limited data protection budgets.
Acronis Cyber Backup is a heavy-hitting competitor for the top spot in our ranking. What it lacks in functionality it makes up for in backup speed (when stacked against the competitors we have reviewed, Acronis Cyber Backup only comes second to NAKIVO Backup & Replication). Therefore, if you are in the market for a solid Microsoft Office 365 backup solution with a strong track record, don’t look past Acronis Cyber Backup.
Altaro
Altaro had emerged as a PC-centric data protection supplier, but it has broadened the scope of its offerings to include Microsoft Office 365 backup. The use of the solution allows backing up Microsoft Office 365 mailboxes as well as OneDrive and SharePoint data. Although there is no full-fledged backup of Microsoft Teams, Altaro can back up files shared over Microsoft Teams chats since they are stored on OneDrive accounts.
When it comes to backup storage, Altaro does not provide a high degree of flexibility. Unlike our top picks, which allow storing backups on-premises, in a hyper-scale public cloud, or with a local service provider, Altaro supports a single backup location – Microsoft Azure. Its users might also miss policy-based data protection, self-backup, job grouping, fully-functional web interface, and other features reserved for more advanced backup solutions.
Minor shortcomings aside, Altaro is every bit as functional as NAKIVO Backup & Replication and Acronis. It shows consistently high backup/restore speeds and a higher than average backup success rate. The solution allows the users to configure both the time and frequency of Microsoft Office 365 backup jobs, thereby granting them a high degree of control over the use of system resources.
Unlike popular Microsoft Office 365 backup alternatives, Altaro cannot be used to backup virtual, physical, and cloud environments. Expanded backup functionality comes with a separately-sold Altaro product. With this in mind, the use of Altaro is best reserved for small businesses, the backup needs of which don’t span beyond the core functionality of the solution.
While in regard to pricing, Altaro is surprisingly tight-lipped. Add to that the curtailed functionality and the lack of storage choices are the reason Altaro earns only a passing score. Nevertheless, the backup solution is robust enough to be unreservedly recommended for small businesses.
Parting Thoughts
So what are you to make of this list? Since your production environment, compliance requirements, and operational needs are unique, you don’t necessarily have to agree with our selection of favorites. Nevertheless, our top picks are a great place to start your journey toward Microsoft Office 365 data safety.
