GITNUXSOFTWARE ADVICE
Top 10 Best Microsoft 365 Backup Software of 2026
Compare microsoft 365 backup software tools ranked by features, coverage, pricing, and tradeoffs for teams evaluating Microsoft 365 data protection.
How we ranked these tools
Core product claims cross-referenced against official documentation, changelogs, and independent technical reviews.
Analyzed video reviews and hundreds of written evaluations to capture real-world user experiences with each tool.
AI persona simulations modeled how different user types would experience each tool across common use cases and workflows.
Final rankings reviewed and approved by our editorial team with authority to override AI-generated scores based on domain expertise.
Score: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
Gitnux may earn a commission through links on this page — this does not influence rankings. Editorial policy
Acronis is the strongest overall choice for MSPs and larger IT teams that want scalable Microsoft 365 backup alongside broader cyber protection, while Druva Data Resiliency Cloud is the better fit for enterprises seeking centralized, immutable backups with delegated administration and cross-workload recovery.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
Acronis
Acronis stands out by combining Microsoft 365 backup with native cybersecurity capabilities, including heuristics-based anti-malware scanning of backup archives to help prevent infected data from being restored into production environments.
Built for mSPs, IT service providers, and midmarket or enterprise IT teams that need centralized, scalable Microsoft 365 backup alongside cybersecurity and broader workload protection..
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
Editor pickCentralized, policy-based Microsoft 365 backup with point-in-time recovery across Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and Teams.
Built for fits when enterprises need centralized, immutable Microsoft 365 backup with delegated administration and cross-workload recovery..
Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup
Editor pickUp to four daily backup cycles covering Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams.
Built for fits when Microsoft 365 teams need frequent backups, granular recovery, and German-hosted storage..
Related reading
Comparison Table
Acronis
Integrated Microsoft 365 cyber protectionAcronis provides agentless, cloud-to-cloud Microsoft 365 backup and recovery for Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, OneNote, and related business data.
Acronis stands out by combining Microsoft 365 backup with native cybersecurity capabilities, including heuristics-based anti-malware scanning of backup archives to help prevent infected data from being restored into production environments.
Acronis is a strong fit for organizations that want Microsoft 365 protection connected to a broader cyber resilience platform. Its centralized console can manage backup, recovery, security, and endpoint operations across Microsoft 365 and more than 30 workload types, while cloud-to-cloud architecture avoids installing agents for SaaS protection. Backup search, content preview, granular restoration, and anti-malware scanning of backup archives support both operational recovery and cleaner restores.
The main tradeoff is that Acronis may provide more functionality and platform breadth than a small organization seeking only standalone Microsoft 365 backup. It is especially useful for MSPs protecting multiple customer tenants or IT teams that need to recover deleted mail, files, Teams content, or SharePoint data after accidental deletion, malware, account compromise, or compliance-related incidents.
- +Agentless cloud-to-cloud Microsoft 365 backup
- +Protects Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and OneNote
- +Granular search, preview, point-in-time, and cross-tenant recovery
- +Combines backup with cybersecurity and endpoint management
- –Broad platform scope may feel complex for backup-only buyers
- –Best suited to IT teams and service providers rather than casual users
- –Advanced protection capabilities may require additional configuration
- –Managing many integrated services can increase operational overhead
Managed service providers
Protect multiple customer Microsoft 365 tenants
Simplified service delivery
Enterprise IT teams
Recover deleted Microsoft 365 business data
Faster business continuity
Show 2 more scenarios
Regulated organizations
Maintain recoverable compliance records
Stronger data governance
Acronis supports retention, searchable backups, granular recovery, and protection outside Microsoft 365.
Security-conscious businesses
Recover safely after malware incidents
Cleaner recovery points
Acronis scans Microsoft 365 backup archives for malware before potentially reinfecting live environments.
Best for: MSPs, IT service providers, and midmarket or enterprise IT teams that need centralized, scalable Microsoft 365 backup alongside cybersecurity and broader workload protection.
More related reading
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
enterpriseDelivers SaaS backup and recovery for Microsoft 365 through a cloud-native platform.
Centralized, policy-based Microsoft 365 backup with point-in-time recovery across Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and Teams.
Microsoft 365 administrators overseeing multiple workloads benefit from centralized policies and a shared recovery interface. Role-based access controls, audit logs, and documented APIs support delegated administration, reporting, and operational integrations.
The tradeoff is configuration complexity for large tenants with separate retention requirements across departments. Regulated organizations can use immutable backups and item-level recovery when deleted SharePoint files, Exchange messages, or Teams content require restoration.
- +Protects Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and Teams under centralized policies.
- +Supports granular restores and point-in-time recovery for individual Microsoft 365 items.
- +Immutable cloud storage reduces exposure to deletion and ransomware events.
- +Role-based administration, audit logs, and APIs support governance workflows.
- –Advanced retention and recovery policies require careful configuration across large tenants.
- –Broad SharePoint or Teams restores can require longer recovery workflows.
- –Tenant-wide policy design can feel dense for small Microsoft 365 deployments.
- –Recovery granularity varies across Microsoft 365 workload object types.
Microsoft 365 administrators
Tenant-wide recovery operations
Faster item-level recovery
Compliance teams
Retention governance
Controlled retention evidence
Show 1 more scenario
Security operations teams
Ransomware recovery
Clean recovery points
Security teams use immutable backups and recovery workflows after account compromise or destructive data changes.
Best for: Fits when enterprises need centralized, immutable Microsoft 365 backup with delegated administration and cross-workload recovery.
Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup
SMBBacks up and restores Microsoft 365 mail, files, SharePoint, and Teams data.
Up to four daily backup cycles covering Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams.
Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup covers the main Microsoft 365 workloads from one administration interface. Administrators can schedule protection, search backup data, restore selected items, and recover complete workloads. The service also supports multi-tenant management for managed service providers overseeing multiple Microsoft 365 environments.
The product offers less visible API and event-driven automation depth than backup products built around extensive developer integrations. It suits organizations that need frequent Microsoft 365 recovery points and centralized administration without assembling separate workload-specific backup tools.
- +Protects Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams
- +Runs automated backups up to four times daily
- +Supports granular item-level and full-workload recovery
- +Uses German data centers for backup storage
- –Public API and event-driven automation coverage is less prominent
- –Advanced retention and governance controls require careful configuration
- –Teams recovery depends on Microsoft 365 workload boundaries
- –Reporting depth is narrower than dedicated enterprise backup suites
Microsoft 365 administrators
Recovering deleted mailbox items
Faster mailbox recovery
European compliance teams
Protecting regulated Microsoft 365 data
Controlled data residency
Show 1 more scenario
Managed service providers
Managing multiple Microsoft 365 tenants
Centralized tenant operations
Multi-tenant administration centralizes backup configuration and recovery workflows across customer environments.
Best for: Fits when Microsoft 365 teams need frequent backups, granular recovery, and German-hosted storage.
More related reading
Keepit
enterpriseProvides independent cloud backup for Microsoft 365 and other SaaS applications.
Independent, immutable Microsoft 365 backup with point-in-time recovery across Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Groups.
Keepit separates Microsoft 365 backup data from Microsoft's production environment through independent cloud storage and immutable retention. Coverage includes Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups.
Administrators can search backups, recover individual items or workloads, and select point-in-time restore states. Role-based administration, audit records, and API access support governance and operational automation.
- +Independent, immutable storage separates recovery data from Microsoft 365 production systems
- +Granular recovery supports individual emails, files, folders, sites, and other backed-up items
- +Covers Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups
- +Search, role-based administration, audit records, and API access support controlled operations
- –Teams recovery can be less granular than Exchange Online and OneDrive recovery
- –Microsoft 365 permissions and workload APIs influence backup scope and configuration
- –Advanced retention policies require careful administrative planning
- –Workload coverage is narrower than suites spanning Microsoft 365 and on-premises systems
Best for: Fits when Microsoft 365 teams need independent immutable backups, granular recovery, and centralized governance controls.
Rubrik Security Cloud
enterpriseProvides Microsoft 365 data protection and recovery through a unified cloud platform.
Cross-workload Microsoft 365 protection with immutable recovery copies and granular restoration across messages, files, sites, mailboxes, and users.
Rubrik Security Cloud backs up Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups through policy-based protection. Granular recovery supports individual messages, files, folders, mailboxes, sites, and user accounts.
Immutable, isolated backup copies reduce exposure to deletion and ransomware. Role-based access, audit logs, and documented APIs support governance and administrative automation.
- +Covers Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups
- +Granular recovery restores individual messages, files, folders, mailboxes, sites, and users
- +Immutable and isolated copies support ransomware recovery and retention controls
- +RBAC, audit logs, and APIs support governance and administrative automation
- –Advanced configuration can require specialist backup and Microsoft 365 knowledge
- –Recovery workflows differ across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams data
- –Reporting and policy design can become complex across large tenant environments
- –Broad feature coverage may exceed the needs of smaller Microsoft 365 deployments
Best for: Fits when enterprises need governed Microsoft 365 recovery with isolation, granular restores, and API-based administration.
Spanning Backup for Microsoft 365
SMBAutomates backup and point-in-time recovery for Microsoft 365 data.
Granular point-in-time recovery across Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups
Spanning Backup for Microsoft 365 fits administrators who need automated protection for Microsoft 365 workloads without managing backup infrastructure. Its distinct focus is granular recovery across Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups.
Search, point-in-time recovery, bulk restore, and export tools support common deletion and account-loss scenarios. Configuration is straightforward, but advanced automation, API coverage, and governance controls are less extensive than higher-ranked enterprise products.
- +Covers Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups
- +Granular point-in-time recovery supports individual items and larger restores
- +Search and filtering reduce effort during mailbox and file recovery
- +Automated backups require limited ongoing administration
- –API and workflow automation are less extensive than enterprise-focused competitors
- –Governance controls do not match products with deeper RBAC and audit features
- –Teams recovery coverage can be less granular than mailbox and file recovery
- –Advanced retention and compliance configurations are comparatively limited
Best for: Fits when Microsoft 365 administrators need straightforward automated backup and granular recovery across core workloads.
More related reading
AvePoint Cloud Backup
enterpriseProvides cloud backup and recovery for Microsoft 365 workloads.
Cross-workload Microsoft 365 protection with granular restore, retention policies, audit records, and centralized administration
AvePoint Cloud Backup differentiates itself through policy-based protection across Microsoft 365 workloads with centralized retention and restore controls. It covers Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups.
Administrators can perform granular or bulk restores, search backed-up content, and apply role-based access controls. Reporting, audit records, and storage-region configuration support governance, although the interface and workload-specific settings require administrative training.
- +Protects Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups
- +Supports granular item recovery and bulk restore operations
- +Provides retention policies, audit records, and role-based administration
- +Offers centralized backup monitoring across multiple Microsoft 365 tenants
- –Workload-specific configuration increases administration time
- –Advanced governance controls require careful role and policy design
- –Restore workflows can be complex for interconnected Teams content
- –API and automation capabilities are less visible than core backup controls
Best for: Fits when Microsoft 365 administrators need centralized protection, granular recovery, and governance controls across multiple workloads.
Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup
SMBBacks up Microsoft 365 data to a separate cloud environment.
Automated multi-workload backup covering Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups
Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup distinguishes itself with automated Microsoft 365 protection stored in Barracuda-managed cloud infrastructure. Coverage includes Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups. Administrators can search backed-up content, restore individual items or larger data sets, and apply retention controls without maintaining backup servers.
- +Protects Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups
- +Automated backups reduce manual scheduling and infrastructure administration
- +Granular search supports item-level recovery for common Microsoft 365 workloads
- +Barracuda-managed cloud storage removes separate backup repository management
- –Public documentation provides limited detail about API-driven automation
- –Service-specific coverage can vary across Microsoft 365 data types
- –Advanced RBAC and governance controls are less extensive than enterprise-focused competitors
- –Recovery workflows offer fewer customization options for complex migration scenarios
Best for: Fits when Microsoft 365 teams need managed cloud backups with straightforward search and item-level recovery.
More related reading
Datto SaaS Protection
SMBProvides automated backup and recovery for Microsoft 365 applications.
Automated Microsoft 365 protection with separate cloud storage and granular point-in-time recovery.
Datto SaaS Protection backs up Microsoft 365 tenant data to separate Datto-managed cloud storage, reducing dependence on native retention controls. Coverage includes Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Groups, calendars, and contacts.
A centralized console supports backup monitoring, search, granular restores, and point-in-time recovery. Administration centers on console workflows, so teams requiring extensive API automation may need additional tooling.
- +Covers Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Groups, calendars, and contacts.
- +Provides granular restores for individual messages, files, folders, and user data.
- +Stores backup copies separately from the Microsoft 365 tenant.
- +Centralized monitoring supports multiple Microsoft 365 environments.
- –API and workflow automation capabilities are less extensive than higher-ranked products.
- –Advanced governance controls are narrower than enterprise-focused backup platforms.
- –Recovery workflows can require separate steps across Microsoft 365 workloads.
- –Reporting depth may not satisfy teams needing highly customized audit outputs.
Best for: Fits when managed service providers need centralized Microsoft 365 backup and granular recovery across multiple tenants.
Afi.ai
SMBOffers automated backup, search, and recovery for Microsoft 365 workloads.
Cross-workload Microsoft 365 backup with point-in-time recovery for Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Groups
Afi.ai fits Microsoft 365 administrators who need centralized backup policies across Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Groups. Point-in-time recovery, granular item restoration, and cross-service search support targeted incident recovery. Policy controls, retention settings, encryption, audit records, and role-based administration provide useful governance, while API and automation coverage is narrower than the leading Microsoft 365 specialists.
- +Covers Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups
- +Supports granular restoration and point-in-time recovery
- +Centralized retention and backup policy configuration
- +Includes audit records and role-based administration
- –Microsoft-specific automation depth trails the largest specialist vendors
- –Advanced compliance workflows require careful configuration
- –Restore options vary across Microsoft 365 workloads
- –API documentation and extensibility are less prominent than core backup features
Best for: Fits when Microsoft 365 teams need centralized backup policies and granular recovery across several workloads.
How to Choose the Right microsoft 365 backup software
Microsoft 365 backup software protects cloud data across Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Groups. This guide covers Acronis, Druva Data Resiliency Cloud, Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup, Keepit, Rubrik Security Cloud, Spanning Backup for Microsoft 365, AvePoint Cloud Backup, Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup, Datto SaaS Protection, and Afi.ai.
The comparison emphasizes workload coverage, recovery granularity, backup frequency, retention, administration, API access, automation, and governance controls. Acronis ranks highest for combining agentless cloud-to-cloud backup with archive malware scanning and broader workload protection.
What Microsoft 365 Backup Software Protects and Restores
Microsoft 365 backup software copies cloud data from services such as Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Microsoft 365 Groups into separate recovery storage. It preserves items such as messages, files, folders, sites, mailboxes, calendars, contacts, and user data for point-in-time recovery.
Acronis provides agentless backups across Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and OneNote, while Druva Data Resiliency Cloud applies centralized policies to Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and Teams. Product differences include backup frequency, immutable storage, retention controls, delegated administration, audit records, granular restore scope, and API-based automation.
Microsoft 365 Backup Features That Determine Recovery Quality
Workload coverage determines which Microsoft 365 records enter the backup set. Acronis, Druva Data Resiliency Cloud, Keepit, Rubrik Security Cloud, and Spanning Backup for Microsoft 365 cover Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams.
Workload coverage
Acronis protects Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and OneNote through agentless cloud-to-cloud backup. Datto SaaS Protection also covers calendars and contacts, while AvePoint Cloud Backup includes Microsoft 365 Groups.
Recovery granularity
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud supports point-in-time recovery for individual Microsoft 365 items. Rubrik Security Cloud restores messages, files, folders, mailboxes, sites, and users, while Keepit supports individual emails, files, folders, and sites.
Backup frequency and retention
Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup runs up to four automated backup cycles each day. Druva Data Resiliency Cloud, Keepit, and Rubrik Security Cloud provide policy or governance controls for point-in-time recovery and retained copies.
Storage isolation and security
Keepit stores immutable recovery data independently from Microsoft 365 production systems. Acronis scans backup archives with heuristics-based anti-malware detection before infected data can return to production environments.
Administration, API, and audit controls
AvePoint Cloud Backup provides centralized administration, audit records, retention policies, and bulk restore operations. Rubrik Security Cloud provides API-based administration, while Spanning Backup for Microsoft 365 and Datto SaaS Protection offer less extensive workflow automation.
How to Choose Microsoft 365 Backup Software by Recovery and Control Requirements
Selection depends on the Microsoft 365 workloads, recovery units, storage controls, and administration model required by the tenant. Exchange messages, SharePoint sites, Teams data, OneDrive files, Groups, calendars, and contacts can have different recovery behavior.
Map every Microsoft 365 workload
List Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Groups, calendars, contacts, and OneNote data that require protection. Acronis covers OneNote, while Datto SaaS Protection covers calendars and contacts in addition to core workloads.
Define the smallest required recovery unit
Specify whether administrators must restore individual messages, files, folders, sites, mailboxes, users, or entire workloads. Rubrik Security Cloud and Keepit provide broad granular recovery, while Teams recovery can be less granular in Keepit.
Set backup frequency and retention policies
Match backup intervals to the rate of Microsoft 365 data changes and the permitted recovery point. Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup supports up to four daily backup cycles, while Druva Data Resiliency Cloud supports centralized point-in-time recovery policies.
Check storage independence and archive protection
Require separate recovery storage when Microsoft 365 administrators need isolation from production systems. Keepit provides independent immutable storage, and Acronis adds archive malware scanning before restoration.
Test administration and automation depth
Review delegated administration, RBAC, audit records, API access, and bulk restore workflows before deployment. Rubrik Security Cloud supports API-based administration, AvePoint Cloud Backup provides audit records and bulk restore, and Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup has less prominent public API coverage.
Microsoft 365 Teams That Benefit From Dedicated Backup Controls
Dedicated Microsoft 365 backup serves organizations that require recovery beyond native workload administration. The strongest matches depend on tenant count, workload breadth, recovery granularity, governance requirements, and automation needs.
MSPs and IT service providers
Acronis and Datto SaaS Protection support centralized Microsoft 365 protection across managed environments. Acronis also adds broader workload protection and cybersecurity capabilities, while Datto SaaS Protection supports centralized recovery across multiple tenants.
Enterprise IT teams with delegated administrators
Druva Data Resiliency Cloud provides centralized policies, immutable backup, delegated administration, and cross-workload recovery. Rubrik Security Cloud adds API-based administration and governed recovery for messages, files, sites, mailboxes, and users.
Microsoft 365 teams requiring independent recovery storage
Keepit separates immutable recovery data from Microsoft 365 production systems. Druva Data Resiliency Cloud also supports centralized immutable backup for organizations with isolation requirements.
Teams with frequent data changes
Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup runs up to four automated backup cycles per day across Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. Spanning Backup for Microsoft 365 provides automated backup with granular point-in-time recovery across core workloads.
Microsoft 365 Backup Configuration Mistakes That Limit Recovery
Backup coverage can appear broad while leaving specific Microsoft 365 data types or recovery actions outside the required scope. Workload-specific permissions, retention settings, and restore workflows affect the usable protection level.
Selecting a product without checking every required workload
Map Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Groups, calendars, contacts, and OneNote before deployment. Acronis includes OneNote, while Datto SaaS Protection includes calendars and contacts.
Assuming every workload supports the same restore granularity
Test individual messages, files, folders, sites, mailboxes, users, and Teams data separately. Keepit provides less granular Teams recovery than Exchange Online and OneDrive recovery, and Rubrik Security Cloud uses different workflows across workloads.
Treating backup frequency as equivalent across products
Record the configured backup interval and recovery point for each workload. Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup supports up to four daily cycles, while other products require policy-specific scheduling and retention configuration.
Ignoring API, RBAC, and audit requirements
Verify API access, delegated administration, audit records, and role design before selecting a platform. Rubrik Security Cloud provides API-based administration, AvePoint Cloud Backup provides audit records, and Spanning Backup for Microsoft 365 has narrower governance controls.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated Acronis, Druva Data Resiliency Cloud, Hornetsecurity 365 Total Backup, Keepit, Rubrik Security Cloud, Spanning Backup for Microsoft 365, AvePoint Cloud Backup, Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup, Datto SaaS Protection, and Afi.ai across Microsoft 365 coverage, recovery, administration, automation, and governance. We weighted features at 40%, ease of use at 30%, and value at 30%.
Acronis ranked first with a 9.1 Overall score and a 9.4 Features score. Agentless cloud-to-cloud coverage, archive malware scanning, and broader workload protection set Acronis apart.
Frequently Asked Questions About microsoft 365 backup software
Which Microsoft 365 backup software is best for multi-tenant administration?
Which tools offer APIs or automation for Microsoft 365 backup workflows?
How do Microsoft 365 backup products support security and governance?
Can Microsoft 365 backup software restore data after a tenant migration?
Which Microsoft 365 workloads should a backup product protect?
How frequently can Microsoft 365 backup data be captured?
Which Microsoft 365 backup products support granular recovery?
What administrative controls matter when selecting Microsoft 365 backup software?
How should an organization prepare for a Microsoft 365 backup deployment?
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 tools, Acronis stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
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