Last updated: 7 November 2026
Microsoft keeps Microsoft 365 running, but it is not a full backup of your data. Deleted items are only recoverable for a limited time, and Microsoft recommends you back up content yourself. Most businesses need a separate, independent Microsoft 365 backup of email, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams to survive deletion, ransomware or a malicious insider.
What Microsoft covers, and what you do
| Risk | Built-in protection | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Accidental deletion | Recycle bins with limited retention | Gone after the window |
| Ransomware encrypting synced files | Version history, limited | Partial recovery only |
| Malicious insider or hacked admin | Little | Can delete everything |
| Leaver mailbox deletion | Short retention | Data lost when licence removed |
| Microsoft datacentre outage | Microsoft resilience | Covered |
Independent copy
Stored outside your tenant so an attacker with admin access cannot erase it.
Long retention
Restore from months or years ago, not just recent days.
Granular restore
Bring back one mailbox, file or site without a full rebuild.
Tested recovery
A backup you have never restored is only a hope.
How ABCOM helps
We provide managed Microsoft 365 backup and disaster recovery with Acronis, test restores regularly and keep permissions tidy. Read SharePoint made simple and book a SharePoint permissions review.
Quick answers
Is OneDrive a backup?
No. OneDrive syncs files, so deleting or encrypting a file on your PC can propagate to the cloud. Version history helps briefly, but it is not an independent backup.
Is your Microsoft 365 data really backed up? We will check and show you.
Related answers and guides
- How does ransomware work?
- What is an incident response plan?
- Acronis backup and cyber protection
- SharePoint made simple
- All ABCOM FAQs
Sources and further reading
Want this sorted for you?
Talk to our Burgess Hill team about Microsoft 365 support. Free, friendly and no obligation.