Backup for Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 does not automatically create a backup of your email, documents and collaboration data. Here is what is genuinely at stake — and how to protect it in under an hour.
((GDPR (sector-dependent retention obligation)))
What is actually stored in Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 is the daily operational backbone for many organisations of all sizes across all sectors. What most users don't realise: all that data is not automatically protected against loss.
Typical data that lives in Microsoft 365 and can be lost:
- Exchange email — all business email, calendar items and contacts
- SharePoint documents — document libraries, intranets and project files
- Teams chats — channel conversations, meeting recordings and shared files
- OneDrive files — personal file storage and shared drives
All of this data falls under GDPR (sector-dependent retention obligation), which means you must be able to reproduce it for sector-dependent.
Does Microsoft 365 automatically create a backup?
Microsoft 365 is cloud-based, so your data is safe — right? This is the most common misconception among organisations of all sizes across all sectors.
Microsoft guarantees that the platform runs, not that your data can be recovered after ransomware or errors.
Ransomware
Encrypts everything — including data synchronised via Microsoft 365. Without an offline backup you have no clean recovery point.
Human error
A deleted record, an overwritten import or a mistaken bulk action — Microsoft 365 offers limited or no undo functionality after more than 30–93 days (Recycle Bin / Retention Policy).
Admin account compromise
A compromised global admin account can delete entire SharePoint sites or wipe mailboxes — Microsoft cannot reverse this after the retention window closes.
How Mindtime protects Microsoft 365 data
Mindtime connects directly to Microsoft 365 via the Microsoft Graph API and creates continuous incremental backups.
| Scenario | Microsoft 365 alone | With Mindtime backup |
|---|---|---|
| Ransomware encrypts your data | x | ✓ |
| Employee deletes records | x | ✓ |
| Integration overwrites data | x | ✓ |
| Prove GDPR retention obligation | x | ✓ |
| Data on Dutch servers | Microsoft datacentres (Ireland / Netherlands) | 100% Netherlands |
What if something goes wrong?
Imagine: it's Monday morning. Microsoft 365 is no longer showing data — ransomware spread through a phishing email in Outlook and encrypted all OneDrive and SharePoint files before being detected. What now?
Alert received
Mindtime automatically detects that something is wrong and sends an alert.
Choose a recovery point
Choose the moment before the attack. Every increment is saved.
Local recovery started
Recovery starts directly from the local copy. No waiting for a cloud download.
Operational
Your Microsoft 365 environment is running again. All email, documents and collaboration data is intact.
Microsoft 365 and your retention obligation
Data you manage in Microsoft 365 typically falls under GDPR (sector-dependent retention obligation). That means you are legally required to retain those records for sector-dependent.
Mindtime stores all Microsoft 365 data exclusively on Dutch servers, fully within GDPR jurisdiction.
Mindtime is ISO 27001 certified and ISO 27001 where applicable.
Secure your Microsoft 365 data in five steps
Setup takes less than an hour. After that, the backup runs fully automatically.
Request a demo
We show you how Mindtime works for Microsoft 365.
Install the Mindtime agent
The agent is installed on your server or workstation.
Configure the backup schedule
Set which data, how frequently and how long it is retained.
First backup + test recovery
We run a test recovery so you know it works.
Runs automatically
Mindtime runs fully automatically. We schedule a brief quarterly review.
Why organisations of all sizes across all sectors choose Mindtime
100% on Dutch soil
Your data never leaves the Netherlands. Two redundant data centres within GDPR jurisdiction.
ISO 27001 + ISO 27001
Independently certified. Annual external audit on processes and security.
Hybrid backup: fast recovery
Local copy for fast recovery and cloud copy for disaster scenarios.
No vendor lock-in
Your data is always yours, in standard formats. You can switch or export at any time.
What is actually stored in Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 is the daily operational backbone for many organisations of all sizes across all sectors. What most users don't realise: all that data is not automatically protected against loss. Typical data that lives in Microsoft 365: Exchange email, SharePoint documents, Teams chats and OneDrive files. All of this falls under GDPR (sector-dependent retention obligation), meaning you must be able to reproduce it for sector-dependent — even after ransomware, a fire or human error.
Does Microsoft 365 automatically create a backup?
Microsoft 365 is cloud-based, so your data is safe — right? This is the most common misconception among organisations of all sizes across all sectors. Microsoft 365 offers high availability — meaning the software is almost always online. But availability is not the same as a backup. Microsoft guarantees that the platform runs, not that your data can be recovered after a ransomware attack, a deleted account or an integration error.
Ransomware
Encrypts everything — including data in Microsoft 365. Without an offline backup you have no clean recovery point.
Human error
A deleted record or bulk import error — Microsoft 365 offers limited undo after 30–93 days (Recycle Bin / Retention Policy).
Admin account compromise
A compromised global admin account can delete entire SharePoint sites or wipe mailboxes — Microsoft cannot reverse this after the retention window closes.
How Mindtime protects Microsoft 365 data
Mindtime connects directly to Microsoft 365 via the Microsoft Graph API and creates continuous incremental backups — in the background, with no action required on your part. Your data is stored on 100% Dutch servers, fully GDPR-compliant.
| Ransomware encrypts your data | ✗ No recovery | ✓ Restore from pre-attack snapshot |
| Employee deletes records | ✗ Limited undo window | ✓ Record-level recovery |
| Integration overwrites data | ✗ Cannot be undone | ✓ Restore from any point in time |
| GDPR retention obligation | ✗ No audit trail backup | ✓ Point-in-time restore + report |
| Data on Dutch servers | ✗ Microsoft datacentres (Ireland / Netherlands) | ✓ 100% Netherlands |
What if something goes wrong?
Imagine: it's Monday morning. An employee notices that Microsoft 365 is no longer showing data — ransomware spread through a phishing email in Outlook and encrypted all OneDrive and SharePoint files before being detected. What now? With Mindtime you are back up and running within 2–4 hours.
Alert received — within minutes
Mindtime automatically detects the problem and sends an alert.
Choose a recovery point — to the minute
Select the moment before the attack in the Mindtime dashboard.
Local recovery started — quickly available
Recovery begins immediately from the local copy — no waiting for a cloud download.
Operational — within 2–4 hours
Your Microsoft 365 environment is running again. All email, documents and collaboration data intact. No ransom paid.
Retention obligation for Microsoft 365
Data in Microsoft 365 typically falls under GDPR (sector-dependent retention obligation). That means you are legally required to retain records for sector-dependent and to be able to reproduce them during an audit or legal request. Mindtime configures the correct retention period automatically and stores all data on exclusively Dutch servers — fully within GDPR jurisdiction. Mindtime is ISO 27001 certified — independently verified, not self-declared.
Secure your Microsoft 365 data in five steps
Setting up backup for Microsoft 365 takes less than an hour. After that, the backup runs fully automatically in the background — no manual actions, no maintenance burden.
Request a free demo
We show you how Mindtime works for Microsoft 365 — including the integration for your specific environment.
Install the Mindtime agent
The agent is installed on the server or workstation where Microsoft 365 is running. Average: 20 minutes.
Configure the backup schedule
Set which data, how frequently and how long — aligned to your sector-dependent retention obligation.
First backup + test recovery
The first full backup starts immediately. We run a test recovery together so you know it works before you ever need it.
Runs automatically — quarterly review
Mindtime runs fully automatically. Monthly backup reports and a brief quarterly review to keep scope up to date.
Why organisations of all sizes across all sectors choose Mindtime
Here is why organisations of all sizes across all sectors choose Mindtime for backup of Microsoft 365 — and why we are different from generic cloud backup solutions.
- ISO 27001
- NEN 7510
- GDPR-compliant
- Dutch servers
🇳🇱 100% Dutch servers
Your data never leaves the Netherlands. Two redundant data centres — fully GDPR-compliant. No US law exposure.
ISO 27001 + ISO 27001
Independently certified. Annual external audit on processes, systems and security.
⚡ Hybrid backup: fast recovery
Local copy for fast recovery (hours, not days). Cloud copy for disaster scenarios.
No vendor lock-in
Your data is always yours, in standard formats. Switch or export at any time.
Frequently asked questions about backup for Microsoft 365
Have a different question? Ask us directly.
Does Microsoft 365 automatically create a backup?
Microsoft 365 offers high availability, but that is not the same as a backup. Microsoft offers availability and a Recycle Bin, but these are not a backup — after 93 days permanently deleted data is irrecoverable. Mindtime adds an independent, immutable copy.
How long does setup take?
Installation and configuration takes under an hour on average. After the first full backup, all incrementals run automatically.
What does backup for Microsoft 365 cost?
The price depends on data volume and retention window. We provide a tailored quote after a short intake.
What happens when I want to recover data?
Choose the recovery point in the Mindtime dashboard — to the minute. Recover a file, folder or the complete environment. Average: 2–4 hours.
Is Mindtime compliant with GDPR (sector-dependent retention obligation)?
Yes. ISO 27001 certified, exclusively Dutch data centres, retention configured for sector-dependent under GDPR (sector-dependent retention obligation).
Does Mindtime also work with SharePoint and Google Workspace?
Yes. Mindtime works across your complete IT environment — not just Microsoft 365. See also: backup for SharePoint and backup for Google Workspace.
Protect your Microsoft 365 data today
ISO 27001 certified · 100% Dutch servers · Operational within one hour · No vendor lock-in
Free and no obligation. Average setup time: < 1 hour.