In short
Forever Systems supplies five Microsoft 365 backup providers: Acronis, Axcient x360Cloud, NinjaOne SaaS Backup (formerly Dropsuite), Redstor and Commvault. All back up Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams. They differ in licensing, where the copy is kept, Teams and Entra ID coverage and recovery features, which is what we help you weigh.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you need to achieve and we will point you to the right option.
Why the choice of provider matters
Every product on this page does the same basic job: it connects to your Microsoft 365 tenant through Microsoft's APIs, copies your mail, files and Teams data on a schedule, and lets you restore it after a deletion, a ransomware attack or a leaver's account being removed. That is the gap Microsoft's own safety nets leave, as our guides to the Microsoft 365 shared responsibility model and the Microsoft 365 recycle bin explain.
Where the providers differ is in the detail that decides whether a backup fits your organisation:
- how it is licensed: per user, per seat with a storage allowance, by edition or by the gigabyte
- where the backup copy is kept, and whether you can choose the region
- which Teams data is covered, and whether Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) can be added
- how restores work: item level, point in time, in place, to another location, or streamed back while a large restore runs
- what else sits in the same console: security services, email archiving, server backup or identity recovery
Because we supply all five, we can match those details to your tenant instead of fitting your tenant to one product.
The five platforms at a glance
This is a summary from each vendor's own published material. The Microsoft 365 backup comparison goes into more depth, and each provider has its own page below.
| Provider | Microsoft 365 data covered | Licensing | Where the copy is kept | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acronis Backup for Microsoft 365 | Exchange Online (user, shared and group mailboxes, optional archive mailboxes), OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams (not private chats) and supported Entra ID data | Per seat with unlimited Acronis Cloud storage, or per GB in Microsoft 365 Backup Storage | Acronis Cloud, or Microsoft 365 Backup Storage | AI-assisted anomaly detection, optional immutable storage, and Acronis security services in the same console |
| Axcient x360Cloud | Exchange Online mail, calendars and contacts, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams | Per protected user, with pooled storage under Axcient's Fair Use Policy | The Axcient Cloud | SmartSearch full-text search, AirGap protection against deletion requests, non-destructive restores |
| NinjaOne SaaS Backup for Microsoft 365 | Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams; Entra ID in the + Entra bundles | Per seat, in four bundles; a fair-use storage allowance per paid seat, pooled | NinjaOne's cloud, in a region chosen at set-up | Formerly Dropsuite; backups several times a day; optional email archiving bundle |
| Redstor backup for Microsoft 365 | Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams and OneNote, including Class and Staff Notebooks | Licence unit confirmed at quote; Restore and Comply bundles add Entra ID backup and archiving | Redstor's cloud, in the region you choose | InstantData recovery, malware-scanned backups, unlimited retention, no egress fees |
| Commvault backup for Microsoft 365 | Exchange Online (including public folders, shared and group mailboxes), OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams | Per user, in three editions with a storage allowance per user | Outside Microsoft 365 in a separate security domain; a UK region is listed; optional Microsoft 365 Backup Storage | Formerly Metallic; editions up to compliance search; one console with other Commvault workloads |
Microsoft also sells its own service, Microsoft 365 Backup, built on Microsoft 365 Backup Storage. We do not supply it, but we explain it fairly in Microsoft 365 native backup, and two of the platforms above, Acronis and Commvault, can use Microsoft 365 Backup Storage as an option.
Not sure which option fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will help you choose the right option.
What each provider is best known for
Acronis. Acronis Microsoft 365 Backup runs in Acronis Cyber Platform (formerly Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud), the same console as Acronis email security, XDR and endpoint backup. It suits organisations that want backup and security from one vendor, and its Acronis Protected 365 bundle packages seven Microsoft 365 capabilities together. Teams private chats are not backed up, which matters if your people work mostly in chat.
Axcient x360Cloud. A focused cloud-to-cloud backup built around search and restore. SmartSearch gives full-text search across users and services, including inside attachments, restores do not overwrite live data, and its AirGap feature separates deletion requests from the backups themselves. Storage is pooled at a flat fee, so heavy and light users balance out.
NinjaOne SaaS Backup. The former Dropsuite platform, now owned by NinjaOne. It is licensed per seat in four bundles, two of which add Entra ID backup and two add journaling-based email archiving, so one licence can cover backup, identity and compliance archiving.
Redstor. Now part of CyberSentriq. Redstor's distinguishing features are InstantData, which streams files and mailboxes back while a full restore continues, malware scanning of backups, unlimited retention and OneNote coverage, including the Class and Staff Notebooks that schools rely on.
Commvault. Commvault Cloud Backup & Recovery for Microsoft 365, formerly sold as Metallic. Three per-user editions, copies kept outside Microsoft 365, a UK region listed in Commvault's documentation and an option to combine with Microsoft 365 Backup Storage for fast in-place restores. It suits larger or mixed estates that also protect servers, Salesforce or Active Directory with Commvault. If you are an existing Metallic customer, see Metallic backup.
How we choose a provider with you
We do not start from a favourite. We start from your tenant and your obligations:
- Count what needs protecting: users, shared mailboxes, leavers you want to keep, SharePoint sites and Teams, and roughly how much data each workload holds
- Agree how long to keep it: your retention needs drive whether unlimited retention, a storage allowance or per-GB storage works out best
- Decide where the copy may live: some organisations need a named region or a copy entirely outside Microsoft 365; see Microsoft 365 backup compliance
- Check the awkward workloads: Teams chats, archive mailboxes, public folders, OneNote and Entra ID are covered differently by each platform
- Look at recovery: how quickly people need to get working again after a large incident, and who should be able to run restores
- Recommend and quote: one or two platforms that fit, with the edition or bundle, and terms confirmed at quote
The Microsoft 365 backup best practices checklist covers the settings we agree with you once a platform is chosen, and Microsoft 365 backup pricing explains how each one is charged.
Need help choosing?
We will recommend what fits your organisation and explain why, in plain English.
Head-to-head comparisons
If you have already narrowed it to two, these pages compare them for Microsoft 365 only:
- Acronis vs NinjaOne SaaS Backup: two per-seat platforms with different storage models and Teams coverage
- Commvault vs Acronis: editions and a separate security domain against backup plus security in one console
Each comparison ends with which organisations each option tends to suit, rather than a winner, because the right answer depends on your tenant.
One supplier for all five
Forever Systems supplies every platform on this page on one account, alongside the rest of your software. That means one account and one point of contact for licences and renewals, whichever platform you choose. We can connect the platform to your tenant, agree retention and restore permissions with you, check the first backups complete and run a test restore together, and we can help when you need to restore.
For the licensing detail of each product, our Software Licensing site has Microsoft 365 backup software pages for every vendor. Forever Group also supplies Microsoft 365 itself, so the backup can sit alongside the tenant it protects.
Contact us and tell us roughly how many users you have and what you need to keep. We will suggest which providers to look at, and you can ask us for a quote when you are ready.
Explore Providers
AcronisAgentless backup in Acronis Cyber Platform, per seat or per GB.
Axcient x360CloudCloud-to-cloud backup with SmartSearch, AirGap and pooled storage.
NinjaOne SaaS BackupThe former Dropsuite platform: per-seat bundles with Entra ID and archiving options.
RedstorInstantData recovery, malware-scanned backups and OneNote cover, now part of CyberSentriq.
CommvaultCommvault Cloud Backup & Recovery for Microsoft 365, formerly Metallic: three editions.How Forever Systems helps with Microsoft 365 backup
We are an independent UK IT and cyber security provider. We supply more than one Microsoft 365 backup product, so we can recommend what fits your tenant, your retention needs and your budget rather than one vendor's answer to everything.
- Review what you have: we look at your Microsoft 365 licences, retention policies and any existing backup before suggesting anything new
- Help you choose: we compare the backup products we supply against the workloads you need covered, such as Exchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams and Entra ID
- Set-up and onboarding: we can help connect the backup service to your tenant and agree what is protected and how long copies are kept
- Restore testing: we can help you plan and run test restores so you know how recovery works before you need it
- Licensing in one place: backup licences alongside your Microsoft 365 subscriptions, with terms confirmed at quote
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. Contact us to talk it through.
Frequently asked questions
Which Microsoft 365 backup provider is best?
None is best for everyone. Acronis suits organisations that want backup and security in one console, Commvault larger or mixed estates, Redstor heavy OneNote users and anyone who values malware-scanned backups, and Axcient x360Cloud and NinjaOne SaaS Backup straightforward per-user protection. We compare them against your tenant and recommend one.
Do all these providers back up Teams?
All five back up Teams data, but coverage differs. Teams files live in SharePoint and OneDrive and are covered by all of them. Channel messages and private chats are handled differently: Acronis does not back up private one-to-one or group chats, and Redstor's help centre lists recovery of private chats as not supported. Our Microsoft Teams backup page sets out the detail.
Can I back up Entra ID with the same provider?
With some of them. NinjaOne SaaS Backup offers Entra ID in its + Entra bundles, Redstor in its Restore and Comply bundles, Acronis backs up supported Entra ID data, and Commvault protects Entra ID through its separate Active Directory backup product. Axcient x360Cloud focuses on Microsoft 365 data.
Do you sell Microsoft 365 Backup from Microsoft?
No. Microsoft 365 Backup is bought and billed through Microsoft's admin centre and an Azure subscription. We explain how it works and help you decide whether it, a third-party platform or a combination suits you.
Can I switch Microsoft 365 backup provider later?
Yes, though existing backups usually stay with the old provider until their retention ends or the subscription stops, so plan the overlap. We help you agree how long to keep the old backups and set up the new platform before the old one lapses.
Still have a question about Microsoft 365 backup?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.
More Microsoft 365 backup guides
Microsoft 365 BackupMicrosoft's own backup for OneDrive, SharePoint and Exchange, explained.PricingHow each Microsoft 365 backup option is charged, and what drives the cost.What to back upExchange Online, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams and Entra ID: native safety nets and what a backup adds.