Microsoft 365 Backup with Synology: How to Secure Your Data
Microsoft 365 is the backbone of many business operations, powering email, collaboration, and cloud document storage. However, one misconception persists: that Microsoft automatically backs up your business data. In reality, Microsoft operates on a shared-responsibility model. They ensure platform uptime, but customers remain responsible for protecting their own data from accidental deletion, cyberattacks, misconfigurations, and long-term retention needs.
This is where Synology Active Backup for Microsoft 365 becomes essential. When paired with a Synology NAS, it provides complete backup, fast recovery, and cost-effective long-term protection for all your Microsoft 365 data.
This guide explains why Microsoft 365 backup is critical, how Synology handles it, and how businesses can secure their cloud data with the right infrastructure.
1. Why Microsoft 365 Needs a Dedicated Backup Solution
Many organizations assume Microsoft keeps all data backed up indefinitely. Instead:
Deleted emails often disappear permanently after the retention window.
OneDrive and SharePoint files can be overwritten or removed by mistake.
Ransomware can encrypt synchronized cloud files.
Departing employees may delete important data.
Legal and compliance audits may require long-term retention
Microsoft provides availability, not full-scope data protection.
Synology fills this gap by giving businesses complete control over their cloud backups.
2. What Synology Active Backup for Microsoft 365 Provides
Active Backup for Microsoft 365 is a powerful, license-free tool included with Synology NAS devices. It backs up all business-critical cloud assets, including:
Exchange Online
Emails
Attachments
Calendars
Contacts
OneDrive for Business
User files
Shared folders
Version history
SharePoint Online
Site collections
Document libraries
Permissions and metadata
Teams Chat Data
Channels
Shared files
Conversations stored in Exchange
This gives businesses full ownership of their Microsoft 365 data without relying on cloud retention policies.
3. How Synology Protects Microsoft 365 Data
• Centralized Backup Dashboard
All backups from Exchange to OneDrive are managed and monitored in one simple dashboard.
• Incremental Backup Technology
Synology minimizes storage usage by only backing up the changes, not entire files.
• Flexible Scheduling
Choose continuous, hourly, or daily backups depending on business requirements.
• File-Level and Item-Level Restore
Recover individual emails, attachments, or files without restoring entire accounts.
• Self-Service Recovery Portal
End users can restore their own files without IT intervention, reducing workload.
• Advanced Retention Policies
Keep data as long as your compliance or legal policies require.
• Secure On-Premise Storage
Data is stored on your Synology NAS, giving full control over access, encryption, and retention.
4. Integrating Hybrid Cloud for Extra Protection
Synology supports multi-layer protection for Microsoft 365 backup using:
Synology C2 Backup
Offsite cloud storage to protect your Microsoft 365 data even if your office or NAS is compromised.
Hyper Backup
Backup your Synology NAS to additional locations such as:
Remote NAS devices
S3-compatible cloud providers
External drives
Synology C2
This creates a full 3-2-1 backup strategy, ensuring maximum resilience and regulatory compliance.
5. Security and Compliance Benefits
Backing up Microsoft 365 with Synology supports multiple regulatory requirements, including:
HIPAA
FINRA
GDPR
SOC 2
Internal audit and retention policies
With encryption, access controls, and detailed logs, Synology ensures that backups meet industry standards while keeping data exclusively under your control.
6. Why Small and Large Businesses Choose Synology for Microsoft 365 Backup
Organizations prefer Synology because it provides:
Predictable costs (no per-license fees)
Fast recovery during downtime
Protection against ransomware
Full ownership of all cloud data
On-premise and hybrid cloud flexibility
Centralized management for IT teams
Whether supporting 10 users or 500, Synology offers scalable backup solutions that grow with your business.
About Epis Technology
Epis Technology helps businesses deploy and optimize Synology-based backup solutions, including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace protection. With expertise in data protection, large storage systems, hybrid cloud integration, and disaster recovery planning, Epis Technology ensures your organization’s data remains secure, accessible, and fully compliant. From full Synology deployment to long-term IT management, Epis delivers enterprise-level reliability tailored to your business needs.