Administrators can now restore individual files and folders from SharePoint and OneDrive via Microsoft 365 Backup.
Microsoft is adding a feature to the 365 Backup application that administrators have long been waiting for. From now on, they can restore individual files from their organization’s SharePoint and OneDrive environments. The feature is first rolling out in preview and will become more widely available next month.
Granular recovery
The Microsoft 365 Backup app offers recovery capabilities for data in SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, and other Microsoft applications. Until now, recovery options only existed at the site or drive level, making the recovery of individual files unnecessarily complex. Microsoft is now extending this to file-level recovery.
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“This feature introduces a new method that allows administrators to access existing Microsoft 365 Backup recovery points at a more granular level (file or folder), without changing where or how backup data is stored. Administrators gain more control to restore specific files or folders containing personal data when responding to recovery or remediation scenarios,” Microsoft writes in a message shared via the 365 admin center.
For administrators only
Once widely available, the feature will be automatically assigned to 365 tenant administrators. Microsoft is only entrusting administrators with these recovery capabilities. They are already advised to read up on how the individual recovery options function and to adjust internal policies accordingly. Other users will not notice any change, Microsoft adds.
It is important to back up data stored in the cloud. While Microsoft 365 may be known as a secure fortress, it is a persistent misconception that Microsoft backs up your data for you. The 365 Backup app adds backup and recovery capabilities to the 365 ecosystem, although it is recommended to use external media for this as well.