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Microsoft 365 Backup Service: extra protection for your files and emails

27 Nov 2025

From Thursday, 27 November 2025, a new Microsoft 365 Backup Service is available to help you recover lost files or emails – even if they’re no longer in your Recycle Bin.

Computers, files and cloud storage

This is a major step forward in protecting University data and reducing disruption when things go wrong.

What’s new?

You can now request the restoration of deleted data for up to 13 months via:

The service automatically backs up all files and folders stored in Microsoft 365, including:

  • Exchange Online mailboxes (email, contacts)
  • Microsoft Teams channels (files only)
  • OneDrive for Business
  • SharePoint (sites, files, folders)

Minimal disruption: Previously, restoring data meant rolling back an entire account. Now, we can recover individual files or emails as they were on a specific date, without affecting the rest of your data.

Before you raise a request

Check these first – they’re still the quickest way to retrieve items:

  • Outlook Deleted Items for missing emails.
  • OneDrive/SharePoint Recycle Bin for deleted files.

If you still can’t find what you need:

Data Security

Backups are stored in an encrypted UK data centre, ensuring compliance with GDPR and University data protection policies.

Why this matters

Microsoft 365 underpins much of our daily work. While Microsoft 365 provides baseline safeguards, Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms do not offer comprehensive backup as standard, and responsibility for data protection ultimately remains with us as an institution.

This new service:

  • Gives us greater control over our data
  • Protects against accidental deletion, corruption, cyber incidents, and system failures
  • Strengthens disaster recovery and business continuity

In short, it helps staff and students keep working with minimal interruption – even in the event of data loss or platform disruption.

Supporting Our Ambitions

This service supports:

It’s also a key milestone for the Evolve Programme, delivering stable, highly available IT services for today and the future.

Delivered through Collaboration

The service was delivered by the Infrastructure Project (part of Evolve), working with the Strategic Change Office and IT Services.

“This is a clear example of how IT Services is helping the University become a digitally resilient organisation, ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

 – Alex Goffe, Project Sponsor

Find out more: