Our company has been acquired by another firm, and due to security protocols, we can't merge accounts or transfer data like usual. Instead, we've created new accounts under the new company's domain. This has been a tricky situation, and I need to prepare a backup of all emails and files from our old Office 365 accounts before we shut them down. I'm looking for a one-time solution to back everything up in an organized manner without incurring any ongoing costs since the old accounts will be deleted afterward. Any recommendations for the best method to do this?
4 Answers
Also, consider using M365 desired state configuration to archive all your settings. While this won’t capture user data, it can track configuration changes regularly after you’ve backed everything up—definitely a handy tool.
Another option is to keep one E3 license for a year, converting the mailboxes to shared ones. This way, you'll have access to the archives. Just make sure you check if those changes keep the archived folders intact!
If you're looking for a free option, try using the Microsoft 365 Compliance Center for content search. You can export mail and OneDrive data as PST files without any additional charges. There's also PowerShell for emails if you're comfortable with it, and it provides per-user exports. Alternatively, tools like Veeam or AvePoint offer one-time licenses for more straightforward backups, but built-in tools should suffice for what you need. Just make sure to do it before access ends!
You should definitely check out Synology devices paired with their free Microsoft 365 backup tool. It’s been a lifesaver for us during mergers. Just buy a small NAS, set it up, and you can back up everything locally without messing with subscriptions or extra fees. Super easy to retrieve data later too!
Totally agree! Synology Active Backup for Microsoft 365 is fantastic. You’ll have everything stored away neatly, and no ongoing costs to worry about.
Good point! I’m curious too—does it keep the archive folders?