Microsoft protects the platform. You protect your own data.
Users of Microsoft 365 often operate under two false assumptions: that data is automatically backed up and that the storage space is sufficient. Both come at a cost – either in the event of a data breach or on a monthly basis.
Microsoft operates the platform and ensures its availability. A shared responsibility model applies to content protection: Deleted mailboxes, encrypted files after a ransomware attack, or accidentally removed Teams content are your responsibility – not Microsoft's. Recycle Bin and retention policies protect against accidental deletion, not ransomware. And once their retention periods expire, the data is gone forever.
At the same time, the amount of data is growing. Old file versions, records, archived project states: a significant portion of this is never opened again, yet it occupies storage space that, beyond a certain point, has to be expensively repurchased. Both have the same cause – no one controls the data lifecycle.
- Automated backup of Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive and Teams
- Granular recovery – from individual items to the entire mailbox
- Early ransomware detection before an attack spreads within the inventory
- Rule-based archiving instead of expensive additional Microsoft storage
- Clearly defined rules for storage and filing, documented and verifiable
Two tasks
One database, two questions for you
Is your data secure? And is it cost-effective? Both questions can be addressed independently – and their importance is amplified when you tackle both. Less clutter in your production system means shorter backup cycles; a robust backup makes cleanup risk-free. q.beyond supports you in both.
Protection: M365 Cloud Backup
With AvePoint Cloud Backup, we secure Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Teams – automatically and with granular recovery options. Early ransomware detection alerts you to unusual changes in your data before they escalate into an emergency. Your data remains recoverable.
- ONLINE EXCHANGE
- SHAREPOINT ONLINE
- ONEDRIVE
- TEAMS
Economic efficiency: Storage optimisation
We analyze which content is redundant, outdated, or irrelevant, and move the data you have approved to the archive based on predefined rules. Archive storage costs approximately a quarter of the additional storage offered by Microsoft – with the same searchability. Nothing will be deleted that you do not want deleted.
- RED ANALYSIS
- ARCHIVING
- DATA LIFECYCLE
Our building blocks
From analysis to operation
RED analysis
We scan SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Teams for redundant, outdated, and trivial content and deliver a report with quantified savings potential and prioritised recommendations. Fixed-price entry fee.
Storage Optimisation
Based on the report, we define archiving rules, set up the AvePoint archive and move the released data – including recovery testing and handover to your company.
M365 Cloud Backup
Automated backup of all Microsoft 365 workloads with granular recovery and early ransomware detection – optionally as a managed service by q.beyond.
Data Lifecycle
To maintain order: rules for storage, archiving and deletion that apply permanently – as advice or as an ongoing service.
This is what makes us stand out as a modern workplace provider
q.beyond is known for its comprehensive expertise and holistic solutions for implementing Microsoft 365 and the modern workplace – from consulting and rollout to operation. With close partnerships with Microsoft, a strong customer focus, and a commitment to security and data protection, we offer tailored solutions for individual requirements. We understand the challenges faced by medium-sized businesses and operate on equal footing – that's important to us.
q.beyond is one of the leading IT service providers and has locations throughout Germany as well as Latvia, Spain and India.
Your next step
How much baggage is your client carrying?
Before investing in additional storage or tools, it's worth taking stock. The ROT analysis shows you how much of your Microsoft 365 storage is allocated to content that no one needs anymore.
1. Commission an analysis
We will agree on the criteria with you and automatically search your client's data.
2nd report received
You will receive a reliable analysis with quantified savings potential – and we will go through it together.
3. Decide
You can implement the recommendations yourself or commission us to do so. Both are legitimate approaches.
Frequently asked questions about backup and storage in Microsoft 365
Microsoft operates the platform and ensures its availability. The shared responsibility model applies to the content – meaning you are ultimately responsible for it. Recycle bins and retention policies protect against accidental deletion, not ransomware, and expire after days or weeks. Anything missing after that cannot be recovered without an independent backup.
Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Teams – automated, with granular recovery from individual items to entire mailboxes. For Entra ID and the Power Platform, there is practically no native recovery; we'll discuss how to address these blind spots in the kick-off meeting.
Outside your tenant, in the Azure region of your choice. You define the retention periods; backups are performed up to four times daily.
Because we only hand over the data once it has been verified. Before handover, we check the initial backup for completeness and test the restore process for each workload – individual items and out-of-place recovery. We document the results in a test log.
It is a prerequisite for resetting encrypted content – this is impossible without an independent copy. Additionally, early ransomware detection reports unusual changes in the inventory before they escalate into an emergency.
No. We relocate, we don't delete. You approve anything that goes into the archive beforehand – the archiving list and rules come from you.
You still have access to all content. Archived data remains findable and recoverable, just outside of expensive production storage.
Each additional terabyte of Microsoft 365 storage costs around €2,160 per year according to the list price. Archive storage costs about a quarter of that – with the same discoverability. The difference adds up because additional storage is paid for continuously.
No, quite the opposite. Retention periods and access rights are part of the rules we define together. These rules and logs document what was moved where and when – making the filing process auditable rather than random.
Copilot works with your existing data. An index without duplicates and outdated versions provides more precise answers. Cleaning up your data not only reduces costs, it's also groundwork for AI.
A ROT report is required for storage optimisation. If one does not yet exist, we will perform the analysis beforehand.
Yes, upon request, as a managed service. The setup service ends with the operational handover to your IT team; we will arrange the ongoing operation separately.