Can EdbMails restore only selected Exchange mailbox items?

Yes. The EdbMails backup workflow supports granular mailbox, folder and supported item-level recovery.

Can I restore an Exchange backup to another Exchange Server?

EdbMails supports restore workflows to supported live Exchange Server environments. The destination must be prepared with the required mailboxes, connectivity and permissions.

Can I restore Exchange backup data to Microsoft 365?

Yes. EdbMails supports mailbox restore scenarios to Microsoft 365, subject to destination preparation and supported mailbox mapping.

Is the Exchange backup encrypted?

Yes. EdbMails protects its backup using AES 256-bit encryption and supports a private encryption-key option.

Does EdbMails replace Exchange database/VSS backup?

Not necessarily. Database-level protection and mailbox-level backup solve different recovery requirements. Organizations may use mailbox-level protection, database-level backup, or both depending on recovery objectives.

If we run a DAG, do we still need backup?

Yes. A DAG provides high availability by replicating database copies, but it also replicates deletions and corruption to every copy. A separate backup is what lets you recover specific content to an earlier point in time.

What is the difference between RPO and RTO for Exchange backup?

RPO is how much recent mailbox change you can afford to lose between protected states, which drives backup frequency. RTO is how quickly recovered data must be back with users, which influences restore scope and destination.

Which Exchange mailbox types can be protected and restored?

EdbMails is designed for live Exchange mailboxes, archive mailboxes and supported Public Folder scenarios. Confirm the exact scope and Exchange version support for your environment before relying on it in production.

Can I restore a mailbox to a different user or environment?

Restores target a prepared destination mailbox on a supported Exchange Server or Microsoft 365 environment. Verify the destination account, permissions and connectivity, and confirm this matches your organizational requirements.

How often should I test an Exchange restore?

Test recovery before relying on the backup and then periodically, as well as after any major change to Exchange, mailboxes or storage. A backup is only proven by a successful restore.

Do I need the source Exchange Server online to back up?

Yes. EdbMails connects to the live Exchange environment to read mailbox data, so connectivity and valid permissions to the source are required. The protected copy is then stored on the location you select.

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EdbMails

All-in-one Recovery and Migration
- EDB Recovery and Migration
- OST, PST, MBOX, NSF, EML, MSG
- Office 365, Exchange Migration
- SharePoint, OneDrive & Teams
- Google Workspace Migration
- IMAP Migration
- Duplicate Remover
- EdbMails Data Recovery
- Backup Solutions
All Products
EDB Recovery and Migration

EdbMails lets you recover corrupted, damaged, and offline Exchange EDB files, convert EDB mailboxes to PST format, and directly migrate mailbox data to Office 365 and live Exchange Server.

EDB to PST

Recover corrupted, damaged, offline EDB files and convert Exchange EDB mailboxes to PST file format

Public Folder to Exchange

Migrate public folders from an Exchange offline EDB file to live Exchange Server

EDB to Live Exchange Migration

Directly migrate offline Exchange database (EDB) files to live Exchange server

Archive Mailbox to Office 365

Migrate archive mailboxes from offline EDB files directly to Office 365

EDB to Office 365 Migration

Directly migrate offline Exchange database (EDB) files to Office 365

Public Folder to Office 365

Migrate public folders from an offline Exchange EDB file to Office 365

OST, PST, MBOX, NSF, EML, MSG Export and Migration

EdbMails lets you to recover OST and PST files, export OST, PST, MBOX, NSF, EML, and MSG files to PST files, and directly migrate OST, PST, MBOX, and NSF mailbox data to Office 365 and live Exchange Server.

OST Recovery and Migration

Recover offline OST files, convert OST to PST, and migrate OST to Office 365 and Exchange Server

PST Recovery and Migration

Recover Outlook PST files , Export PST to PST, migrate PST to Office 365 and Exchange Server

MBOX Export and Migration

Export MBOX to PST, migrate MBOX to Office 365 and Exchange Server

NSF Export and Migration

Export NSF to PST, migrate NSF to Office 365 and Exchange Server

EML to PST Export

Convert EML files to Outlook PST files

PST to MSG Export

Convert Outlook PST file to MSG file format

MSG to PST Export

Export MSG files to Outlook PST files

Office 365, Exchange Migration

EdbMails lets you securely migrate mailboxes across Microsoft 365, Exchange, Google Workspace (G Suite), and IMAP-supported servers such as Outlook, Gmail, Zimbra, Zoho Mail, and cPanel, ensuring zero downtime.

Office 365 Migration

Migrate between Office 365 tenants, Office 365 to Exchange, Office 365 to PST, PST files to Office 365.

Exchange Migration

Migrate between any Exchange Servers, Exchange to Office 365, Exchange to PST, PST files to Exchange.

Tenant to Tenant Migration

Migrate Mailboxes, Public Folders, Archive Mailboxes between Office 365 Tenants.

Exchange to Office 365

Migrate Mailboxes, Public Folders, Archive Mailboxes from live Exchange server to Office 365.

Office 365 to IMAP

Migrate Office 365 to IMAP, Office 365 to Gmail, Office 365 to Outlook, Office 365 to Zoho etc.

Exchange to IMAP

Migrate from live Exchange Server to IMAP servers such as Gmail, Outlook, and Zoho Mail.

Public Folder to Office 365

Migrate Public Folders between Office 365 tenants with complete folder hierarchy and mailbox data integrity.

Exchange to PST

Export live Exchange Server mailboxes, public folders, and archive mailboxes to Outlook PST files.

SharePoint, OneDrive & Microsoft Teams Migration

EdbMails lets you migrate SharePoint sites, OneDrive data, Microsoft Teams, teams, channels, chats, permissions, and documents between Microsoft 365 tenants while maintaining the existing folder structure and data integrity.

SharePoint Online Migration

Migrate documents, lists, files and folders from SharePoint sites.

OneDrive for Business Migration

Migrate documents, lists, files, folders, private chats from OneDrive.

Microsoft Teams Migration

Migrate Teams, chats, channels, documents, files and folders etc.

Google Workspace / G Suite Migration

EdbMails offers secure Google Workspace migration to Office 365, Exchange, or IMAP, and export to PST covering emails, contacts, calendars and tasks.

Google Workspace Migration

Migrate emails, calendars, contacts, tasks from Google Workspace to Google Workspace, office 365, Exchange and IMAP. Export to PST

Google Workspace to Office 365

Migrate emails, calendars, contacts, tasks from Google Workspace / G Suite to Office 365

Google Workspace to Exchange Server

Migrate emails, calendars, contacts, tasks from Google Workspace / G Suite to on-Premise Exchange Server

Google Workspace to IMAP

Migrate emails, calendars, contacts, tasks from Google Workspace / G Suite to IMAP, Outlook, Zimbra, Zoho etc.

Google Workspace to Google Workspace

Migrate emails, calendars, contacts, tasks between two Google Workspace / G Suite tenants

Google Workspace to PST

Export emails, calendars, contacts, tasks from Google Workspace / G Suite to Outlook PST files

IMAP Migration

EdbMails IMAP Migration tool lets you easily migrate emails from IMAP servers such as Outlook, Gmail, Zoho Mail, Zimbra, cPanel, and more. Supports IMAP to IMAP, Office 365, Exchange Server, PST, and bulk PST to IMAP migration.

IMAP Email Backup & Migration

Backup and migrate emails from IMAP servers to PST, Office 365, and On-Premises Exchange Server

IMAP to Office 365

Migrate emails, folders, and attachments from IMAP servers to Office 365

IMAP to Exchange

Migrate emails, folders, and attachments from IMAP servers to on-premises Exchange Server

IMAP to PST

Export emails, folders, and attachments from IMAP servers to Outlook PST files for backup

PST to IMAP

Migrate emails, folders, and attachments from bulk PST files to IMAP servers

Duplicate Remover

EdbMails Duplicate Remover lets you easily remove duplicate items from Office 365 and Exchange Server, and from IMAP, Outlook, Gmail, Zimbra, Zoho Mail, etc., ensuring a clean and organized mailbox.

Remove Duplicates

Easily clean up your Office 365, Exchange, Outlook and IMAP accounts by removing duplicate emails.

Remove Duplicates from Office 365

Remove duplicate emails, calendars, contacts, journal tasks, etc. from Office 365.

Remove Duplicates from Exchange Server

Remove duplicate emails, calendars, contacts, journal tasks, etc. from live Exchange Server.

Remove Duplicates from IMAP, Outlook

Remove duplicate emails, attachments from IMAP, Outlook, Gmail, Zimbra, Zoho Mail etc.

Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams and Office 365 Backup

EdbMails enables secure, automated backup and recovery for Microsoft 365 services including Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Live Exchange Server with complete data protection and restore flexibility.

Office 365 Backup

Incremental, Granular, Encrypted and Compressed Office 365 Mailboxes Backup

Exchange Server Backup

Incremental, Granular, Encrypted and Compressed Exchange Mailboxes Backup

SharePoint, OneDrive & Teams Backup

Backup Online site collections, Team sites, Office 365 groups, all documents etc.

EdbMails Data Recovery

EdbMails Data Recovery Software lets you recover permanently deleted data, including photos, videos, documents, and archived files, from partitions on hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and external storage devices.

EdbMails Data Recovery

Recover and restore permanently deleted data from hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and etc.

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Exchange Server Backup and Restore

Protect Exchange mailboxes with encrypted, recoverable backups

Back up supported live Exchange mailboxes with EdbMails and retain an encrypted copy on storage chosen by your organization. When recovery is needed, restore selected mailbox content to a supported Exchange Server or Microsoft 365 destination without treating a full database restore as the only option.

Just $299 for 100 Mailboxes

Office 365 Backup Restore Exchange Server Restore Office 365 SharePoint Backup OneDrive Backup Microsoft Teams Backup

Exchange Server Backup and Restore Tool Now on Azure Marketplace!

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Exchange Server backup and restore

EdbMails Exchange Server Backup helps organizations protect live Exchange mailboxes with an AES 256-bit encrypted backup stored on storage selected by the administrator. The protected mailbox data can later be restored at mailbox, folder or item level to a supported live Exchange Server or Microsoft 365 destination.

This page focuses on the complete backup-and-restore lifecycle. For the main commercial product overview, see EdbMails Exchange Server Backup.

Live mailbox backup AES 256-bit encryption Full and incremental Granular restore

High availability is not backup

A common assumption is that a resilient Exchange deployment does not need a separate backup. In practice, availability and recovery solve different problems.

The assumption

A Database Availability Group (DAG) keeps multiple copies of a mailbox database, so a separate backup feels unnecessary. But a DAG replicates every change, including deletions and corruption, to all copies. If a user or administrator deletes mailbox content, or an item becomes corrupted, a DAG faithfully replicates that event rather than protecting against it.

What actually protects you

High availability answers "stay online when something fails". Backup answers "recover specific content to an earlier point in time". They solve different problems, which is why a recoverable backup remains relevant even in a highly available Exchange environment.

Plan backup and restore as one recovery workflow

An Exchange backup should not be evaluated only by whether it can copy data. The recovery process is equally important. Administrators should know where protected data is stored, how the backup is encrypted, what can be restored, where it can be restored, and how quickly the required mailbox content can be located.

Backup live Exchange mailboxes

Protect selected Exchange mailboxes, archive mailboxes and supported Public Folder data.

Use organization-controlled storage

Store protected data on supported local or shared/network storage.

Protect backups with encryption

Use AES 256-bit encryption with a default or private encryption-key workflow.

Run full and incremental backups

Create the initial full backup and process changes during consecutive runs.

Restore granular data

Select complete mailboxes, folders or supported individual items for recovery.

Restore to supported destinations

Recover protected mailbox data to live Exchange Server or Microsoft 365 depending on the recovery scenario.

Define your recovery objectives (RPO and RTO) first

Before configuring a backup job, set two targets. The recovery point objective (RPO) is how much recent mailbox change the organization can afford to lose between protected states, which drives how often backups run. The recovery time objective (RTO) is how quickly recovered data must be back with users, which influences restore scope and destination. Defining these first makes the backup schedule and restore plan measurable instead of arbitrary.

Objective	Question it answers	What it influences
RPO (recovery point)	How much recent data can we afford to lose?	Backup frequency and incremental schedule
RTO (recovery time)	How quickly must data be restored?	Restore scope, destination and testing cadence
Retention	How long must the protected copy be kept?	Storage capacity and backup-generation planning

How EdbMails Exchange backup and restore works

1
Connect to the source Exchange Server
Install EdbMails on a supported Windows computer that can communicate with the Exchange environment. Create a backup job, define the backup location and connect to the source Exchange Server using the supported connection options.
2
Select mailboxes and folders
Select the mailboxes and folders that require protection. EdbMails supports granular selection so organizations do not have to protect every mailbox when the business requirement is limited to a specific set of users or folders.
3
Create the encrypted backup
Choose the backup location and encryption option. EdbMails protects its backup with AES 256-bit encryption. A private encryption key can be used when the organization requires additional control. If a private key is selected, it must be archived securely because future recovery depends on it.
4
Continue with incremental backups
The first run establishes the protected baseline. Consecutive backup runs can process newly added or modified mailbox data rather than rebuilding a complete full backup every time. See Exchange Incremental Backup for the dedicated workflow.
5
Open the protected backup when recovery is required
During recovery, administrators can select the protected backup data, browse the mailbox hierarchy and choose the required recovery scope.
6
Restore to Exchange Server or Microsoft 365
Map the selected source mailbox data to the target mailbox and start the restore operation. Depending on the target and supported workflow, EdbMails can restore protected mailbox data to a live Exchange Server or Microsoft 365 mailbox.

Exchange mailbox restore scenarios

Restore accidentally deleted mailbox items

When email, contacts, calendar items or folders are deleted and are available in the protected backup, administrators can recover only the required data instead of restoring a complete server or database image.

Restore a deleted or recreated mailbox

A separately protected mailbox copy can be useful when a mailbox has been removed, recreated or otherwise changed and the organization must recover historical mailbox content from the backup.

Restore to a different Exchange Server

EdbMails can support restore scenarios where protected mailbox data must be returned to another supported live Exchange environment. This can be useful during server replacement, infrastructure transition or recovery testing.

Restore Exchange backup to Microsoft 365

Organizations moving from on-premises Exchange to Microsoft 365 may need to recover mailbox data into a cloud mailbox. EdbMails supports mailbox-level restore workflows to Microsoft 365, providing a path that does not require restoring an entire Exchange database just to recover selected user data.

Granular Exchange backup and restore

Database-level backup and mailbox-level recovery are different tasks. A full Exchange database backup protects the server database as a whole, while a mailbox-oriented backup product can simplify recovery when the requirement is limited to one mailbox, folder or message.

EdbMails is designed around mailbox-level selection and recovery. Administrators can select the required mailbox content and restore only what is needed.

Complete mailbox recovery
Selected folder recovery
Supported individual item recovery
Public Folder backup and restore scenarios
Archive mailbox protection
Restore to same or different supported target environment

Exchange Server backup vs database backup

Database / VSS backup

Microsoft Exchange Server supports Exchange-aware database backup through VSS-compatible backup workflows such as Windows Server Backup. These methods protect Exchange databases and are important when an organization requires application-aware infrastructure-level recovery.

EdbMails mailbox backup

EdbMails addresses a different operational layer: mailbox-oriented backup and restore. Rather than requiring administrators to recover a complete volume or database when only selected user data is required, EdbMails allows administrators to work with protected mailbox data directly.

Requirement	Database/VSS backup	EdbMails mailbox backup
Protect Exchange database/volume	Primary use case	Not the primary architecture
Protect selected mailboxes	Usually recovered through database/application restore workflow	Direct mailbox selection
Granular item restore	Depends on backup product and recovery tooling	Mailbox/folder/item-level recovery workflow
Backup repository	Depends on infrastructure backup product	Administrator-selected supported storage
Restore to Microsoft 365	Not the normal Windows Server Backup recovery model	Supported mailbox restore scenario

Encrypted Exchange Server backup

Mailbox backups may contain sensitive business information. EdbMails protects the backup using AES 256-bit encryption and provides a private encryption-key option. The storage hosting the backup should also be secured using the organization's access-control, redundancy and retention policies.

Exchange backup to local or network storage

EdbMails allows the administrator to choose where the protected mailbox data is stored. This is useful for organizations that want direct control over the backup repository or already operate secure local or network storage infrastructure.

For storage architecture, security and planning considerations, see Exchange Backup to Local Storage.

Verify every restore, don't assume it worked

A backup is only proven by a successful restore, so recovery should be exercised before it is needed in an incident rather than treated as a one-time setup task.

Restore a representative mailbox, a single folder and a single item, so each recovery level is tested.

Confirm restored content opens correctly and that folder hierarchy and timestamps are as expected.

Restore to a test or alternate destination where appropriate to avoid affecting live data.

Record how long the test restore took, to validate it against your RTO.

Repeat verification periodically and after any major change to Exchange, mailboxes or storage.

Exchange backup and restore checklist

Identify the Exchange versions and mailbox types that require protection.

Estimate mailbox data size and expected growth.

Choose the backup location and verify adequate free capacity.

Define who can access the backup repository and encryption key.

Complete the first full backup and review the operation logs.

Define the frequency of consecutive incremental backup runs.

Test recovery of representative mailbox data.

Document restore destinations and mailbox-mapping procedures.

Steps to back up and restore Exchange mailboxes

Download EdbMails and install it on a supported Windows computer.

Select Backup Live Exchange and create an Exchange Backup job.

Choose the backup location and connect to the source Exchange Server.

Select the required mailboxes and folders.

Choose encryption settings and start the backup.

Run consecutive backups to keep the protected copy current.

Select the restore workflow when protected data is required.

Choose the protected mailboxes or items for recovery.

Connect to the target Exchange or Microsoft 365 environment.

Map and restore the selected data, then review the restore logs.

For the detailed procedure, see the existing Exchange Server Backup Guide and Exchange Backup and Restore Video Tutorials.

Frequently asked questions

Can EdbMails restore only selected Exchange mailbox items?
Yes. The EdbMails backup workflow supports granular mailbox, folder and supported item-level recovery.
Can I restore an Exchange backup to another Exchange Server?
EdbMails supports restore workflows to supported live Exchange Server environments. The destination must be prepared with the required mailboxes, connectivity and permissions.
Can I restore Exchange backup data to Microsoft 365?
Yes. EdbMails supports mailbox restore scenarios to Microsoft 365, subject to destination preparation and supported mailbox mapping.
Is the Exchange backup encrypted?
Yes. EdbMails protects its backup using AES 256-bit encryption and supports a private encryption-key option.
Does EdbMails replace Exchange database/VSS backup?
Not necessarily. Database-level protection and mailbox-level backup solve different recovery requirements. Organizations may use mailbox-level protection, database-level backup, or both depending on recovery objectives.
If we run a DAG, do we still need backup?
Yes. A DAG provides high availability by replicating database copies, but it also replicates deletions and corruption to every copy. A separate backup is what lets you recover specific content to an earlier point in time.

What is the difference between RPO and RTO for Exchange backup?
RPO is how much recent mailbox change you can afford to lose between protected states, which drives backup frequency. RTO is how quickly recovered data must be back with users, which influences restore scope and destination.
Which Exchange mailbox types can be protected and restored?
EdbMails is designed for live Exchange mailboxes, archive mailboxes and supported Public Folder scenarios. Confirm the exact scope and Exchange version support for your environment before relying on it in production.
Can I restore a mailbox to a different user or environment?
Restores target a prepared destination mailbox on a supported Exchange Server or Microsoft 365 environment. Verify the destination account, permissions and connectivity, and confirm this matches your organizational requirements.
How often should I test an Exchange restore?
Test recovery before relying on the backup and then periodically, as well as after any major change to Exchange, mailboxes or storage. A backup is only proven by a successful restore.
Do I need the source Exchange Server online to back up?
Yes. EdbMails connects to the live Exchange environment to read mailbox data, so connectivity and valid permissions to the source are required. The protected copy is then stored on the location you select.