How to explore Microsoft Exchange backups and restore items using the Self-Service Restore Portal on M365 backup powered by Veeam

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Description

Here is the procedure on how to explore Microsoft Exchange backups and restore items using the self-service restore portal on M365 backup powered by Veeam.

Any “standard” user can connect using its M365 credentials to restore data for a chosen recovery point. No additional permission is required.

The Delegated Restore Operator role allows the possibility to enlarge the explore and the restore scope to granted users and to proceed with restores on behalf all users in the organization. Users with the “Global Administrator” role can also be granted with the Restore Operator role.

 

Limitations

 

Restore limitations apply using the Self-Service Restore Portal:
 

  • Items of distinct types that you added to the restore list (for example, mailbox items, OneDrive and SharePoint files) will not be restored simultaneously. You must configure and run different restore operations for Exchange, SharePoint and OneDrive items.

  • Group mailboxes data is not supported for explore using Restore Portal.

  • Items of other Exchange types (Appointment, Contact, Task) than Email that you restore will not be displayed properly if a different restore location is chosen.


For additional restore possibilities, you may want to use Veeam Backup & Replication + Veeam Explorers. See this online article on How to setup Veeam Backup & Replication to provide additional restore options on M365 backup powered by Veeam.

Requirements

  • Know the Self-Service Restore Portal URL for your tenant. See this online article for deployments information.
      
  • Internet Explorer is not supported. Please use Microsoft Edge (version 79 or later), Mozilla Firefox (version 21 or later) or Google Chrome (version 24 or later).
     
  • To explore backups and restore items on behalf any user in the organization, user accounts must be set as members of the security group named “DelegatedRestoreOperatorsForM365BackupPoweredByVeeam” that was previously created at the setup of the backup service.

Procedures

Explore the Exchange backup as a standard user

 

1. Navigate to the provided Self-Service Restore Portal URL and login using your M365 credentials. 

Example below with a fictive user named Miriam.

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2. Click on Select Restore Point



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3. Select the desired date and the restore point for the restore session or select the latest restore point. Then, click on Apply.

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4. You can now browse into your Exchange mailbox at the chosen restore point.

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Explore the Exchange backup as a Delegated Restore Operator

 

1. Navigate to the provided Self-Service Restore Portal URL and login using your M365 credentials. 


Example below with a fictive user named Debra.

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2. Like a standard user, a restore operator can select a restore point and browse into its files at a specific restore point (if the user is included in backup jobs).

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3. The restore operator also has the possibility to change the restore scope. 


To browse the backup for a different user or site, click on the active scope.
 

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4. Select the desired user or site from the list and click on Select.

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5. Then, select the desired restore point.

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In the example below, Debra can now browse the Exchange backup for Miriam at the chosen restore point.


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Exchange Restore for a single item or items in the same folder
 

1. Browse for items to restore or use the search field if needed.

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2. For a single item or items in the same folder (email, contact, calendar event), select the desired item(s) to restore and click on Restore

 
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3. Confirm the selection and click on Next.

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4. Optional - You can click on Advanced options to change few restore options.

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5. Specify whether you want to restore items to the original location or to another location. If the specified folder does not exist, it will be automatically created in the mailbox.

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6. Specify the restore reason and click on Next. This is optional but recommended to track restore sessions history.

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7. Review and click on Finish.

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8. The Restore Sessions tab will open and the restore session is launched.

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9. Selected items are now restored per chosen options.

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Exchange Restore for multiple items in various locations

1. Browse to items to restore or use the search field if needed.

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2. For multiple items to restore in various locations, select the desired item(s) to restore and click on Add to Restore List. Then, repeat browse steps and/or search steps and add items to the restore list again until everything you want to restore is added to the list.

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3. Once everything you want to restore is added to the list, click on the Restore List tab.

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4. Optional – If items were added to the Restore List by mistake, select those items and click on Remove from Restore List.

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5. Select all Exchange items and click on Restore.

Note: You can also proceed with a selection of few items in the restore session and proceed with multiple restore sessions if needed.

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6. Confirm the selection and click on Next.

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7. Optional - You can click on Advanced options to change few restore options.

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8. Specify whether you want to restore items to the original location or to another location. If the specified folder does not exist, it will be automatically created in the mailbox.

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9. Specify the restore reason and click on Next. This is optional but recommended to track restore sessions history.

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10. Review and click on Finish.

 
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11. The Restore Sessions tab will open and the restore session is launched.

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12. Selected items are now restored per chosen options.

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Once restore sessions are completed, click on the Restore List tab, and remove all items for the Restore List.

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References

https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo365/guide/ssp_restore.html?ver=70