This is an archive version of the document. To get the most up-to-date information, see the current version.

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 Architecture

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 architecture includes three core structural components — Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server, backup proxy server and backup repository, and additional components such as REST API along with Restore Portal and PowerShell.

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 Server

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server is responsible for setting up and managing other backup infrastructure components, jobs scheduling and task coordination. As part of Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server, the following components are installed:

Services:

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 Service

Coordinates all operations performed by the product, adds and manages other backup infrastructure components as well as controls global settings for the backup infrastructure.

Veeam Backup Proxy for Microsoft 365 Service

Manages backup proxy servers and backup repositories.

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 REST API Service

Processes REST API commands.

Restore Portal is deployed along with REST API on the same machine. Restore Portal is a web-based solution for self-service restore of backed-up data. Restore Portal uses REST API to communicate with the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server. For more information, see Data Restore Using Restore Portal.

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 Console

Provides an interface that allows users to interact with the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server and backup infrastructure components.

Veeam Explorers

Set of instruments that comes as part of Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 and allows you to restore or export your data from backups.

Backup Proxy Server

A backup proxy server is an architecture component that conducts all read and write activities during data backup and restore, routes backup traffic, handles data compression and encryption and sends email notifications about backup and backup copy job results.

For more information, see Backup Proxy Servers.

Backup Repository

A backup repository is a storage system within the backup infrastructure where Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 saves backup data.

You can extend a backup repository with object storage. Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 supports cloud and on-premises storage systems as object storage.

For more information, see Backup Repositories and Object Storage.

Deployment Scenarios

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 offers two deployment scenarios: simple and advanced. Before you install Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365, familiarize yourself with the deployment scenarios to carefully plan your backup infrastructure layout.

Simple Deployment

This deployment scenario is intended for small environments or for the purpose of the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 evaluation. In this scenario, Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365, Veeam Explorers, backup proxy server and backup repository are installed on a single machine.

This machine performs the following roles:

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server
Default backup proxy server

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 displays this backup proxy as Local.

Default backup repository

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 creates the C:\VeeamRepository folder on the machine where the product is installed.

You can scale out a simple deployment by adding multiple backup repositories that are operated by the default backup proxy server.

The following diagram illustrates the interaction between Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 components in a simple deployment scenario.

Advanced Deployment

This deployment scenario suits medium-sized or large-scale environments where the capacity of a single Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server is not enough. To scale out the backup infrastructure, you add additional backup proxy servers and backup repositories. These operations are handled by Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 Service on the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 server and comprise the installation of necessary components on dedicated machines.

In environments with multiple backup proxy servers, you can distribute backup traffic among these proxies. This allows you to manage your data more efficiently.

For more information, see Backup Proxy Server and Backup Repository.

The following diagram illustrates the interaction between Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 components in an advanced deployment scenario.

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 REST API Server

The additional option in the advanced deployment scenario is to deploy the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 REST API component along with Restore Portal on a separate machine. This machine will perform the role of the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 REST API server. Deployment of the Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 REST API component on a separate machine decreases the load on the backup infrastructure when exploring and restoring data from backups using Restore Portal.

Restore Portal is a web-based solution for self-service restore of backed-up data. For more information about Restore Portal, see Data Restore Using Restore Portal.