Configuring parallel streams and job settings for Microsoft 365

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
You can configure the number of parallel streams for Microsoft 365 backups. It helps to improve the speed of backups by downloading the data in parallel. The data is backed up over the internet from a SaaS service. Microsoft 365 entities like Exchange mailbox, OneDrive volume, SharePoint sites, Teams channel, selected in a job are divided among parallel streams. Each stream protects items from their set of entities and parallely creates a backup set on the target device. Each stream creates one backup set. The combined view of all the backup sets created by a single backup job is displayed as one point-in-time in the restore browse view of Backup Exec.
You can also update job settings related to Microsoft 365 workloads.
For Microsoft 365 backups, ensure the following:
  • The minimum number of streams that you set is less than or equal to the number of concurrent operations that you have defined for the storage device.
  • The preferred number of streams is set based on the internet bandwidth, CPU, and RAM requirements. More information is available on the Backup Exec knowledge base.
To configure parallel streams and job settings for Microsoft 365
  1. Do one of the following:
    To configure Microsoft 365 settings for all backup jobs Complete the following steps\:
    1. Click the Backup Exec button, and then select Configuration and Settings .
    2. Select Job Defaults , and then select the type of backup for which you want to configure Microsoft 365 settings.
    To configure Microsoft 365 settings for specific Complete the following steps\:
    backup jobs 1. Create a new backup definition or edit an existing backup definition.
    2. On the Backup Definition Properties dialog box, click Edit .
  2. In the left pane, click Microsoft 365.
  3. Complete the following options:
    Parallel streams - Preferred number of streams to use for backup: Select the number of streams you want to use for backups. The data is retrieved in multiple streams, which enables your Microsoft 365 backups to run faster. The default number of streams is 10.
    - Minimum number of streams required, fail the job if fewer streams are available: Select the minimum number of streams that you want to use for backups. Ensure that the value you set is less than or equal to the number of concurrent operations that you have defined for the storage device. The job fails if streams lower than the minimum number are available. The minimum default number is 1.
    Exchange Online - Retrieve Folder Associated Items: An Exchange mailbox stores settings (such as, rules) associated with the folders or a mailbox, along with the items. The settings are not displayed in Outlook as regular items. Use this option to back up these settings. By default, this check box is selected.
    - Retrieve items when Message Read property changes: Messages may be in unread or read state when they are backed up for the first time. By default, in subsequent backups, messages are not backed up again if their unread or read state changes. Select this option if you want this change to be captured in the subsequent backup. By default, this check box is not selected.
    SharePoint Online - Exclude System Lists The backup excludes hidden SharePoint Online lists and catalogs that are created by default from SharePoint.
    - Exclude Document Libraries with User and Group Sites If User OneDrive and Group files are backed up separately from Users and Groups selection, select this option to only backup remaining User or Group site data. SharePoint Online excludes data that is backed up under a different selection.
    By default, these options are not selected.
    Teams - Exclude System Lists The backup excludes hidden SharePoint Online lists and catalogs that are created by default from SharePoint.
    - All Posts All teams conversations from the beginning are backed up.
    - Date Range Select the date from which you want to back up the teams conversations. You have the option to back up the most recent data. It also helps to save costs associated with backing up data.
    Channel posts are backed up using Microsoft Graph Export APIs. These are metered APIs and require additional costs.
    By default, the All Posts option is selected.
  4. Click OK.