In short: Dropsuite email archiving is sold as NinjaOne SaaS Backup + Archiver. It uses real-time journaling to capture every inbound and outbound message from Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace into immutable storage, and adds eDiscovery, saved searches, legal hold, custom retention and an audit log to SaaS backup. It is licensed per user, monthly or annually.
Backup and archiving are different jobs
A backup exists so you can put data back after it is lost. An archive exists so you can prove what was sent and received, and find it again, years later, whatever happened to the mailbox. Backup takes copies on a schedule, so a message that arrives and is deleted between two backups may never be captured. Journaling-based archiving records every message as it passes through the mail system.
NinjaOne SaaS Backup + Archiver gives you both in one per-user licence: the full SaaS Backup Standard service for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, plus a compliance archive for email.
What the archive includes
| Capability | What it does |
|---|---|
| Real-time journaling | Server-level journaling captures inbound and outbound mail, attachments and metadata as messages are sent or received, including messages later deleted from the mailbox |
| Supported mail systems | Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online) and Google Workspace |
| Immutable storage | Archived mail is held in write-once storage that cannot be altered |
| eDiscovery and saved searches | Search the archive, including inside attached documents, and save searches you run regularly |
| Tagging and alerting | Tag messages and get alerts when new mail matches a saved search |
| Legal hold and review | Suspend retention rules so records cannot be deleted during litigation, and review data before release |
| Custom retention | Set retention by user, department or domain, from short periods to indefinite |
| Audit log | Record activity in the archive for oversight |
Because the archive is held separately from live mailboxes, you do not need to keep old mailboxes open just to preserve their history.
Editions and licensing
| Option | Includes | Unit | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| NinjaOne SaaS Backup + Archiver | Backup and email archiving | Per user | Monthly or annual |
| NinjaOne SaaS Backup + Archiver (Nonprofit Pricing) | Backup and email archiving | Per user | Monthly |
| NinjaOne SaaS Backup + Archiver + Entra | Backup, archiving and Entra ID backup | Per user | Monthly or annual |
| NinjaOne SaaS Backup + Archiver + Entra (Nonprofit Pricing) | Backup, archiving and Entra ID backup | Per user | Monthly |
Nonprofit pricing is for eligible charities and non-profit organisations, and we check eligibility before we order. Ask us for a quote for the bundle, user count and term.
Set-up and requirements
Archiving relies on journaling, so as well as connecting the backup to your tenant we set up journaling in Exchange Online, or the equivalent routing in Google Workspace, so that a copy of every message reaches the archive. Journaling captures mail from the day it is turned on. If you need older mail in the archive as well, tell us during scoping and we will check the options with the vendor. We also agree with you who can search, hold and export archived mail, because that is often compliance or HR staff rather than IT.
Who it suits, and how we help
The Archiver bundles suit organisations that must keep email for a set period or produce it on request: regulated financial and legal firms, schools and public bodies handling subject access and freedom of information requests, and any business that has had to search old mail for a dispute. The + Entra version adds directory recovery for organisations that want everything in one licence.
We scope your retention requirements, set up journaling and backup, configure retention policies and reviewer access, and manage licence changes and renewals. For wider email protection, see email security.
How Forever Systems supplies your software licences
Forever Systems Ltd supplies business software subscriptions to UK organisations from one account, with one monthly invoice and a UK team who know the products.
- The right edition first time: we check what you need before you buy, so you are not paying for features you will never use
- Monthly or annual terms where the vendor offers them, and help timing renewals and commitments
- Licence changes handled for you: add or remove users, upgrade editions and true-up without starting a new contract
- Deployment and support from engineers who run these products every day, not just a reseller account
- Consolidated billing and renewal reminders so nothing lapses unexpectedly
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations of all sizes.
Need a licence quote or a second opinion on your renewal?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
What is journaling-based email archiving?
The mail system sends a copy of every inbound and outbound message, with its attachments and metadata, to the archive as it is sent or received. Nothing slips through between scheduled backups, and the archive copy is kept separately from the user's mailbox.
Does Dropsuite archiving work with Google Workspace?
Yes. NinjaOne describes the Archiver as email archiving for both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
Can I put email on legal hold?
Yes. The Archiver bundles let you suspend retention rules so records cannot be deleted during litigation, with a data review process, eDiscovery, saved searches and an audit log.
Do I need the backup as well as the archive?
They are sold together: every Archiver bundle includes full Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backup, and you can add Entra ID protection too.