Below is the latest version of the service continuity and backup retention Microsoft provide for there Online Services (Updated April 2012):
| Service | RPO | RTO | Backup Retention |
| Exchange Online | Nearly instantaneous | 1hr |
•Items deleted User 30 days + Microsoft 14 day
•Mailbox Retained for 30days
•Archive 10 years
|
| SharePoint Online | 1hr | 6hr |
•SitesItems deleted Users 30 days
•Retained for 14 days
|
| Lync Online | 30mins | 3hr |
•Conversations stored in Exchange (if required)
|
If required Metavis provides a third-party On-Premise cloud backup solution for SharePoint Online, for more information please see = http://metavistech.com/product/sharepoint-backup
All information provided in this table is avalible in the Office 365 Service Desciptions avalible here (please note these are regualary updated): http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13602
Also worth keeping an eye on the Office Service Update page avalible here: http://community.office365.com/en-us/w/office_365_service_updates/974.aspx#apr