Introduction
To protect the Exchange server mailbox data from any possible deletion or database corruption, Exchange administrators choose to backup the database. This backup becomes highly useful after Exchange server disasters. A seasoned administrator knows the benefits of taking a secure backup at regular intervals and restoring only the required data when there is a need.
There are multiple methods to backup the Exchange data, and they can be useful in different conditions –

1. Use Windows Server Backup tool.
2. Use Professional tool.

1. Windows Server Backup method –
Windows Server Backup facilitates full server backup (all volumes) and or the backup of selected volumes. You can take a backup of files, folders, complete volumes, and specific applications. First, you must activate the backup feature using the Server Manager.
Install Windows Server Backup feature-
Here is a brief procedure to activate the tool –

1. Run the Server Manager as an administrator.
2. Click “Add Roles and Features” option.
3. Read all the Instructions and click Next.
4. Select the first option (Role-based or feature-based installation) and click Next.
5. Select the available server from the server pool and click Next.
6. As we don’t need to assign any new server roles, do not make any changes; click Next.
7. Here, check the option of Windows Server Backup and click Next
8. After confirmation, Install the tool, and after that, you can use it to take a backup of Exchange Mailboxes.

Backup Exchange database –
It is quite easy to take the backup of Exchange mailboxes using Windows Server Backup tool. Just follow the step-by-step procedure –

1. Type Windows Backup Server in search and run it as an Administrator.
2. Right-click on Local Backup and select Backup Once.
3. Under Backup options, select the second option named Different options and then click Next.
4. Now, there are two options in front you. The first option is to take backup of your full server data, applications, and system state. The second option is to customize the process by selecting only the desired items. Choose the required option and click Next.
5. Click Add items under Select Items for Backup.
6. Select the volumes you want to take backup and click OK.
7. After selecting the volume, click on Advanced Settings button.
8. Go to VSS Settings tab, select the first option of VSS Full Backup, and click OK.
9. Select the location option to backup data. Then click Next.
10. Input the complete path of the folder and click Next.
11. Click Backup. The backup process will start.
12. After the successful backup, the wizard will show the complete size of the backup data, its location and its status.

So, it was the whole procedure of backing up Exchange data using the Windows Server Backup tool.
2. Use Professional tool.

Exchange Server saves all its data in Exchange Database (EDB) files. So, to take a brick-level backup of Exchange Server, you can save the EDB to PST file format. It is quite wise to export mailboxes to PST format as it is instantly accessible in Outlook application; also, PST files can be imported to Exchange when there is a requirement.

Here is a tool named Exchange Recovery Manager which exports Exchange mailboxes to PST format. It displays the complete Exchange data in a tree structure and lets you export mailboxes. Also, it can be used for many essential Exchange-related requirements.