Alcion Launches AI Backup Platform for Microsoft 365
The Santa Clara-based startup introduces an automated recovery service for SharePoint, Exchange, and OneDrive data.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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Santa Clara-based startup Alcion has emerged from stealth mode, launching a backup-as-a-service platform for Microsoft 365 environments. The service, now in public preview, integrates AI to automate threat detection and backup scheduling for users of SharePoint, Exchange, and OneDrive.
Why it matters
As organizations migrate critical operations to Microsoft 365, gaps in native protection against ransomware remain a primary vulnerability. Alcion aims to close these security holes by utilizing machine learning to detect mass encryption patterns and automate recovery.
The Alcion platform is priced at $2.52 per user per month. The service utilizes the open-source tool Corso to manage data, performing adaptive backups that adjust based on modification patterns rather than fixed intervals.
The players
Alcion
A Santa Clara-based data protection startup currently employing 22 staff members.
Microsoft 365
The enterprise software suite containing Exchange, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
The details
The platform employs AI to scan for signs of ransomware, specifically identifying mass encryption events that indicate a potential breach. It utilizes the Corso tool—an open-source project designed for Microsoft 365 data management—to handle backups across SharePoint, Exchange, and OneDrive. The system automates response workflows to trigger faster recovery point objectives, which represent the maximum acceptable data loss in the event of an outage or attack.
Timeline
2017: Niraj Tolia and Vaibhav Kamra founded Kasten.
2020: Veeam acquired Kasten.
October 25, 2026: Alcion emerged from stealth mode.
The Tech Race
Alcion founders Niraj Tolia and Vaibhav Kamra are applying the experience gained from their previous startup, Kasten, which was acquired by Veeam in 2020. The company now seeks to capture the Microsoft 365 security market by positioning automated threat detection against legacy manual backup solutions.
Organizations currently using Microsoft 365 can access the public preview to automate backup tasks for SharePoint, Exchange, and OneDrive. The service provides a monthly per-user pricing model, though enterprise-scale features remain in development for the coming year.
The takeaway
The company is moving to address specific vulnerabilities in cloud-based data storage by automating threat responses. Watch for the 2024 enterprise push to see how the service handles complex, high-volume production environments.
What happens next
Alcion plans to add protection for Microsoft Teams later this year, with an expansion into the enterprise market targeted for 2024.
Further reading
For broader analysis on defensive tools for enterprise software, visit the Cybersecurity section.
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