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software:chipmunk:getting_started

Getting Started with Chipmunk

Welcome to the Chipmunk Setup Guide.

Chipmunk is SmiKar Software’s intelligent offboarding solution for Microsoft 365. It automatically detects disabled Entra ID (Azure AD) accounts and securely archives the associated OneDrive, Exchange (emails), and Teams data to Azure Blob Storage. Chipmunk ensures no important user data is lost, helping you meet compliance, legal, and operational requirements with ease.

Chipmunk Overview

What is Chipmunk?

Chipmunk is designed for IT administrators and businesses that want a simple, affordable, and automated way to archive Microsoft 365 user data once employees leave the organization.

When a user account is disabled in Entra ID, the following is archived to your Azure Blob Storage Account:

  • Their OneDrive files are archived.
  • Their Exchange emails are archived.
  • Their Microsoft Teams chats and messages are archived.
  • Data is stored under your control in your Azure tenant.
  • Easy recovery options are available later if required.

Chipmunk Architecture

Chipmunk uses a lightweight architecture:

  • PowerShell scripts manage the backup processes.
  • MySQL database tracks backup status, performance, and reporting.
  • Node.js and React front-end dashboard for easy monitoring.
  • Azure Blob Storage holds archived user data.

Prerequisites

Before installing Chipmunk, you’ll need:

  • An Azure subscription with Blob Storage and a container created.
  • A registered Azure App in Entra ID (Azure AD) with Graph API and Exchange Online permissions.
  • An internal DNS name and TLS certificate for the Chipmunk appliance (e.g., chipmunk.yourcompany.local).
  • (Optional) A static internal IP address and DNS entry for reliable access.

Installation Steps

1. Provision your Azure Blob Storage account and create a container. 2. Register a new App in Entra ID and assign the required Microsoft Graph and Exchange Online API permissions. 3. Choose a DNS name for the Chipmunk appliance (e.g., chipmunk.yourcompany.local) and bind a TLS certificate to that domain. 4. Deploy Chipmunk from the Azure Marketplace. 5. Navigate to the Chipmunk setup URL (e.g., https://chipmunk.yourcompany.local) and complete the configuration wizard using the details you prepared. 6. Start Chipmunk services from the dashboard.

Chipmunk is designed for quick deployment — most installations can be completed in under an hour.

Using Chipmunk

The Chipmunk Dashboard allows you to:

  • Monitor ongoing backup operations.
  • View archived users and their associated data.
  • Search and restore archived files if needed.
  • View trends, usage, and backup success rates.

All user data remains securely in your Azure environment — Chipmunk does not store your data externally.

Why Choose Chipmunk?

* Fully automated offboarding.

* Archives OneDrive, Exchange, and Teams data.

* Affordable licensing model.

* Your data remains in your Azure tenant.

* Scalable for small and large environments.

* Simple setup and minimal management overhead.

Chipmunk helps organizations meet compliance, legal hold, and operational continuity requirements while simplifying the Microsoft 365 offboarding process.

Need Help?

If you need assistance setting up your App Registration, Storage, or internal DNS for Chipmunk, refer to our step-by-step setup guides below:

You can also contact our team at support@smikar.com for assistance.

chipmunk getting_started guide archive_offboarding azure

software/chipmunk/getting_started.txt · Last modified: 2025/07/01 13:07 by support@smikar.com