License & Subscription Issues

Microsoft 365 Licensing Requirements for Office 365 Audit Logs

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 14, 2026 868 views

Question details

Understand the Microsoft 365 licensing requirements and differences for accessing standard and premium audit logs via the Office 365 Management Activity API.

Microsoft 365 Licensing Requirements for Office 365 Audit Logs

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Evaluating and configuring audit log retention policies and API access in a Microsoft tenant.
Observed behavior: Determining which subscription tiers (such as E3 vs. E5) are necessary to access standard 90-day retention versus premium 1-year retention audit logs.

Before you start

Ensure you have Global Administrator or Compliance Administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 tenant to review licensing and access the Microsoft Purview compliance portal.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Standard Audit Licensing (Microsoft 365 E3)

Use this solution to confirm you meet the requirements for standard audit logging, which provides a 90-day retention period.

Standard audit access is generally available with plans such as Microsoft 365 E3. This tier allows access to standard audit events through the Office 365 Management Activity API.

Access the Microsoft 365 admin center

Navigate to admin.microsoft.com and log in with your administrator credentials.

Check current subscriptions

On the left navigation menu, click on 'Billing' and then select 'Your products' to view your active licenses.

Verify E3 or equivalent licensing

Confirm that your organization has active Microsoft 365 E3 licenses assigned to the users whose activity you need to audit for the standard 90-day retention period.

Verify Standard Audit Licensing (Microsoft 365 E3)

Retention Limit: Standard audit records are strictly limited to a 90-day retention period. If you need longer retention, you must upgrade your licensing.

Solution 2

Confirm Audit Premium Licensing (Microsoft 365 E5/A5/G5)

Check your tenant for Premium licenses to utilize extended retention periods (up to one year) and additional audit event types.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the retention period for standard audit logs in Microsoft 365?

Standard audit logs, which are typically available with Microsoft 365 E3 licenses, are retained for 90 days. They can be accessed through the Office 365 Management Activity API.

Which Microsoft 365 licenses include Audit Premium features?

Audit Premium capabilities, including advanced events and longer retention periods, require a qualifying Microsoft 365 E5, A5, G5, or equivalent high-tier license.

Can I extend audit log retention beyond 90 days without an E5 license?

No, standard retention is strictly limited to 90 days. Extending retention to one year or more for specific users or workloads requires upgrading those users' licenses to an Audit Premium-eligible tier.

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