Data Protection Issues

Can a Microsoft 365 Partner Read Customer Emails? How to Check and Restrict Access

Khadija Khan Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if a Microsoft 365 reseller or partner has the ability to access and read their organization's customer emails, and how to monitor or control this access.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Verifying data privacy and managing partner access rights within a Microsoft 365 tenant.
Observed behavior: Concerns regarding potential unauthorized email access by Microsoft 365 partners who have been granted delegated administrator permissions.

Before you start

Ensure you have Global Administrator privileges for your Microsoft 365 tenant, as these credentials are required to view and manage partner relationships and delegated permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Review and Manage Partner Delegated Admin Permissions

Check which partners have delegated access to your Microsoft 365 tenant and remove or restrict permissions that allow them to view user mailboxes.

Microsoft 365 partners with Delegated Admin Privileges (DAP) or Granular Delegated Admin Privileges (GDAP) may have access to your Exchange admin center. By regularly reviewing these roles, you can ensure partners only have the access necessary for their specific support tasks.

Sign in to the Admin Center

Navigate to the Microsoft 365 admin center and sign in using your Global Administrator credentials.

Access Partner Relationships

Go to 'Settings' in the left-hand navigation menu and select 'Partner relationships'.

Review Assigned Roles

Review the list of active partners and check the roles assigned to them, such as Global Administrator or Helpdesk Administrator.

Remove or Restrict Access

Select a partner to view their specific access details. If you wish to revoke their mailbox access, click 'Remove roles' or 'Remove delegated admin' to terminate their administrative permissions.

Review and Manage Partner Delegated Admin Permissions

Solution 2

Review Audit Logs for Mailbox Activity

Investigate your Microsoft 365 tenant's audit logs to determine if a partner account or any unauthorized user has been accessing user emails.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'delegated administrator' mean in Microsoft 365?

Delegated administration allows a Microsoft partner or reseller to access your Microsoft 365 tenant to manage services, support, and billing on your behalf. Depending on the assigned roles (like Global Admin), this can include accessing the Exchange admin center and user mailboxes.

Can I stop a partner from reading my emails without terminating their billing relationship?

Yes. You can retain a partner for billing or licensing support while removing their 'Delegated Admin Privileges' (DAP). Alternatively, you can use Granular Delegated Admin Privileges (GDAP) to assign them least-privilege roles that do not include access to sensitive data like emails.

Does Microsoft notify me if a partner accesses an employee's email?

No, Microsoft does not send real-time alerts for mailbox access by default. You must actively configure audit logging and create custom alert policies in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal to monitor non-owner mailbox access.

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