How to Create an Audit Retention Policy in Microsoft 365
Question details
The user wants to know if Microsoft 365 E3 supports audit retention policies and needs instructions on how to create one within the compliance portal.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Setting up compliance and auditing rules to retain organizational activity logs for a specific period.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs a step-by-step guide to successfully locate and configure the audit retention policy settings in the Microsoft Purview portal.
Ensure you are signed in with a global administrator or compliance administrator account, as appropriate permissions are required to access and modify audit retention policies in the Microsoft Purview portal.
Create an Audit Retention Policy in Microsoft Purview
Use the Microsoft Purview compliance portal to define and enforce a custom audit retention policy for your organization.
Microsoft 365 E3 does support audit retention policies, but the specific retention periods available and the advanced search features depend on your exact subscription add-ons, assigned user licenses, and permissions.
Open your web browser, navigate to the Microsoft Purview compliance portal, and sign in with your administrator credentials.
In the left-hand navigation pane, locate and click on 'Audit' to open the auditing and reporting features for your tenant.
On the Audit page, look for the tabs near the top and click on 'Audit retention policies'.
Click the 'Create audit retention policy' button. Fill in the required fields, including the policy name, description, record types, users to apply it to, and the desired retention duration.
Review your settings to ensure they meet your organizational compliance requirements, then click 'Save' to activate the policy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are audit retention policies available for all Microsoft 365 subscriptions?
No, the availability of advanced audit retention policies and specific retention durations heavily depends on your subscription tier (such as E3 or E5) and assigned user licenses.
How long does it take for a new audit retention policy to take effect?
After you save a new audit retention policy in the Microsoft Purview portal, it can take up to 30 days for the policy to be fully applied across your organization's audit data.
Who can create audit retention policies in Microsoft Purview?
To create or manage audit retention policies, you must be assigned specific compliance roles in Microsoft 365, such as the Organization Management or Compliance Administrator role.
