check before: 2026-12-01
Product:
Exchange
Platform:
Online, Web, World tenant
Status:
In development
Change type:
Links:
Details:
We will be introducing customizable retention options for Message Trace logs. Organizations will be able to choose from a predefined set of retention periods.
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability
Created:
2025-12-20
updated:
2025-12-20
Docu to Check
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MS workload name
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summary for non-techies**
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Direct effects for Operations**
Data Loss Risk
Without proper preparation, users may experience data loss if retention settings are not configured correctly, leading to important message trace logs being deleted prematurely.
- roles: IT Administrator, Compliance Officer
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2021/06/15/understanding-data-retention-in-exchange-online/, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/understanding-message-trace-in-exchange-online/ba-p/610200
User Experience Degradation
If retention settings are not communicated effectively, users may face confusion or frustration when they cannot find expected message trace logs, impacting their workflow.
- roles: End User, Support Staff
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2021/06/15/understanding-data-retention-in-exchange-online/, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/understanding-message-trace-in-exchange-online/ba-p/610200
Configutation Options**
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Data Protection**
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explanation for non-techies**
Customizable retention options for Message Trace logs in Exchange are like choosing how long you want to keep your old emails before they get deleted. Imagine you have a mailbox at home where you receive all your letters. Some letters, like bills or important documents, you might want to keep for a long time, while others, like advertisements or newsletters, you might want to throw away after a week or two.
Similarly, with the new customizable retention options, organizations can decide how long they want to keep the logs of their email messages. These logs are records of emails sent and received, which can be important for various reasons, such as legal compliance or security audits.
Before this change, the retention period for these logs might have been fixed, like a rule that says you must keep all your letters for exactly one month before discarding them. Now, with customizable options, it's like having a choice of different mailboxes, each with its own rule for how long to keep the letters. Organizations can select from a set of predefined retention periods that best suit their needs, whether that's a week, a month, or longer.
This flexibility helps organizations manage their data more effectively, ensuring they keep important information for as long as necessary while not holding onto unnecessary data longer than needed. It's about finding the right balance between retaining important information and managing storage efficiently.
** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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