Anyone who has worked with SharePoint management knows that data governance is a cornerstone of digital productivity, especially in large organizations where information can accumulate rapidly. Today, retention policies in Microsoft 365 allow administrators to manage data based on creation or modification dates. However, in my experience, this approach is not always sufficient. Files that haven’t been accessed in years may still linger in OneDrive or SharePoint, cluttering storage, slowing down search, and diluting the relevance of AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot.
A new feature in Microsoft Purview Retention Policies, expected this winter, promises to enhance Data Lifecycle Management. This upcoming setting will enable policies to identify files that have remained untouched for a specified period and automatically flag them for deletion or archival.
This enhancement is particularly valuable for organizations leveraging Microsoft 365 Copilot. By removing outdated or irrelevant files, Copilot can access more relevant data, resulting in more accurate and contextually appropriate responses—ultimately boosting productivity and decision-making.
According to the Microsoft 365 Message Center, the feature will begin rolling out in preview in late December and is expected to reach general availability early next year. Although it will be automatically available, administrators must configure new policies or update existing ones to take advantage of the new setting.
My advice is for organizations to begin preparing by reviewing their current retention configurations and identifying which policies they plan to update once the new setting is released—and tested, of course.
For more details, refer to Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 472030.
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