Here are a few recent updates coming to Microsoft Purview that are worth keeping an eye on if you manage retention, data protection, or content cleanup across Microsoft 365. All three changes are aimed at giving administrators more control over how content is retained, quarantined, or permanently removed in SharePoint and OneDrive, and two of them also connect quite directly to how organizations think about Copilot readiness and data exposure.
Retention based on when files were last accessed
Microsoft has announced a new capability in Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management that will let admins apply a retention policy or retention label in SharePoint and OneDrive based on when files were last accessed. The initial scope applies to Microsoft 365 file types, with support for additional non-Microsoft 365 file types expected in a future rollout. In practice, this adds a new way to identify stale content and can help organizations clean up obsolete data that no longer provides business value. Microsoft also notes that this can improve the quality and relevance of Microsoft 365 Copilot responses by reducing the amount of outdated content in scope.
This feature will be available by default, so there is no prerequisite action required before rollout. After it arrives, admins will be able to use the new When items were last accessed retention control when configuring labels and policies on the Retention settings page in Purview.
Preview is scheduled to begin in late June 2026 and complete by mid-August 2026. The original preview window was late May 2026 to mid-June 2026. General availability worldwide is now scheduled to begin in late July 2026 and complete by mid-August 2026. So keep an eye on Microsoft Roadmap id 565866 for further changes to the timeframe
File quarantine for DLP in SharePoint and OneDrive
Microsoft has also announced a new File Quarantine action in Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention for SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business. When a file violates a DLP policy configured with this action, the file can be moved to an admin-controlled quarantine location to prevent additional access or sharing. A tombstone file remains in the original location so users understand what happened, while administrators retain visibility through audit logs, DLP alerts, and Activity Explorer. This adds a stronger response option for sensitive data exposure scenarios without removing the broader collaboration context completely.
This capability is not enabled by default and requires configuration inside a Purview DLP policy. Organizations that want to use it should create an admin-owned SharePoint site to act as the quarantine location, configure the destination folder and tombstone messaging in Purview DLP settings, and validate the behavior in simulation mode before broader enforcement. Microsoft has already published official documentation for both the setup and policy configuration steps here: https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/dlp-spo-odb-quarantine-get-started and https://learn.microsoft.com/purview/dlp-create-policy-spo-odb-quarantine.
Public Preview began rolling out in mid-April 2026 and was expected to complete by early May 2026. General availability worldwide is now scheduled for early July 2026 through mid-July 2026.
Please pay attention to any changes regarding roll-out on Microsoft Roadmap ID 557190
Priority cleanup for hard deletion of content under retention or hold
Microsoft has announced a new priority cleanup workflow in Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management that allows administrators to permanently delete specific content types in SharePoint and OneDrive, even when retention policies or holds are in place. This is an admin-controlled hard-delete process intended to help reduce exposure from specific categories of content, including rapidly growing Copilot-related data. For content that is under hold, the workflow still requires eDiscovery admin review and approval before deletion can proceed.
This feature is not enabled by default and only affects users if an administrator chooses to configure and apply a priority cleanup policy. Admins will be able to create a policy in the Microsoft Purview portal under Data Lifecycle Management and Priority cleanup, then choose the Delete data permanently option in the policy settings.
Public Preview is expected to begin in mid-July 2026 and complete by late July 2026. General availability worldwide is now scheduled to begin in early September 2026 and complete by mid-September 2026.
More details on roll-out can be read at the Microsoft Roadmap ID 558343
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