Extend Microsoft 365 Audit Log Retention Limits
Extending Your Audit Log Retention Limits in Microsoft 365
Many organizations using Microsoft 365 E3 licenses face a key challenge: extending audit log retention beyond the default 180 days. Maintaining long-term audit logs is essential for GxP compliance and cybersecurity. Our Audit Vault for M365 solution enables you to retain Microsoft audit logs for as long as you need them, ensuring your organization meets it's compliance and security requirements.
Microsoft's Current Audit Log Retention Limits
Microsoft 365 E3 licenses only retain audit logs for 180 days, creating serious challenges for organizations that need long-term data retention for compliance and security. After this period, critical audit data is permanently deleted, increasing the risk of regulatory violations, security gaps, and loss of legal audit trails. Extending retention through Microsoft requires costly E5 upgrades or additional licensing, driving up expenses for organizations that need to maintain a historical chain of custody.
Microsoft 365 Audit Log Retention Options
| License | Retention | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft E1 | 180 days | Audit (Standard) |
| Microsoft E3 | 180 days | Audit (Standard) |
| Microsoft Office 365 | 180 days | Audit (Standard) |
| Microsoft Office 365 E5 | 1 year | Audit (Premium) |
| Microsoft 365 E5 | 1 year | Audit (Premium) |
| Microsoft E5 (Extended Retention) | 10 years | Extended Retention |
| Audit Vault for M365 | Unlimited | Standard |
It's important to note that the retention period is determined by the Microsoft license assigned to the user who performed the audited activity, not the administrator or auditor reviewing the logs.
Source: Microsoft Audit Solutions
Extend Microsoft 365 Audit Log Retention Limits with Audit Vault for M365
Audit Vault for M365 is a cost-effective solution designed to overcome Microsoft 365’s audit log retention limits. It seamlessly integrates with your existing Microsoft 365 environment, allowing you to extend audit log retention beyond the 180-day limit in E3 licenses—without expensive upgrades.
Even if you have Microsoft 365 E5, Audit Vault for M365 extends retention beyond the 1-year limit without requiring Microsoft’s costly 10-year audit log retention licenses—helping you cut unnecessary costs.
Benefits of Audit Vault for M365:
-
Compliance Assurance:
Ensure unlimited audit log retention to meet regulatory requirements and avoid penalties. For example, GxP regulations demand organizations retain records related to product development, manufacturing, and distribution—sometimes for over 10 years. -
Cost Savings:
Avoid the high cost of Microsoft’s additional licensing fees while maintaining long-term audit log retention. -
Quick & Easy Setup:
Deploy Audit Vault for M365 in minutes with our hassle-free quick start service. -
Enhanced Security:
Use advanced search, powerful reports, and threat intelligence to detect and mitigate risks within your Microsoft 365 audit logs.
Stop overpaying for audit log retention—Audit Vault for M365 gives you complete control of your audit logs at a fraction of the cost!
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