Microsoft Purview compliance portal: Data Lifecycle Management - Retention based on Last Accessed for files in OneDrive and SharePoint

What it is

Microsoft Purview compliance portal: Data Lifecycle Management - Retention based on Last Accessed for files in OneDrive and SharePoint is a Microsoft 365 roadmap item published via Microsoft Release Communications. Current status: In development.

What it does

This creates the ability to apply Retention to each SharePoint or OneDrive item based on when it was last accessed by a user. #copilotcontrolsystem

Why you should care

• Board: Security/compliance control — fund Steady before more seats.
• CISO: Prioritise as Steady control; wire into IR and GRC evidence paths.
• CFO: Map licence or consumption impact to the frozen value case; avoid seat spray.
• Adoption: Pilot with a named cohort and measure changed work, not vanity clicks.

Suggested action

Wave 0 first: Security → GRC → Cost & Value → Licence → Adoption. Add to Horizon watchlist with an owner. Pilot only after Steady controls for the affected surface are in place.

12 Panes: 03 Horizon · 04 Security · 05 GRC · 08 Adoption

Communication needed

• Security: Lead review; confirm control mapping before enablement.
• GRC: Update AI/agent register and evidence path; confirm DPIA triggers if personal data is in scope.
• FinOps: Forecast seat or credit impact; align to frozen value case.
• Adoption: Plan cohort messaging, clinics, and success measures.
• Comms: One story for board and staff — what changes, what does not, who owns risk.

Benefits

• May improve productivity on a specific Microsoft 365 surface when permissions and data quality allow.
• Roadmap visibility helps Horizon planning without guessing dates.

Risks

• Status and dates change; treat MRC as directional, not a contract.
• Enabling without Steady controls can amplify overshare or cost leakage.
• Preview or rolling features can change behaviour; fence exploration on Pane 12 Frontier.

Source

• MRC id: 472030
• Status: In development
• Products: Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365), Microsoft Purview
• GA / disclosure: December CY2026
• Preview: October CY2026
• Platforms: Web
• Cloud instances: Worldwide (Standard Multi-Tenant)
• moreInfoUrls: —
• Open on Microsoft 365 Roadmap

Microsoft Release Communications / Microsoft 365 Roadmap (AI at Work). Content is subject to Microsoft API Terms of Use. Dates and status change; verify in the official roadmap before acting.