In development MRC 573699

SharePoint: Advanced Management - Inactive files policy

SharePoint administrators can use the Inactive files policy in SharePoint Advanced Management to automatically archive files based on when they were last accessed. The public preview is available through PowerShell only. Admins can set an inactivity threshold from 6 to 48 months,

SharePoint 03 Horizon04 Security05 GRC06 Cost & Value

DIGITAL SKILL WORKS LTD / 12 PANES

GA / disclosure December CY2026
Preview October CY2026
Platforms Web

What it is

SharePoint: Advanced Management - Inactive files policy is a Microsoft 365 roadmap item published via Microsoft Release Communications. Current status: In development.

What it does

SharePoint administrators can use the Inactive files policy in SharePoint Advanced Management to automatically archive files based on when they were last accessed. The public preview is available through PowerShell only. Admins can set an inactivity threshold from 6 to 48 months, scope policies to all SharePoint sites or selected sites, include or exclude file types and sites, and use What-If mode to review impact before activation. Eligible files move to the Microsoft 365 Archive cold-storage tier while remaining in place and retaining their metadata, permissions, compliance, and searchability. Microsoft 365 Archive and pay-as-you-go billing must be enabled.

Why you should care

Board

Track as Horizon signal; decide whether it changes Wave 0 priority or stays on the watchlist.

CISO

Confirm identity, data access, and overshare exposure before enabling for broad cohorts.

CFO

Metering change: set budgets, owners, and reclaim rules before open consumption.

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 · 06 Cost & Value

Communication needed

  • Security: Assess exposure, Conditional Access, and agent/tool permissions.
  • GRC: Update AI/agent register and evidence path; confirm DPIA triggers if personal data is in scope.
  • FinOps: Lead cost controls and budget owners before open metering.
  • 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

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.

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