Microsoft is deleting your behavioral history. Every day.
Your Microsoft 365 behavioral data expires after 180 days (E3) or 1 year (E5). Once it's gone, it's gone forever. No recovery. No second chances.
Start Capturing Your Data Now →The retention clock is always ticking
Right now, Microsoft is automatically deleting your organization's behavioral history. Not because of a mistake — because that's how the system works.
How long does Microsoft actually keep your data?
| License Type | Retention Period | What Happens After |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic/Standard/Premium | 180 days | Permanently deleted |
| Microsoft 365 E1 | 180 days | Permanently deleted |
| Microsoft 365 E3 | 180 days | Permanently deleted |
| Microsoft 365 E5 (Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Entra ID) | 1 year | Permanently deleted |
| Microsoft 365 E5 (other activities) | 180 days | Permanently deleted |
| E5 + 10-Year Audit Log Retention Add-on | Up to 10 years | Requires additional license |
The Fine Print Most Miss
- • Retention is per-user: The retention period follows the license of the user who performed the activity, not the admin reviewing logs
- • Cannot recover deleted data: Once Microsoft removes data, it's gone permanently — no support ticket can bring it back
- • Mixed environments have mixed retention: Organizations with E3 and E5 users have different retention for different users
- • Pre-October 2023 data had 90-day retention: Microsoft only recently extended the default from 90 to 180 days
This isn't just audit logs. It's your ability to prove anything.
When Microsoft deletes your behavioral data, you lose more than numbers. You lose evidence.
Your Baseline
Without historic data, you can't establish where you started. No baseline means no way to measure improvement — ever.
Your Proof
Did that training work? Did that policy change make a difference? Without before/after data, you can't prove anything worked.
Your Compliance Evidence
When auditors ask for behavioral evidence from 8 months ago, you'll have nothing to show them — because Microsoft already deleted it.
Your Institutional Knowledge
Trends, patterns, progress — gone. Your organization's security history disappears one day at a time.
Praxis Navigator captures what Microsoft deletes
The moment you connect Praxis Navigator, we start preserving your behavioral history.
Immediate Historic Capture
The moment you connect, we pull whatever historic data Microsoft still has — typically 90-180 days depending on your license. This becomes your baseline from day one.
Continuous Forward Collection
From connection onward, we continuously capture behavioral data before Microsoft's retention window closes. Your data flows to Praxis Navigator faster than Microsoft deletes it.
Extended Retention Beyond Microsoft Limits
Your data stays in Praxis Navigator for as long as you're a customer. Build baselines over years, not months. Prove trends over time. Have evidence ready whenever you need it.
Every day you wait, you lose another day of history
If you connect Praxis Navigator today, you capture whatever Microsoft still has. If you wait a month, you've lost a month of behavioral history — permanently.
The Math Is Simple
Connect today: Capture up to 180 days of historic data
Wait 30 days: You've lost 30 days of history forever
Wait 90 days: You've lost half your available baseline
Wait 180 days: Your entire current behavioral history is gone
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Microsoft 365 retain audit logs? ↓
Microsoft 365 retention varies by license: Business/E1/E3 licenses retain audit logs for 180 days. E5 licenses retain core service logs (Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Entra ID) for 1 year, while other activities are retained for 180 days. Extended retention up to 10 years is available with an add-on license.
What happens to data after the retention period? ↓
Once the retention period expires, Microsoft permanently deletes the data. It cannot be recovered. This means behavioral history, security patterns, and audit evidence are lost forever once they age out.
Can I extend Microsoft 365 audit log retention? ↓
With E5 licenses, you can create custom retention policies for up to 1 year. With an additional 10-Year Audit Log Retention add-on license, retention can extend up to 10 years. However, these options require additional licensing costs. Alternatively, Praxis Navigator can capture and preserve behavioral data independently at a fraction of the cost.
How does Praxis Navigator help with data retention? ↓
Praxis Navigator connects to your Microsoft 365 environment and immediately captures whatever historic behavioral data remains. From that point forward, it continuously preserves behavioral data regardless of Microsoft's retention limits, allowing you to build baselines and prove trends over years, not just months.
What's the difference between E3 and E5 data retention? ↓
E3 licenses have a 180-day retention limit for all audit logs. E5 licenses retain core service activity (Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Entra ID) for 1 year by default, while other activities still follow the 180-day limit. E5 also allows custom retention policies up to 1 year.
The data clock is ticking. Start capturing now.
Connect Praxis Navigator today and preserve your behavioral history. 30-day free trial. No credit card required. Setup in 15 minutes.