Microsoft 365 Backup: Protection unit-level offboarding (preview)

We’re introducing a new Backup Deletion capability in Microsoft 365 Backup that allows users to delete backups at the protection unit level. This feature helps organizations manage storage more efficiently and avoid unnecessary costs by removing accidental or obsolete backups. It also provides a way to adhere to GDPR deletion requests. We strongly recommend caution when using this feature because it will permanently delete your backups. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 464994. When this will happen: Public Preview: We will begin rolling out late July 2025 and expect to complete by late August 2025. General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out late August 2025 and expect to complete by late September 2025. How this will affect your organization: This update introduces the ability to delete backups for individual protection units—defined as Microsoft OneDrive accounts, Microsoft SharePoint sites, or Microsoft Exchange Online shared/user mailboxes—in Microsoft 365 Backup. Key benefits include Compliance support: Retain only necessary backups to meet organizational or regulatory requirements. Cost optimization: Remove redundant or accidental backups to reduce storage costs, though we caution against frequent use of the feature for these purposes because it can leave you without proper recovery mechanisms in the future. Simplified management: A user-friendly interface makes it easy to manage and delete backups. This feature empowers users to maintain control over their backup footprint, ensuring that only essential data is retained and billed. This feature will be available by default for admins to configure in the Microsoft 365 admin center at Settings > Microsoft 365 Backup. What you need to do to prepare: This rollout will happen automatically by the specified dates with no admin action required before the rollout. Review your current backup configuration to assess the impact on your organization. You may want to notify your admins and/or users about this change and update internal documentation. Learn more: Offboarding in Microsoft 365 Backup | Microsoft Learn (will be updated before rollout)