Microsoft Improves Cloud Logging Services for Business Customers with Extended Retention Period and Enhanced Security Features

Microsoft has introduced cloud logging services for all business customers while also extending the maximum retention period to 180 days. This move comes in response to Chinese state hackers targeting companies that were struggling to detect such attacks.

Microsoft states that cloud logs will now be accessible to enterprise customers by default, regardless of their subscription. Purview Audit, previously only available to Microsoft 365 Enterprise package users, will now be accessible to all business customers for viewing detailed logs which can also be stored in the cloud.

Furthermore, Microsoft has extended the default retention period from 90 days to 180 days. Purview Audit now offers a free version as well as a new paid package called Premium, catering to E5 and G5 customers. The Premium package includes enhanced analytics and an API for seamless integration with Office 365, with the option to extend the retention period to ten years.

This initiative is not solely driven by Microsoft but is also influenced by American government bodies such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Office of the National Cyber ​​Director who collaborated to make these logging capabilities accessible as per CISA. These new logging features are now accessible to American government institutions as per CISA's requirements. Microsoft had announced plans last year, with support from CISA, to provide free cloud logs in the coming months following reports of Chinese state hackers infiltrating Microsoft customer inboxes. Concerns arose when it was discovered that affected companies lacked sufficient logs to identify the breach due to not having paid for the service.