Microsoft has unveiled significant updates to its storage policies regarding unlicensed OneDrive accounts, set to take effect in January 2025. This change will impact accounts that have remained unlicensed for a period exceeding 90 days, leading to their archiving. Once archived, users will find themselves without access to their OneDrive accounts unless action is taken by administrators to enable billing for these unlicensed accounts within the Microsoft 365 admin center.
A New Monthly Archive Fee
For those affected, it’s important to note that archived accounts will incur a monthly storage fee of $0.05 per GB in the Microsoft 365 Archive. Additionally, users will need to pay $0.60 per GB to reactivate archived accounts, a process that could take up to 24 hours. This new policy aims to address the security threats posed by unlicensed OneDrive accounts in enterprise environments.
Unlicensed accounts can cause confusion and occasionally lead to duplication within a tenant, especially if they fall under the retention policy that prevents deletion or lack of a valid license. Microsoft recommends navigating to the SharePoint admin center, then to Reports, and finally to OneDrive accounts to check the list of unlicensed accounts. Users with unlicensed OneDrive accounts are advised to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid setbacks.
Commercial customers should be able to check the number of unlicensed accounts and the reasons why they are unlicensed from August 16, 2024. This proactive step will help businesses manage their OneDrive storage more efficiently and ensure compliance with Microsoft's updated policies.
In summary, these changes underscore Microsoft's commitment to enhancing security and efficiency within its cloud storage services. By implementing these new policies, the company aims to mitigate risks associated with unlicensed accounts while providing clear guidelines for reactivation and ongoing management.
