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Microsoft Purview Audit: Logging and Compliance for Australian Organisations

Microsoft Purview Audit provides centralised logging of user activity and data access within Microsoft 365, helping AU organisations meet compliance obligations and investigate incidents.

Last reviewed 23 May 2026

What Microsoft Purview Audit does

Microsoft Purview Audit aggregates activity logs from Microsoft 365 services, Azure, and third-party apps into a single, searchable repository. The Standard tier offers 180 days of log retention, while the Premium tier extends this to a year, with the option to archive logs for up to ten years. Audit logs capture user actions, data access, and system events, providing a detailed record of activity. Advanced search capabilities allow for complex queries to identify specific events and patterns.

Microsoft Purview Audit in Australian tenants today

For AU mid-market organisations, Microsoft Purview Audit is increasingly crucial for demonstrating compliance. APRA CPS 234 mandates robust audit logging for financial institutions, and Purview Audit provides a mechanism to fulfil this requirement. The Privacy Act 2024 and the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme necessitate thorough incident investigation, which is significantly enhanced by extended log retention. While the Standard tier is suitable for basic needs, the cost of Premium becomes justifiable when longer retention periods are needed to satisfy regulatory or contractual obligations, particularly when dealing with potential data breaches.

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