Summary of Guardians of M365 Governance Episode 10
For Episode 10 of the Guardians of M365 Governance monthly webcast, Joy Apple (@JoyofSharePoint) and I (fellow co-host Ragnar was unable to join the show) welcomed our guest, Nikki Chapple (@ChappleNikki), dual Microsoft MVP and Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay in the UK, to discuss “More Storage? Or Just Smarter Use?” and the persistent challenges organizations face in managing data storage effectively within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. While storage costs have decreased over the years, the rapid growth in data volume has kept the issue relevant, making it essential for businesses to implement strategic lifecycle management and governance practices. Many organizations encounter data sprawl, where countless files and sites accumulate, often without clear ownership or structure. This creates inefficiencies, impacts security, and increases costs. With newer tools, we now have opportunities to automate lifecycle tasks—such as archiving or deleting outdated files—to help organizations streamline their data footprint and reduce unnecessary storage costs.
Another key area of focus was the shared responsibility between IT and business units in managing digital assets. Although users benefit from open collaboration options, such as Teams and SharePoint, the ease of content creation can lead to fragmented data and ownership ambiguities. This disorganization complicates storage management and raises potential security risks. The introduction of tools like Microsoft Copilot, along with enhanced governance capabilities, is raising awareness about the importance of data governance. By promoting accountability among data owners and providing structured processes for managing data retention and deletion, organizations can not only lower costs but also create a safer and more efficient environment for collaboration.
If you missed the live stream, you can watch the recording here:
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