Exchange Online & archiving
Mail, archive and compliance collide with SKU boundaries—CHAOS structures the mix.
Problem
Archiving is often bought additively: Exchange Online Archiving, Microsoft 365 Archive, third-party backup. Mailbox size and litigation hold increase cost. Shared mailboxes and room resources quickly distort SKU choice. No single team owns cost, compliance and UX in one table.
Approach with CHAOS
CHAOS maps mailbox types, archive need (where inferable from signals/roles) and existing add-ons. Rules compare compliant paths (bundle vs add-on) and flag duplicate purchases. Evidence packs explain migration or reduction steps to stakeholders.
Outcome from CHAOS
Leaner archive and mailbox SKU mix, fewer duplicate buys, clearer IT/compliance ownership. Savings can be anchored in the annual budget.
Insight
Archiving is a long runner: one-off cleanup without policy updates drifts back within months. Scheduled rule runs pay off.