Many companies rely on platforms such as Microsoft Teams for their communication needs. This multifaceted tool can store conversation history and other data for later reference, which is vital to businesses of all sizes for eDiscovery purposes. Cloudficient explains how to search Teams for an eDiscovery investigation.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft Teams is a multifaceted communication platform that stores conversation history and other data that can be searched using Microsoft’s eDiscovery tools.
There are limitations to Microsoft Teams and eDiscovery, and specific strategies are required for searching private channels, SharePoint sites, guest chats, and cards.
Teams is a multi-functional communications platform and part of the Microsoft 365 suite. Around 270 million people are active users of this powerful platform. Using this software, large and small groups can:
Whether users are across the hall or the country, Teams is reliable and available for Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. Many Microsoft and third-party apps can integrate with Teams. Compatible apps are available for:
You can also develop apps to use with Teams.
All Teams content isn’t available through eDiscovery. Using Microsoft’s tools, you can search for things such as:
Teams stores data and distributes it differently according to the type of channel used.
Teams users can be members of standard, private, and shared channels. Every channel has an individual SharePoint site.
Standard channel data goes to the mailbox of the team. OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online facilitate eDiscovery for standard channels. Users who record Teams meetings can access the data in their OneDrive for Business accounts.
Each member of a private channel receives compliance copies of data. eDiscovery, therefore, requires searching multiple user mailboxes for message contents.
The parent team’s mailbox receives the compliance copies for shared channels. Microsoft Teams doesn’t support single-system mailbox eDiscovery searches, so you must access the parent team mailbox.
eDiscovery is the process of locating and extracting electronically stored information for legal purposes. Lawsuits or internal investigations often require documents such as:
Because many aspects of business transpire on Microsoft Teams, investigators must access the platform to find relevant data. The original metadata is vital because it isn’t easily altered and can prove that associated data is authentic.
Metadata for calls and meetings includes:
Corporate managers and legal advisors set communications compliance guidelines for their organizations. All licenses for Microsoft 365 include Compliance Center / Microsoft Purview, although some licenses provide more robust eDiscovery features than others.
Microsoft Purview offers eDiscovery tools, but it has limitations.
When eDiscovery is necessary, you must search for all relevant data. The type of user, channel, and data determine where you need to look.
For private channels, you must first identify the parent team, the private channel owner, and the members. Use the current Teams PowerShell module version to locate this information. Use the resulting list of mailboxes with your eDiscovery tools to locate data.
Shared and private channels store files using specific SharePoint sites. You’ll need to find the appropriate URL to access this data using SharePoint Online Management Shell. With the proper commands, you can locate site URLs for shared and private channels.
Guests can chat with members of your organization or solely with other guests. Microsoft Teams stores guest chat data that is accessible with eDiscovery tools. Use Azure AD PowerShell and Security & Compliance PowerShell to identify user principal names and search for all content related to that guest’s name.
Cards are user interface containers that apps or users within Teams can generate. Cards hold small amounts of content and may include multiple attachments and properties. Teams stores cards in spaces correlating to where they originated, in group or individual mailboxes. Teams provides tools to search for cards.
Individual meeting constraints, in some instances, govern who can use eDiscovery to search for content:
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Whether you’re looking for assistance with cloud migration to support eDiscovery with Microsoft Teams, compliance migration, data expiration, or restructuring, mergers, and acquisitions, Cloudficient can help. Use live chat, email us, or submit our contact form to learn more.
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