Microsoft Viva Glint: Retaining first name and last name for deleted users

Originally posted by Microsoft Oct 9, 2025 Uncategorized 0 Comments

Microsoft Viva Glint will introduce a toggle to retain or replace first and last names of deleted users, improving data traceability and compliance. This feature, enabled by default, rolls out mid-October 2025. Administrators should review and configure settings by November 1, 2025. Changes apply only to future deletions.

Introduction

To improve data traceability and support organizational compliance needs, Microsoft Viva Glint is introducing a new configuration option that allows administrators to retain the first name and last name of deleted users. Previously, while survey response data could be retained, identifying information for deleted users was not available. This update aligns with customer feedback requesting more granular control over user data retention.

This message is associated with Message ID MC1113670. 

When this will happen:

• General Availability: Rollout will begin mid-October 2025 and is expected to complete by late-October 2025.
• We’ve completed planned maintenance associated with MC1113670. Starting November 1, 2025, Viva Glint will resume processing Microsoft Entra delete signals. Users identified by these signals will be marked for data deletion in accordance with your organization’s configured User Data controls.

How this affects your organization:

What you can do to prepare:

• Review your organization’s data retention policy and configure the toggle accordingly by November 1, 2025.
• Notify relevant stakeholders or helpdesk staff about this change.
• Update internal documentation if you reference Viva Glint data retention settings.

Learn more: Manage General Settings in Viva Glint

Compliance considerations:

• Who is affected: Viva Glint administrators managing user data retention settings.
• What will happen:
  • A new admin toggle will allow configuration of first name and last name retention for deleted users.
  • When enabled, first and last names of deleted users will be retained.
  • When disabled, first and last names of deleted users will be replaced with “Deleted user”.
  • If raw data export is enabled, deleted user data will be exported in accordance with User Data controls.
  • Changes will only apply to deleted users from the point of feature release and going forward, not retrospectively.
  • This feature will be enabled by default at rollout.

  Screenshot 1: Admin view in Viva Glint showing the new configuration option for retaining first and last names of deleted users.View image in new tab

Question	Explanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?	Customers can now retain first name and last name of deleted users, which changes how deleted user data is stored and accessed.
Does the change modify how users can access, export, delete, or correct their personal data within Microsoft 365 services (GDPR Data Subject Rights)?	The new toggle allows retention of personal identifiers for deleted users, impacting data deletion workflows.

Message ID: MC1168288