💡 Our Technical Review in summary
Summary
- Microsoft is retiring the “Include attachments” and “Include external networks” options from the Viva Engage admin center data export interface, effective March 13, 2026.
- This update aims to simplify the administrator experience and align data export functionality with Viva Engage “Native Mode” and modern SharePoint storage standards.
- These legacy options, originally designed for older Yammer configurations, are being phased out to reflect how data is currently stored and accessed within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Impact
- File Attachments: Exported data will no longer include the physical file attachments. Instead, the export will provide SharePoint links. Administrators must use these links to manually or programmatically download the actual files from their respective SharePoint locations.
- External Networks: The ability to export data from all external networks from a single “home” network admin panel is being removed. Administrators must now sign in to each modern external network individually to trigger a specific export for that network.
- Administrative Workflow: IT Admins and Compliance officers who handle eDiscovery or data retention will need to adjust their data collection workflows to account for the decentralized export of external networks and the link-based retrieval of attachments.
Action Required
- Update Export Procedures: Review and update internal documentation, runbooks, or automated scripts that reference the “Include attachments” or “Include external networks” checkboxes in the Viva Engage admin center.
- Notify Compliance/Legal Teams: Inform teams responsible for eDiscovery and data discovery that file content must now be retrieved via SharePoint links provided in the export files rather than as a direct part of the export package.
- Audit External Network Access: Ensure that global or verified admins have a list of all modern external networks and the necessary permissions to log in to them individually for future data exports.
- Review Technical Documentation: Familiarize the IT team with the Network Data Export API and modern external network setup to ensure seamless data management post-retirement.
Microsoft Official Update
Service: N/A
Category: planForChange
Severity: normal
[Introduction]
To reduce confusion and align the data export experience with Viva Engage networks operating in native mode, we’re retiring two legacy options from the data export experience in the Viva Engage admin center. These options only applied to legacy Yammer networks and are not applicable to Viva Engage networks in native mode. Removing them simplifies the admin experience and aligns exports with how data is stored and accessed today.
[When this will happen:]
- March 13, 2026: The “Include attachments” and “Include external networks” options will be retired (removed) from the Viva Engage admin center data export UI.
[How this affects your organization:]
Who is affected:
- Admins who manage data exports in the Viva Engage admin center
- Organizations with legacy Yammer networks or modern external Viva Engage networks
What will happen:
- File attachments
- Data exports will continue to include SharePoint file links for attached files.
- Admins who need the actual files must download them directly from the SharePoint location referenced by the link in the export.
- External networks
- Admins must sign in to each modern external network and initiate the export from within that network.
- You can’t export data from a modern external network while signed into a different or home network.
[What you can do to prepare:]
- Review any scheduled or documented export procedures that reference:
- “Include attachments”
- “Include external networks”
- For attachments, ensure that teams responsible for eDiscovery, compliance, or export workflows understand that:
- Exports contain SharePoint links for files.
- Files must be retrieved directly from SharePoint using those links.
- For external networks, ensure admins understand they must:
- Sign in to each modern external network individually.
- Trigger exports separately for each network.
Learn more:
- Set up modern external Viva Engage networks | Microsoft Learn
- Network Data Export API | Microsoft Learn
[Compliance considerations:]
No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.
