Legacy SharePoint Features Retiring April 2026
Microsoft is retiring Information Management Policies and In-Place Records Management in SharePoint Online. Organizations need to migrate to the following services:
- Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management
- Purview Records Management
The deadline for this migration is April 2026.
Modern SharePoint Content & Records Management
EPC Group has implemented SharePoint content management and records compliance solutions for over 500 organizations. We manage more than 10 petabytes of enterprise content.
Our specialties include:
- Microsoft Purview migrations
- Content type architectures
- Regulatory compliance (HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP)
Content Management Services
Comprehensive SharePoint content architecture and governance solutions.
Content Types & Metadata
Enterprise content type architecture with custom metadata, site columns, and information management policies.
Document Libraries & Structure
Optimized library structures, views, and organization for efficient content discovery and collaboration.
Workflows & Automation
Power Automate workflows for content approval, routing, and lifecycle management.
Records Management & Compliance
Modern records management with Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management and Purview Records Management.
Microsoft Purview (Modern)
- Retention labels with automated application
- Records declaration and lifecycle management
- Disposition review workflows
- Regulatory compliance templates
- Advanced audit and reporting
- Multi-location policy enforcement
- Adaptive scopes for dynamic groups
- Event-based retention triggers
Legacy (Retiring April 2026)
⚠️ Migration Required- ✕Information Management Policies ❌
- ✕In-Place Records Management ❌
- ✕Document deletion policies ❌
- ✕Site closure policies ❌
Migration Action Plan
- Audit current Information Management Policies
- Map legacy retention to Purview labels
- Test Purview retention in pilot environment
- Train users on modern workflows
- Cutover before April 2026 deadline
Enterprise Content Migration Scenarios
EPC Group has migrated 10+ petabytes of content from legacy systems to SharePoint Online and Microsoft 365.
On-Premise File Shares to SharePoint Online
Migrate millions of files from Windows file servers, NAS, and DFS to SharePoint Online with metadata preservation.
Cloud-to-Cloud Migrations
Seamless migrations from Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, or other cloud platforms to SharePoint Online.
Tenant-to-Tenant SharePoint Migrations
Complete Microsoft 365 tenant migrations including SharePoint sites, OneDrive, Teams, and metadata.
Legacy SharePoint Upgrades
Migrate from SharePoint 2010/2013/2016/2019 on-premise to SharePoint Online with modernization.
Industry-Specific Compliance Solutions
SharePoint content and records management tailored for regulated industries.
Healthcare (HIPAA)
- PHI protection
- Audit trails
- 6-year retention
- E-discovery
Financial (SOC 2)
- Data encryption
- Access controls
- 7-year retention
- Compliance reports
Legal
- Case management
- Matter folders
- Litigation hold
- Privileged content
Government (FedRAMP)
- GCC High support
- NIST 800-53
- FOIA compliance
- Security controls
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SharePoint content management and records management?
Content management focuses on organizing, collaborating, and working with active documents. Records management focuses on compliance, retention, and legal preservation of final, non-editable documents.
Why do I need to migrate to Microsoft Purview by April 2026?
Microsoft is retiring legacy Information Management Policies and In-Place Records Management in SharePoint Online. Organizations must migrate to Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management and Purview Records Management to maintain compliance and retention capabilities.
What are content types in SharePoint?
Content types define metadata, workflows, and document templates for different types of content (e.g., Contracts, Invoices, Reports). They ensure consistent information architecture across your SharePoint environment.
How long does a SharePoint content migration take?
Migration timelines vary based on data volume. Small migrations (1-10TB) take 2-4 weeks. Medium migrations (10-100TB) take 1-3 months. Large migrations (100TB+) take 3-6 months, including planning, pilot, and cutover phases.
Can you migrate permissions from file shares to SharePoint?
Yes. We map Windows file share permissions (NTFS ACLs) to SharePoint permissions groups and site-level security. This includes translating AD groups to Microsoft 365 groups and maintaining appropriate access controls.
What retention schedules are required for our industry?
Retention requirements vary by industry: Healthcare (HIPAA) - 6 years, Financial (SEC) - 7 years, Legal - varies by document type, Government - per records schedule. We design retention policies that meet your specific regulatory requirements.
Ready to Modernize Your SharePoint Environment?
Get a free SharePoint content management assessment. We'll analyze your current environment and provide a detailed migration and compliance roadmap.
SharePoint Content Management & Records Management
EPC Group designs and implements SharePoint content and records management systems for enterprises. Our services include:
- Content type architecture
- Metadata design
- Retention schedules
- Microsoft Purview migration
- HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance configuration
Note that legacy SharePoint In Place Records Management features will retire in April 2026. Organizations must migrate to Microsoft Purview before this deadline.
Key facts
- SharePoint In Place Records Management retires April 2026 — Purview migration required.
- Retention requirements by industry: Healthcare (HIPAA) 6 years, Financial (SEC) 7 years, Government per records schedule.
- Hub-spoke IA: 60% faster content discovery, 40% fewer help desk tickets, 100% label coverage in 90 days.
- Migration tools: Microsoft SPMT (free, in-place), ShareGate (permissions), AvePoint Migrator (enterprise compliance reporting).
- Microsoft consulting since 1997. 6,500+ SharePoint implementations.
Legacy Features Retiring April 2026
Microsoft is retiring several classic SharePoint records management features in April 2026. Organizations that rely on them must act now.
- In Place Records Management (site-collection-level locking).
- Records Center site template.
- Send to Records Center workflow connector.
- Classic site mailboxes.
The replacement is Microsoft Purview — with richer automation, audit defensibility, and cross-M365 coverage. EPC Group runs the migration for you.
Modern SharePoint Content Management
Modern SharePoint content management runs on three pillars: structured metadata, content types, and Microsoft Purview retention labels.
Content Types and Metadata
- Content types classify documents at the library level — invoice, contract, policy, procedure.
- Metadata columns let users find documents without knowing the folder structure.
- Managed metadata term stores provide consistent taxonomy across all site collections.
- EPC Group designs metadata schemas that survive SharePoint Premium (Syntex) auto-classification.
Document Libraries and Structure
- Hub-spoke architecture: 1 root hub per business unit, 5–15 spoke sites per hub.
- Mega-menu navigation tied to Viva Connections for employee-facing content.
- Sensitivity-label-driven sharing controls at the site level.
- Flat-IA legacy farms migrating to this pattern see 60% faster content discovery.
Workflows and Automation
- Power Automate replaces SharePoint 2010 and 2013 workflows (both are retired).
- Approval flows for document sign-off before publishing.
- Auto-routing based on content type and metadata values.
- Escalation flows for documents overdue for review.
Records Management and Compliance
Microsoft Purview is the modern records management layer for SharePoint Online. EPC Group configures it to meet your specific regulatory requirements.
Retention Requirements by Industry
- Healthcare (HIPAA) — retain medical records 6 years from date of creation.
- Financial services (SEC) — retain trading records 7 years.
- Legal — retention varies by document type and jurisdiction.
- Government — per agency records schedule.
Purview Retention Label Configuration
- Auto-apply labels based on content type, keywords, or trainable classifiers.
- Disposition reviews before permanent deletion.
- Regulatory record mode — immutable; cannot be edited or deleted.
- Cross-service coverage: SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, and Teams.
Content Migration Scenarios
We migrate content from any source into a properly structured SharePoint environment.
- On-premises file shares — map NTFS permissions to SharePoint groups; enrich metadata during migration.
- Legacy SharePoint farms — SharePoint 2013/2016/2019 to SharePoint Online with content type preservation.
- Cloud storage — Google Drive, Box, Dropbox to SharePoint with metadata mapping.
- Legacy ECM systems — OpenText, Documentum, Laserfiche to SharePoint Premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between content management and records management in SharePoint?
Content management involves the creation, organization, and retrieval of documents. This includes aspects like metadata, content types, and libraries.
Records management determines how long documents are retained and when they are deleted or locked. This process is managed using Microsoft Purview retention labels.
What replaces SharePoint In Place Records Management after April 2026?
Microsoft Purview retention labels and retention policies replace the retiring In Place Records Management feature. Purview provides richer automation, cross-service coverage, and better audit defensibility for regulated industries.
How long does a records management migration to Purview take?
Scope depends on the number of content types, existing retention policies, and data volume. Most mid-size migrations take 6–12 weeks. This includes:
- 2 weeks for assessment
- 2–4 weeks for Purview configuration
- 2–6 weeks for label rollout and validation
Can SharePoint handle HIPAA records management?
Yes, Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online are HIPAA-eligible under a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). EPC Group helps organizations comply with HIPAA by:
- Configuring sensitivity labels
- Setting up DLP policies
- Implementing Purview retention labels
These measures ensure compliance with HIPAA's 6-year medical records retention requirement.
Start Your Content Management Assessment
Talk to a SharePoint architect about your records management migration or Purview implementation. Call (888) 381-9725 or request a 30-minute discovery call.