Set up a connector to archive XIP source data

Use a Veritas connector in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal to import and archive data from the XIP source platform to user mailboxes in your Microsoft 365 organization. Veritas provides a XIP connector that allows using an XIP file to import items to Microsoft 365. An XIP file is similar to a ZIP file, but allows for a digital signature to be used. The digital signature is verified by Veritas Merge 1 before the XIP source file is extracted. The connector converts the content from the XIP source file to an email message format and then imports those items to the user mailboxes in Microsoft 365.

After XIP source data is stored in user mailboxes, you can apply Microsoft Purview features such as Litigation Hold, eDiscovery, retention policies and retention labels, and communication compliance. Using an XIP connector to import and archive data in Microsoft 365 can help your organization stay compliant with government and regulatory policies.

Tip

If you're not an E5 customer, use the 90-day Microsoft Purview solutions trial to explore how additional Purview capabilities can help your organization manage data security and compliance needs. Start now at the Microsoft Purview compliance portal trials hub. Learn details about signing up and trial terms.

Overview of archiving the XIP source data

The following overview explains the process of using a connector to archive the XIP source data in Microsoft 365.

1. Your organization works with the XIP source to set up and configure an XIP site.

2. Once every 24 hours, XIP source items are copied to the Veritas Merge1 site. The connector also converts the content to an email message format.

3. The XIP connector that you create in the compliance portal, connects to the Veritas Merge1 site every day and transfers the messages to a secure Azure Storage location in the Microsoft cloud.

4. The connector imports the converted message items to the mailboxes of specific users using the value of the Email property of the automatic user mapping as described in Step 3. A subfolder in the Inbox folder named XIP is created in the user mailboxes, and the items are imported to that folder. The connector determines which mailbox to import items to by using the value of the Email property. Every source item contains this property, which is populated with the email address of every participant.

Before you begin

• Create a Veritas Merge1 account for Microsoft connectors. To create an account, contact Veritas Customer Support. You need to sign into this account when you create the connector in Step 1.

• The user who creates the XIP connector in Step 1 (and completes it in Step 3) must be assigned the Data Connector Admin role. This role is required to add connectors on the Data connectors page in the compliance portal. This role is added by default to multiple role groups. For a list of these role groups, see Roles in Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Microsoft Purview compliance. Alternatively, an admin in your organization can create a custom role group, assign the Data Connector Admin role, and then add the appropriate users as members. For instructions, see the "Create a custom Microsoft Purview role group" section in Permissions in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal.

• This Veritas data connector is in public preview in GCC environments in the Microsoft 365 US Government cloud. Third-party applications and services might involve storing, transmitting, and processing your organization's customer data on third-party systems that are outside of the Microsoft 365 infrastructure and therefore aren't covered by the Microsoft Purview and data protection commitments. Microsoft makes no representation that use of this product to connect to third-party applications implies that those third-party applications are FEDRAMP compliant.

Step 1: Set up the XIP connector

The first step is to access to the Data Connectors page in the compliance portal and create a connector for the XIP source data.

1. Go to https://compliance.microsoft.com and then select Data connectors > XIP.

2. On the XIP product description page, select Add new connector.

3. On the Terms of service page, select Accept.

4. Enter a unique name that identifies the connector, and then select Next.

5. Sign in to your Merge1 account to configure the connector.

Step 2: Configure the XIP connector on the Veritas Merge1 site

The second step is to configure the XIP connector on the Merge1 site. For information about how to configure the XIP connector, see Merge1 Third-Party Connectors User Guide.

After you select Save & Finish, the User mapping page in the connector wizard in the compliance portal is displayed.

Step 3: Map users and complete the connector setup

To map users and complete the connector setup, follow these steps:

1. On the Map XIP users to Microsoft 365 users page, enable automatic user mapping. The XIP source items include a property called Email, which contains email addresses for users in your organization. If the connector can associate this address with a Microsoft 365 user, the items are imported to that user’s mailbox.

2. Select Next, review your settings, and go to the Data connectors page to see the progress of the import process for the new connector.

Step 4: Monitor the XIP connector

After you create the XIP connector, you can view the connector status in the compliance portal.

1. Go to https://compliance.microsoft.com and select Data connectors in the left nav.

2. Select the Connectors tab and then select the XIP connector to display the flyout page, which contains the properties and information about the connector.

3. Under Connector status with source, select the Download log link to open (or save) the status log for the connector. This log contains information about the data that's been imported to the Microsoft cloud. For more information, see View admin logs for data connectors.

Known issues

At this time, we don't support importing attachments or items that are larger than 10 MB. Support for larger items will be available at a later date.