Set up a connector to archive Skype for Business data

Use a Veritas connector to import and archive data from the Skype for Business platform to user mailboxes in your Microsoft 365 organization. Veritas provides a Skype for Business connector that is configured to capture items from the third-party data source (on a regular basis) and import those items to Microsoft 365. The connector converts the content such as messages between users, persistent chats, and conference messages from Skype for Business to an email message format and then imports those items to the user's mailbox in Microsoft 365.

After Skype for Business data is stored in user mailboxes, you can apply Microsoft Purview features such as Litigation Hold, eDiscovery, retention policies and retention labels. Using a Skype for Business 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 Skype for Business data

The following overview explains the process of using a connector to archive the Skype for Business data in Microsoft 365.

1. Your organization works with Skype for Business to set up and configure a Skype for Business site.

2. Once every 24 hours, Skype for Business items are copied to the Veritas Merge1 site. The connector also converts Skype for Business items to an email message format.

3. The Skype for Business connector that you create in the Microsoft Purview portal or the Microsoft Purview compliance portal connects to the Veritas Merge1 site every day, and transfers the Skype for Business content to a secure Azure Storage location in the Microsoft cloud.

4. The connector imports the converted 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 Skype for Business is created in the user mailboxes, and items are imported to that folder. The connector does this by using the value of the Email property. Every Skype for Business item contains this property, which is populated with the email address of every participant of the item.

Before you set up a connector

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

• The user who creates the Skype for Business 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 Microsoft Purview portal or 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:

  • Permissions in the Microsoft Purview portal
  • Permissions in the compliance portal
  • Roles and role groups in Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Microsoft Purview compliance

• 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 Skype for Business connector

The first step is to create a connector for Skype for Business data in the Microsoft Purview portal or the compliance portal.

Select the appropriate tab for the portal you're using. To learn more about the Microsoft Purview portal, see Microsoft Purview portal. To learn more about the Compliance portal, see Microsoft Purview compliance portal.

Microsoft Purview portal

1. Sign into the Microsoft Purview portal.
2. Select Settings > Data connectors.
3. Select My connectors, then select Add connector.
4. From the list, choose Skype for Business.
5. On the Terms of service page, select Accept.
6. Enter a unique name that identifies the connector, and then select Next.
7. Sign in to your Merge1 account to configure the connector.

Compliance portal

1. Go to https://compliance.microsoft.com and select Data connectors > Skype for Business.
2. On the Skype for Business product description page, select Add 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 Skype for Business on the Veritas Merge1 site

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

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

Step 3: Map users and complete the connector setup

To map users and complete the connector setup in the Microsoft Purview portal or the compliance portal, follow these steps:

1. On the Map Skype for Business users to Microsoft 365 users page, enable automatic user mapping. The Skype for Business 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 then go to the Data connectors page to see the progress of the import process for the new connector.

Step 4: Monitor the Skype for Business connector

After you create the Skype for Business connector, you can view the connector status in the Microsoft Purview portal or the compliance portal.

Select the appropriate tab for the portal you're using. To learn more about the Microsoft Purview portal, see Microsoft Purview portal. To learn more about the Compliance portal, see Microsoft Purview compliance portal.

Microsoft Purview portal

1. Sign into the Microsoft Purview portal.
2. Select Settings > Data connectors.
3. Select My connectors, then select the Skype for Business connector that you created to display the flyout page, which contains the properties and information about the connector.
4. 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.

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 Skype for Business 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.