Microsoft has deprecated the Microsoft Labs Attachment Management solution in June 2021, leading many Dynamics 365 users to look for alternatives.
What was the Microsoft Labs Attachment Management?
The Attachment Management Microsoft Labs add-on used to be available on AppSource. Admins of Dynamics 365 Online used it to reduce cloud storage costs by moving email attachments to Azure BLOB storage.
On June 30, 2021, Microsoft removed the Attachment Management solution from AppSource. That left many wondering where did the Microsoft Labs Attachment Manager go, as you now get a 404 error if you try its AppSource listing . It is important to realize this means Attachment Management is not available for import since June 2021. Moreover, support for this solution has also halted.
What are the next steps?
Organizations that have deployed this add-on can now do one of two things:
- Move to the Common Data Service (CDS)
Pros and Cons:
CDS is a built-in database service within PowerApps. Unfortunately, CDS has only basic features in terms of file storage. For one thing, there is no way to create folder structures, add file metadata, or search file contents. Equally important, moving to CDS is only an option for Attachment Management versions 1.9.0.07+, and you will need to give consent in the blob storage settings page. Please note that there is no returning once you go down this path. Once consent is given, the Create, Update and Delete operations will be disabled in the Attachment Management. In fact, legacy attachments will need to be moved by the Microsoft migration team, who will, when available, run migration scripts in the back end. - Use CB Dynamics 365 Seamless Attachment Extractor
Pros and Cons:
is a paid third-party app by Connecting Software. You can use it to move files not only to Azure Blob but also to Azure File Storage and Microsoft SharePoint. You can choose if you want to use it on-premises or online, but it is important to note that, in both cases, CB Dynamics 365 Seamless Attachment Extractor reads files directly from Dynamics 365 and moves them to the configured external file storage, without documents ever going through any component or intermediary service. This is important for organizations that handle sensitive data or want to guarantee regulation compliance for GDPR, HIPAA, and others.
Useful Links
What can I do to Reduce my Dynamics 365 Storage Costs?
Dynamics 365: How to Increase Team Collaboration and Keep System’s Health
Software engineer since 1997, she is now a technical advisor for Connecting Software.
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