hard deletion protection

Hard deletion protection is a Microsoft Entra preview feature that gives administrators a security control they cannot switch off once applied to a protected object. The tagged discussion explains that it blocks permanent deletion for seven days after soft deletion rather than forever, creating a mandatory waiting period between a recoverable deletion and an irreversible one. This window is intended to preserve time to investigate and recover from accidental or malicious deletion of identity objects. The coverage is useful for identity administrators weighing recovery safeguards, and it clarifies that Microsoft is not creating indestructible accounts but adding a deliberate delay before deletion becomes permanent.