In my first article for Practical365.com, I’ve tackled on the topic of preserving Exchange related data for departed users. There are two main options: use the Inactive mailboxes functionality or convert the user mailbox to shared one. Both methods have their cons and choosing which is the more appropriate one will depend on a number of factors, the most common of which are listed in the article.
Of course, every organizations has its own policies and processes, so instead of simply offering a solution, I’ve tried to describe all the different factors to consider, as well as few other methods that might fit some corner cases. You can find the full article here: http://practical365.com/exchange-online/shared-mailboxes-vs-inactive-mailboxes-departed-users/
And in case you are not yet familiar with practical365.com, it’s a new site focused on delivering Office 365 news, tips and tricks under the guiding hand of one Paul Cunningham. You can expect the same level of quality you’d find on http://exchangeserverpro.com/ or within the Office 365 for IT Pros book, so make sure to bookmark and follow the site!