updates

Author: mijacobs

articles/lab-services/TOC.yml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   items:
   - name: Azure Lab Services retirement guide
     href: retirement-guide.md
-  - name: VM deletion policy
+  - name: Deletion policy for virtual machines
     href: vm-deletion-policy.md
   - name: Find and delete lab resources
     href: find-delete-lab-resources.md

articles/lab-services/vm-deletion-policy.md

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+title: Deletion policy for virtual machines
+description: The VM deletion policy for Azure Lab Services
+ms.topic: overview
+ms.date: 04/23/2025
+
+# customer intent: As an Azure Lab Services customer, I want to understand the VM deletion policy for Azure Lab Services.
+---
+
+# Virtual machine deletion policy
+
+[!INCLUDE [Retirement guide](./includes/retirement-banner.md)]
+
+On June 9, 2025, Azure Lab Services will delete all virtual machines (VMs) that have been inactive since July 1, 2023. 
+
+A VM is considered inactive if no operations were performed on it. These operations include actions such as starting, stopping, resetting passwords, and reimaging. Any associated labs for these VMs will also be deleted. This policy applies to template VMs and production VMs. 
+
+After the VMs are deleted, we will not be able to recover them or their data. Back up any required data from these inactive VMs, and then delete the VMs if you don't need them. Delete the VMs and the associated labs yourself to avoid incurring any unnecessary charges. Once the VMs are deleted, there is no way to recover the VMs or the data on them.