Summary: This guide explains what happens behind the scenes when content is permanently deleted from Speakap, why deleted items cannot be recovered, and what metadata is kept in the audit log for compliance. Written for network administrators, compliance and data protection officers, and curious users.
The hard deletion process
When an author or administrator deletes content on Speakap, including Feed updates, news items, individual comments, Knowledge Base articles, or uploaded files, the platform performs an immediate "hard deletion".
Two strict rules apply:
- Completely irreversible: Hard deletion permanently removes the content from the live Speakap database.
- Zero recovery: Once deleted, the content is wiped from our servers. It cannot be restored, undone, or recovered by network administrators, and it cannot be retrieved by Speakap Support.
For the short version of this answer, see Can a deleted news item, update, or comment be recovered.
What the audit log keeps
The content itself (text, images, and attachments) is destroyed during a hard deletion. However, Speakap keeps a secure, unalterable audit log that records the deletion event, so organizations can maintain compliance tracking and oversight.
The audit log stores metadata only. It captures these four data points:
- Type of content: The category of the deleted item: a Feed update, a news item, a file, or a comment.
- Author of the content: The original creator of the post, identified by their XID (Speakap's unique user identifier; see Understanding and Managing XIDs).
- Deletion initiator: Who actually performed the deletion. The log records their XID and, if available, their primary email address. This lets compliance officers see whether an author deleted their own post or a network administrator removed it.
- Deletion date: The exact date and time the deletion was processed. To keep this consistent across global networks, the timestamp is recorded in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Frequently asked questions
Can a network administrator or Speakap Support recover a deleted update or comment?
No. Deleted content is immediately and permanently removed from the database. No one can recover or restore it, including our support team.
How can I track who deleted a specific news item or file?
Network administrators can review the audit log. It records the deletion initiator's XID and primary email address, so you can verify whether the original author or a network administrator removed the post.
Are text copies or uploaded attachments archived anywhere after a deletion?
No. Once a hard deletion runs, all associated text, images, and attached files are destroyed. Only the metadata describing the event is kept in the audit log.
What time standard does the audit log use for deletion dates?
Every deletion date and time in the audit log is recorded in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Still stuck?
Email us at support@speakap.com with your network name and your question about deleted content or the audit log, and we'll help you out.