Modern organizations need robust Microsoft Purview data governance to manage their expanding digital assets. In today’s world, businesses face increasing challenges in protecting and organizing their information effectively. This comprehensive guide will help you implement and optimize your data governance strategy.
Microsoft Purview data governance functions as a unified service for modern enterprises. Furthermore, it helps organizations manage and govern their data across multiple environments. Specifically, it handles data across on-premises, multi-cloud, and SaaS platforms.
This comprehensive platform emerged from combining two powerful solutions. First, it incorporated all capabilities from the former Azure Purview. Then, it integrated Microsoft 365 compliance features into a single unified platform.
Organizations have gained several core capabilities through implementing Microsoft Purview data governance:
- Complete data security across all environments
- Comprehensive governance frameworks and tools
- Streamlined compliance management processes
Understanding Microsoft Purview
Microsoft Purview offers a powerful suite of governance tools. These tools provide visibility across various platforms. Additionally, they protect sensitive data throughout its entire lifecycle.
The platform includes several powerful features. Notably, the Microsoft Purview Data Map creates a comprehensive view of your data estate. Second, the Data Catalog helps organize and classify all information assets. Combined, these tools enable secure data access management across your organization.
Key Components
Microsoft Purview offers a powerful suite of governance tools. These tools provide visibility across various platforms. Additionally, they protect sensitive data throughout its entire lifecycle.
The platform includes several powerful features. Notably, the Microsoft Purview Data Map creates a comprehensive view of your data estate. Second, the Data Catalog helps organize and classify all information assets. Combined, these tools enable secure data access management across your organization.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention protects sensitive information from inappropriate sharing. It uses sophisticated policies to identify and monitor sensitive data. As a result, it can automatically protect data across various platforms like Microsoft 365 services and endpoints.
For example, DLP policies can prevent employees from sharing credit card numbers through email. If an employee attempts to send an email containing a credit card number, the system will block the exchange and notify the employee regarding the policy violation. Additionally, these policies work across Teams, Exchange, SharePoint, and OneDrive[1].
Information Barriers
Information Barriers in Microsoft Purview create essential boundaries between specific groups or users. Subsequently, these barriers prevent unauthorized communication and collaboration. Therefore, organizations can avoid potential conflicts of interest effectively.
Financial institutions often implement these barriers between departments. For instance, they might separate trading teams from marketing teams. Consequently, this separation helps maintain regulatory compliance[2].
Information Protection
Microsoft Purview Information Protection helps discover, classify, protect, and govern sensitive information wherever it resides or travels. It applies appropriate protection measures based on sensitivity labels.
Organizations can automatically encrypt confidential documents with this system. They can restrict access to authorized personnel only. Additionally, the system applies visual markings to indicate document sensitivity[3].
Insider Risk Management
Insider Risk Management within Microsoft Purview helps companies detect potential internal security threats. Specifically, data theft, data leakage, and security violations. It provides tools for investigating suspicious activities. As a result, security teams can address both malicious and inadvertent risks promptly.
The system monitors various risk indicators across the organization. For example, it tracks unusual file download patters. Additionally, it alerts security teams when employees exhibit concerning behaviors[4].
Privileged Access Management
Privileged Access Management provides granular control over administrative access in Office 365. It implements just-in-time access protocols to perform elevated tasks. Thus, reducing the risk of exposure of sensitive data or critical configuration settings.
For example, an IT administrator needs to perform a critical configuration change in Office 365. They request access through Privileged Access Management, which is then approved by a designated authority. The access is granted for a limited time, ensuring the task is completed without leaving standing privileges[5].
Data Governance Tools
Microsoft Purview includes specialized tools for comprehensive data governance. The Data Catalog and Data Estate Insights provide complete visibility into your data. Futhermore, the Data Map creates visual representations of your data landscape.
In addition, Data Policy and Data Sharing tools enable controlled information exchange. As a result, organizations can maintain security while facilitating collaboration.
Risk and Compliance Solutions
The platform offers integrated risk and compliance features. Specifically, these include Audit, Communication Compliance, and Compliance Manager tools. Moreover, Data Lifecycle Management and eDiscovery capabilities ensure complete data oversight.
These components create a unified compliance framework. Thus, helping to identify and protect sensitive data effectively. Organizations can maintain strong compliance postures more efficiently.
Benefits of Microsoft Purview
Implementing Microsoft Purview data governance provides numerous advantages for organizations. Let’s explore these benefits in detail.
Improved Data Management
- Organizations gain complete visibility across their data landscape
- Teams can discover and classify data more efficiently
- Automated tools streamline governance processes
- Real-time monitoring ensures data quality
Seamless Collaboration
- Secure data sharing capabilities enable cross-team collaboration
- In-place data sharing eliminates the need for duplicative copies
- Teams can access shared data in near real-time
- Controlled access ensures collaboration remains secure
- Clear data classification helps teams understand usage permissions
- Integration with Microsoft 365 improves collaborative workflows
Enhanced Data Privacy and Security
- Robust protection mechanisms safeguard sensitive information
- Advanced encryption ensures data privacy
- Comprehensive access controls prevent unauthorized use
- Continuous monitoring detects potential threats
Streamlined Compliance
- Built-in compliance tools simplify regulatory adherence
- Automated reporting reduces administrative burden
- Regular updates ensure ongoing compliance
- Customizable policies support various regulations
How Collective Intelligence Can Help Organizations Adopt Microsoft Purview
Phase 1: Planning and Assessment
Collective Intelligence begins by thoroughly evaluating your current environment. Our experts then identify your specific governance needs. Subsequently, we develop a customized implementation strategy for your organization.
Phase 2: Technical Configuration
Our certified professionals handle the complete Microsoft Purview setup. Moreover, we carefully configure your environment to match business requirements. Next, we establish secure connections to all your data sources.
Phase 3: Data Source Integration
Collective Intelligence systematically connects your on-premises, multi-cloud, and SaaS data sources. From here, we implement automated scanning and classification protocols. As a result, your data becomes properly cataloged and accessible.
Phase 4: Policy Implementations
Our team works with your stakeholders to define appropriate governance policies. We then implement these policies using Microsoft Purview’s tools. Additionally, we ensure proper data access and sharing controls.
Phase 5: Deployment and Training
Collective Intelligence manages the rollout across your organization. Through this process, we provide comprehensive training for your teams. Lastly, we offer ongoing support to ensure successful adoption.
Use Cases
Healthcare
Challenge: Healthcare providers struggle to protect patient information across multiple systems. Furthermore, they need to ensure HIPAA compliance while enabling necessary data access.
Solution: The healthcare provider deployed Microsoft Purview to discover and classify patient data. Moreover, they implemented robust data protection policies, while monitoring data access. Subsequently, they also leveraged Purview’s integration with Microsoft 365 for enhanced security.
Outcome: The provider achieved enhanced protection of patient data and improved HIPAA compliance. Additionally, they streamlined data governance across all systems.
Financial Services
Challenge: Financial institutions must protect sensitive data while meeting complex regulatory requirements. Moreover, they need to manage vast amounts of confidential customer information.
Solution: The bank implemented Microsoft Purview data governance to create a comprehensive data map. With this, they were able to classify sensitive data and enforce strict governance policies. They also maintained compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
Outcome: Banks achieved stronger data security and streamlined compliance reporting. Additionally, they achieved better data visibility and reduced risk of data breaches significantly. Consequently, they maintained customer trust while meeting all regulatory requirements.
Manufacturing
Challenge: Manufacturing firms struggle with data governance across complex supply chains. They need to maintain quality standards while sharing data with partners.
Solution: The manufacturing firm implemented Microsoft Purview to map their global data estate. Moreover, they classified sensitive supply chain data and enforced data governance policies. By monitoring data usage and access controls, they in turn established secure data sharing protocols with partners.
Outcome: The manufacturer achieved better supply chain visibility and improved compliance with industry standards. Additionally, they enhanced collaboration with partners through secure data sharing. As a result, they optimized operations while protecting intellectual property.
Retail
Challenge: Retailers face difficulties managing vast amounts of customer data. This is evident in their need to improve data-driven decision-making while protecting consumer privacy.
Solution: The retail chain adopted Microsoft Purview to create a unified data governance framework. Furthermore, they implemented customer data classification and access policies. Subsequently, they utilized Purview’s data insights to drive strategic planning within the marketing and sales departments.
Outcome: The retailer improved customer data management and enhanced data-driven decision-making. Additionally, they increased customer trust through better privacy practices. Ultimately, they achieved more effective targeted marketing while maintaining compliance.
Future Deployments
Microsoft Fabric Integration
Enhanced integration with Microsoft Fabric is coming soon. Moreover, this will enable custom reporting capabilities. The data quality feature will support any Microsoft Fabric source, whether it is mirrored or a shortcut. Additionally, if a source is supported by Fabric, Microsoft Purview will be able to scan it and use it as part of its data quality rules. As a result, organizations can better analyze their data governance efforts.
Copilot Integration
Microsoft plans to embed Copilot capabilities within Purview. This will provide AI-driven guidance for users. Specifically, best practices to create an enterprise catalog, helping data professionals quickly discover, curate, and manage their data.
Conclusion
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, data governance has become more critical than ever. Microsoft Purview offers a comprehensive solution that addresses the complex challenges organizations face in managing, securing, and protecting their data assets. Throughout this guide, we explored the platform’s powerful features, including Data Loss Prevention, Information Barriers, Information Protection, Insider Risk Management, and advanced data governance tools.
Key benefits of Microsoft Purview include improved data management, seamless collaboration, enhanced data privacy and security, and streamlined compliance. From financial services to healthcare, retail to manufacturing, organizations across industries can leverage this impressive platform to transform their data governance strategies.
Do not let data complexity hold your organization back. Take the first step towards a more secure, efficient, and compliant data ecosystem. Explore Microsoft Purview today and unlock the full potential of your organization’s most valuable asset – its data. Contact a certified implementation partner like Collective Intelligence to begin your data governance transformation journey.
The time to act is now. Empower your organization with Microsoft Purview and turn data governance from a challenge into a strategic advantage.
References
[1] Learn about data loss prevention | Microsoft Learn
[2] Learn about information barriers | Microsoft Learn
[3] Deploy an information protection solution with Microsoft Purview
[4] Learn about insider risk management | Microsoft Learn
[5] Learn about privileged access management | Microsoft Learn
