Microsoft Purview: everything you need to know

It may be a hot topic right now, but if you’re not as immersed in all things IT as we are, you might well be wondering what this “Microsoft Purview” is that everyone’s talking about. Well, the short answer is that it’s Microsoft’s unified data governance, compliance and risk management platform. That might sound a little dull, but at a time when businesses are generating and storing more information than ever, the visibility and control it offers are important. Here’s how Purview helps you understand, protect and manage your data.

What exactly is Microsoft Purview?

Microsoft Purview is an all-in-one platform that gives businesses an easy way to discover and classify their data. Here’s the official Microsoft run-down of what it can help you do:

Gain visibility into data across your organisation
Safeguard and manage sensitive data across its lifecycle, wherever it lives
Govern data seamlessly in new, comprehensive ways
Manage critical data risks and regulatory requirements
Protect against accidental oversharing and sensitive data leakage in generative AI

It does all this by scanning Microsoft 365, Azure, on-premises databases and even some non-Microsoft sources, and using what it finds to create a clear map of where sensitive information sits. That might be personal data, financial records, intellectual property or other business-critical content.

Once it’s found this data, Purview applies policies to protect it. This can include data loss prevention (DLP), insider risk management, information protection labels and retention policies. It also provides tools for eDiscovery and audit, which helps your business respond to legal requests or investigations more efficiently.

Who needs Microsoft Purview?

If your business operates in an industry that involves handling large volumes of sensitive data – such as finance, healthcare, education and professional services – you stand to benefit most from Microsoft Purview. But it’s also a good move for any organisation with compliance obligations or hybrid IT environments. It supports multiple areas of your business, including:

IT – it gives your IT team and/or managed IT provider visibility over your data, and can help enforce consistent governance policies.
Security – it helps you to detect risky behaviour, prevent data leakage and investigate incidents more quickly.
Compliance and legal – it helps you manage regulatory requirements, retention schedules and data requests with greater confidence.
Management – it ensures better data management without slowing down productivity.

Purview improves your operational efficiency thanks to its centralised view over your data and its automated streamlining of processes, which frees up staff to spend their time on more profitable activities. It’s also invaluable from a risk point of view. Poor data governance creates financial and reputational risks, with the effects of data breaches, regulatory fines and legal disputes all potentially extremely costly. Purview gives you peace of mind by ensuring that your business is properly identifying and protecting sensitive information, reducing these risks.

Why Purview gives you a strategic advantage

Times have changed, and data is the name of the game. With more and more businesses now adopting AI and advanced analytics, alongside increased data volumes, privacy regulations and hybrid working, the situation is more complex than it’s ever been. With its integrated, scalable approach to data governance, Purview provides the confidence you need in your data quality and compliance – and all in one convenient platform.

Need some help taking advantage of Microsoft Purview? To find out more about working with us, get in touch on 0800 033 4800, email hello@managed.co.uk or find out more about our IT support services today.