Key points

• Microsoft Purview offers integrated data governance and security features, providing organisations with effective data management tools.
• It helps organisations discover, classify, and protect sensitive data, enabling teams to identify and categorise critical information for better protection.
• Purview helps mitigate risks to data management, addressing challenges related to breaches and regulatory compliance.
• Metomic enhances Purview's capabilities for stronger data protection by offering real-time monitoring and automated alerts, creating a more secure data environment.

With increasing data breaches and compliance issues, organisations are increasingly turning to tools like Microsoft Purview to effectively govern, classify, and protect sensitive information.

Data governance and security are crucial for businesses today. With so much sensitive information being created and stored, it’s essential for organisations to have solid strategies in place to protect their data from breaches and compliance challenges.

That’s where Microsoft Purview comes in. This powerful tool is designed to help organisations manage their data effectively and navigate the complexities of a modern digital ecosystem.

As businesses face new challenges in protecting their information, Purview offers integrated governance and security features that are essential for any modern operation.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Purview’s key features and how you can use them to prevent data loss and maintain compliance.

What is Microsoft Purview?

Microsoft Purview plays a vital role in data governance by offering a range of tools designed to help organisations discover, classify, and protect sensitive data across various platforms.

It combines Azure Purview with Microsoft 365 compliance solutions to create a unified approach to managing data. This means businesses can easily keep track of their data and ensure they meet regulatory standards, all while reducing the risk of data loss.

One of Purview’s greatest strengths is how easily it integrates with the broader Microsoft ecosystem. It works seamlessly with services like Azure, Microsoft 365, and Power BI, creating a comprehensive solution for data governance.

This connectivity simplifies the data lifecycle, from initial discovery to secure storage and compliance monitoring.

Given that 80% of organisations trying to scale digital businesses may fail without modern data governance strategies, tools like Microsoft Purview are essential.

What are its key features?

Microsoft Purview comes packed with features designed to enhance your organisation's data governance and security.

1. Automated data discovery and classification

One standout capability is automated data discovery and classification. This feature allows organisations to identify and categorise sensitive data across various platforms effortlessly, streamlining the often cumbersome process of data management.

It’s worth noting that organisations that extensively use AI and automation save an average of $1.88 million in data breach costs compared to those that don’t embrace these technologies.

2. Data mapping and lineage tracking

Another essential feature is data mapping and lineage tracking — this provides a clear view of data flow and transformation throughout its lifecycle. This visibility is crucial for understanding data dependencies and ensuring compliance with regulations.

3. Centralised compliance management

Purview also offers centralised compliance management. This capability helps organisations maintain compliance with various regulatory requirements by providing a unified platform to manage policies, risk assessments, and audit trails.

4. Security controls for data access and usage

Lastly, Purview features powerful security controls for data access and usage. These controls are vital for protecting sensitive information and ensuring that only authorised personnel have access to specific data sets.

What can it do?

Microsoft Purview offers several essential capabilities that streamline data compliance and security:

• Compliance management: Purview supports organisations in effectively managing their compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA.
• Data discovery and traceability: It enables users to easily discover, track, and manage their data, enhancing accessibility and oversight.
• Compliance scoring: Purview provides a scoring system that helps businesses assess their security posture and identify areas needing improvement.
• Proactive protection: Purview gives organisations a level of financial and reputational protection by helping to mitigate the risks associated with non-compliance. With the average cost of non-compliance issues averaging almost $15 million, proactive measures can safeguard against hefty fines.

With Microsoft Purview, businesses can stay compliant and secure, reducing the risk of costly fines and operational disruptions.

What are the benefits of Microsoft Purview, and how does it compare to previous tools?

Microsoft Purview represents a significant advancement in data governance and compliance, particularly when compared to older tools such as Azure Purview.

Here are the key advantages of adopting Purview:

• Unified platform: One of the standout features of Microsoft Purview is its ability to integrate various compliance and governance tools into a single, cohesive platform. This integration eliminates the need for managing multiple systems, reducing complexity and streamlining operations.
• Operational efficiency: By automating data discovery and compliance processes, Purview enhances operational efficiency. This automation allows teams to allocate their time to more strategic initiatives, ultimately driving business growth and innovation.
• Cost savings: The financial implications of inadequate data management are substantial. In the United States, the potential cost of bad data caused by human error is estimated to be approximately $3.1 trillion per year. Implementing Purview can significantly mitigate these costs, helping organisations avoid the financial burdens associated with data inaccuracies.

What are the security risks of Microsoft Purview?

When considering Microsoft Purview, it’s important to be aware of some potential risks that may impact its effectiveness in your organisation.

Here are some specific risks to keep in mind:

• Security misconfigurations: Research has shown that an eye-watering 35% of all cyber incidents stem from security misconfigurations—showing just how crucial it is to set up and manage Microsoft Purview properly to avoid any vulnerabilities.
• Limited non-Microsoft system support: Microsoft Purview has limited native support for non-Microsoft platforms. Businesses using systems like SAP or Oracle often require third-party integrations or custom connectors to achieve the same level of data protection, which can reduce flexibility for organisations with mixed technology stacks.
• Complexity and fragmentation: Implementing Purview can be complex due to the need for multiple tools and dashboards for various security tasks (e.g., DLP, insider risk, compliance management). This complexity often requires increased training requirements and operational overhead, making it harder to manage compared to other solutions with unified interfaces.
• Heavy dependence on Microsoft for data classification: Purview relies on Azure Information Protection for data classification, which can create challenges. Companies often find the classification process slow and inconsistent, especially with non-Microsoft file formats. Policy misconfigurations can further reduce effectiveness, leading to user frustration.

Overall, while Microsoft Purview is a strong tool for organizations within the Microsoft ecosystem, businesses with diverse environments or advanced data protection needs may need to supplement it with additional tools.

How can Metomic enhance the use of Purview?

Metomic is a fantastic addition to Microsoft Purview’s capabilities, helping to enhance data security and compliance across all your SaaS applications.

Here’s how it works:

• Multi-SaaS visibility: Metomic provides a unified dashboard that gives you a clear view of where sensitive data is stored across all your SaaS tools, like Slack and Google Drive. This makes it easier to classify and manage your data, working seamlessly alongside Purview’s existing features.
• Optimised compliance management: By automating access controls based on data classification, Metomic simplifies how you meet regulatory requirements. This extra layer of security complements Purview’s compliance features, giving your overall security posture a nice boost.
• Human-centric approach: Metomic takes a human firewall strategy to heart, focusing on engaging with employees. While Purview lets you reach out to employees involved in potential breaches, Metomic goes a step further by promoting a culture of awareness and accountability among your team.
• Proactive alerts and automation: With Metomic, you’ll get real-time alerts for any potential data breaches or compliance issues, allowing your team to act quickly. This approach builds on what Purview offers, meaning that your data protection measures are not just good, but really effective.

While both Metomic and Purview have a lot of overlap—like workflow creation, alerts, and compliance management—Metomic really shines with its focus on multi-SaaS visibility and a human-centric approach.

Getting started with Metomic

Getting started with Metomic is simple and can really boost your data classification and compliance efforts.

Here’s how you can begin:

• Free risk assessment: Start with a complimentary risk assessment to spot any potential vulnerabilities in your data security. Metomic can help you identify risks in platforms like Google Drive, Slack and Microsoft Teams.
• Schedule a personalised demo: If you want to see how our solutions can work alongside Microsoft Purview, why not book a personalised demo? Our security experts will guide you through how Metomic can fit your specific needs.
• Reach out to us: If you have any questions or need more info, feel free to get in touch with our team. We’re here to help you develop a strong data classification strategy that complements Microsoft Purview and addresses your concerns.