Microsoft Purview · Information Protection
Information Protection
Full control over all information protection features including DLP, sensitivity labels, and classification.
Scope: Complete information protection administration organization-wide
Permissions
- DLP Policies - All DLP policy creation and management (Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Copilot, Devices)
- Sensitivity Labels - Create and configure sensitivity labels with encryption and marking
- Auto-Labeling - Configure auto-labeling policies with machine learning classifiers
- Trainable Classifiers - Manage trainable classifiers (custom and pre-built)
- Content Explorer - Access Content Explorer (view labeled file content)
- Activity Explorer - Access Activity Explorer (view labeling and DLP events)
- On-Premises Scanner - Configure Microsoft Purview Information Protection scanner for on-premises
- Encryption - Manage encryption and Azure Rights Management templates
- Label Policies - Configure label policy scoped to specific users, groups, or admin units
- EDM Schemas - Create exact data match (EDM) and document fingerprinting schemas
- Reports - Full access to information protection reports and analytics
- Records Integration - Manage records management and retention labels integration
Common use cases
- Chief Information Security Officer with comprehensive oversight responsibility
- Data Protection Officer managing full information protection compliance program
- Information governance lead implementing enterprise-wide protection strategy
- Senior compliance architect designing multi-layered protection framework
- Security operations lead coordinating DLP, encryption, and classification
- Privacy officer managing data protection and GDPR compliance
- Enterprise architect integrating on-premises and cloud protection
- Full-time information protection specialist role in large organizations
Best practices
- Develop comprehensive information protection strategy aligned with business objectives
- Implement sensitivity labels before DLP for better automatic classification
- Use pilot groups and simulation mode for testing before broad deployment
- Coordinate labels, DLP policies, and retention for consistency across tools
- Regular review of protection effectiveness using Activity Explorer metrics
- Document classification schema, label descriptions, and protection rationale
- Deploy Microsoft Purview Information Protection scanner for on-premises discovery
- Configure trainable classifiers with sufficient training documents (300+ per category)
- Use administrative units to scope policies for multinational or large organizations
- Implement label inheritance to ensure consistent classification through workflows
- Monitor Copilot location policies to balance security with AI productivity
- Create label policy with clear visual markings and user guidance tooltips
Security considerations
- Broad access to protection controls - monitor all changes with audit logging
- Can access Content Explorer showing actual content of labeled files organization-wide
- Policy and label changes affect entire organization or scoped admin units
- Should maintain separation from IT infrastructure admin roles for segregation of duties
- Consider Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for just-in-time activation
- Encryption templates and rights management changes can lock users out of files
- Auto-labeling with encryption can be difficult to reverse once applied
- On-premises scanner service account requires appropriate directory permissions
- Trainable classifiers may inadvertently expose sensitive content during training
- Content Explorer access requires separate role and should be limited to investigative needs