Microsoft Purview · Data Map Collections
Data Curator
Manage assets, create classifications, build glossary terms, and curate data catalog metadata for improved discoverability and understanding.
Scope: Collections where assigned as Data Curator (with inheritance to subcollections)
Permissions
- Create, read, modify, move, and delete data assets in collections
- Configure custom classifications and classification rules
- Create and manage business glossary terms and relationships
- Apply annotations, descriptions, and metadata to assets
- Curate and certify data assets for quality assurance
- View Data Estate Insights and analytics
- Manage asset lineage and relationships
- Apply sensitivity labels and classifications to assets
- Create and edit asset schemas and column-level metadata
- Manage asset ownership and expert contacts
Common use cases
- Building business glossary with standardized terminology and definitions
- Classifying data assets with PII, financial, or confidential tags
- Enriching asset metadata with business context and descriptions
- Certifying trusted data assets for analytical use
- Creating data lineage documentation for impact analysis
- Managing data quality annotations and trusted data sources
- Coordinating with data owners to capture institutional knowledge
- Implementing data governance policies through metadata enrichment
Best practices
- Coordinate with business stakeholders to capture accurate business context
- Establish consistent glossary term naming and definition standards
- Document classification rationale and apply classifications consistently
- Certify assets only after thorough quality validation
- Maintain active communication with data owners and subject matter experts
- Use hierarchical glossary structure for related terms
- Apply both technical and business metadata to assets
- Regular review and updates of asset metadata as data evolves
- Leverage AI-powered classification suggestions but validate manually
- Coordinate with Information Protection Admins on sensitivity label usage
Security considerations
- Can modify and delete assets in assigned collections
- Classification changes can affect DLP policies and access controls
- Incorrect metadata can mislead data consumers and analysts
- Sensitivity label application affects information protection enforcement
- Asset deletion is permanent and may impact downstream dependencies
- Changes are logged in audit history for accountability
Common questions
When should I assign the Data Curator role?
Assign Data Curator when you need to: Building business glossary with standardized terminology and definitions; Classifying data assets with PII, financial, or confidential tags; Enriching asset metadata with business context and descriptions; Certifying trusted data assets for analytical use; and Creating data lineage documentation for impact analysis. It is part of Microsoft Purview and should be granted as a least-privilege alternative to broader roles like Global Administrator.
What can someone with the Data Curator role do?
The Data Curator role grants permissions including: Create, read, modify, move, and delete data assets in collections; Configure custom classifications and classification rules; Create and manage business glossary terms and relationships; Apply annotations, descriptions, and metadata to assets; Curate and certify data assets for quality assurance; and View Data Estate Insights and analytics. See the Permissions section above for the full list.
What are the security risks of the Data Curator role?
Key considerations when assigning Data Curator: Can modify and delete assets in assigned collections; Classification changes can affect DLP policies and access controls; Incorrect metadata can mislead data consumers and analysts; and Sensitivity label application affects information protection enforcement. Review the Security considerations section before assignment, and pair with Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for just-in-time access where possible.