Microsoft Purview · Information Protection
Sensitivity Label Administrator
Create and manage sensitivity labels and their policies for document classification and protection.
Scope: Organization-wide sensitivity label creation and management
Permissions
- Create and configure sensitivity labels
- Manage label policies and scoping
- Configure label encryption and marking settings
- Set up auto-labeling conditions
- Publish labels to users and groups
- Monitor label adoption and usage
Common use cases
- Implementing data classification framework
- Deploying labels for regulatory compliance (ITAR, CUI, PII)
- Enabling user-driven document protection
- Supporting information governance programs
Best practices
- Start with simple label taxonomy before adding complexity
- Use descriptive labels and tooltips for user guidance
- Test label policies with pilot groups first
- Enable default labeling to improve adoption
- Configure visual markings (headers/footers) for classified documents
- Monitor label usage and adjust policies based on adoption
- Coordinate labels with DLP policies for consistent protection
Security considerations
- Label misconfiguration can result in over or under-protection
- Encryption settings can prevent legitimate access if misconfigured
- Label changes affect existing classified documents
- Test thoroughly before broad deployment
Common questions
When should I assign the Sensitivity Label Administrator role?
Assign Sensitivity Label Administrator when you need to: Implementing data classification framework; Deploying labels for regulatory compliance (ITAR, CUI, PII); Enabling user-driven document protection; and Supporting information governance programs. 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 Sensitivity Label Administrator role do?
The Sensitivity Label Administrator role grants permissions including: Create and configure sensitivity labels; Manage label policies and scoping; Configure label encryption and marking settings; Set up auto-labeling conditions; Publish labels to users and groups; and Monitor label adoption and usage. See the Permissions section above for the full list.
What are the security risks of the Sensitivity Label Administrator role?
Key considerations when assigning Sensitivity Label Administrator: Label misconfiguration can result in over or under-protection; Encryption settings can prevent legitimate access if misconfigured; Label changes affect existing classified documents; and Test thoroughly before broad deployment. Review the Security considerations section before assignment, and pair with Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for just-in-time access where possible.