What are Sensitivity Labels in Microsoft 365?

Sensitivity Labels in Microsoft 365 are classification tags that help protect and manage data based on its sensitivity. They enable organizations to enforce security policies on emails, files, and Teams content without disrupting workflows.

Key Features of Sensitivity Labels

1. Data Classification: :
• Labels categorize content as Public, Confidential, Highly Confidential, etc.
2. Protection Controls: :
• Encrypt emails and documents to restrict unauthorized access
• Apply watermarks, headers, and footers for visual classification.
3. Automatic or Manual Application:
• Users can manually assign labels, or they can be applied automatically based on content inspection.
4. Integration with Microsoft 365 Apps::
• Works across Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive for seamless protection.

Use Cases for Sensitivity Labels

1. Securing Confidential Data: : Centralized control over user and group identities.
2. Email Protection: Advanced tools like conditional access and role-based access control (RBAC).
3. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Automatically label and protect documents containing sensitive keywords like "SSN" or "Credit Card Number".

How to Create and Manage Sensitivity Labels

Sensitivity labels are configured in the Microsoft Purview Compliance Center and can be applied via PowerShell:

New-Label -Name "Confidential" -ContentType "File, Email"

Best Practices

1. Define Clear Labeling Policies Ensure employees understand when and how to use labels.
2. Test Before Deployment: Apply labels in a controlled environment before enforcing organization-wide.
3. Combine with Conditional Access: Restrict access to highly sensitive content using Conditional Access policies.

Sensitivity Labels help organizations secure and classify their data efficiently, ensuring compliance and enhanced information protection.

Explore More

• Creating Sensitivity Label Using Microsoft Purview Compliance Center
• Creating Sensitivity Label Using Exchange PowerShell