One of the key benefits of Microsoft Purview is the ability to classify and govern data in Microsoft 365 automatically. One way we can do this is by auto-applying retention labels in Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle and Records Management.
Auto-applying retention labels is powerful because:
You can automatically classify and manage data in Data Lifecycle and Records Management when it has sensitive information, based on a content’s properties or metadata, or using machine learning.
You want to feel confident that auto-classifications are correct and working as expected. Previously, there wasn’t a way to test the configuration of your auto-applied retention labels before deploying them to production. Admins would need to deploy policies straight to production and wait up to a week to view the results.
Today we are announcing the public preview of simulation mode for Microsoft Purview auto-applied retention labels, which is rolling out now to commercial tenants. Simulation mode enables admins to test their policy configuration by simulating content matched by the policy. The simulation can take as little as a few hours up to two days (depending on the amount of data analyzed), helping admins to rapidly test, modify, and confidently deploy their auto-apply retention labels. This feature is like simulation mode for auto-labeling policies for sensitivity labels.
In this first release, simulation mode will work with policies that apply labels when content has sensitive information, using Sensitive Information Types, or based on content’s properties or metadata, using KQL (Keyword Query Language). It will not work for content classified using machine learning trainable classifiers.
Here is how simulation mode fits into the current retention label deployment workflow:
Once the simulation is complete, you can view the results. The simulation overview displays data such as the total number of matching items, their location in Microsoft 365, and if any locations were not scanned. You can also view a random sample of files and emails that match the policy. You can click 'Turn on policy' if the results match your expectations. If they do not, adjust the policy settings and re-run the simulation.
Some customers in our private preview program gradually increased the scope of their auto-labeling policy before deployment. For example, they started with a single location, such as a SharePoint site, with a single document library. Then, iterative changes increased the scope to multiple sites and then to another location, such as OneDrive. This iterative approach helped them learn about and test the policy settings with a predictable, manageable scope.
Please read our documentation to learn more about simulation mode for retention labels.
Over the past two months, we’ve released these other feature enhancements in Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle and Records Management.
To learn more about Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle and Records Management or to keep up with our latest news, please visit these locations:
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