Securing Data with Microsoft Purview IRM + Defender: A Hands-On Lab
Hi everyone I recently explored how Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management (IRM) integrates with Microsoft Defender to secure sensitive data. This lab demonstrates how these tools work together to identify, investigate, and mitigate insider risks. What I covered in this lab: Set up Insider Risk Management policies in Microsoft Purview Connected Microsoft Defender to monitor risky activities Walkthrough of alerts triggered → triaged → escalated into cases Key governance and compliance insights Key learnings from the lab: Purview IRM policies detect both accidental risks (like data spillage) and malicious ones (IP theft, fraud, insider trading) IRM principles include transparency (balancing privacy vs. protection), configurable policies, integrations across Microsoft 365 apps, and actionable alerts IRM workflow follows: Define policies → Trigger alerts → Triage by severity → Investigate cases (dashboards, Content Explorer, Activity Explorer) → Take action (training, legal escalation, or SIEM integration) Defender + Purview together provide unified coverage: Defender detects and responds to threats, while Purview governs compliance and insider risk This was part of my ongoing series of security labs. Curious to hear from others — how are you approaching Insider Risk Management in your organizations or labs?
