Full control over your data - wherever it is located
Microsoft Purview is Microsoft's governance, security and compliance platform - a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that gives organisations full visibility, control and protection over their entire data estate, regardless of whether data resides in Microsoft 365, Azure, Fabric, SaaS applications, endpoints or hybrid environments. Purview brings together what was previously spread across separate portals, tools and compliance solutions: data governance, information protection, data loss prevention, lifecycle management, risk management, eDiscovery and AI compliance in a single portal.
For organisations faced with GDPR, ISO 27001, NIS2, the EU AI Act or industry-specific compliance requirements, Microsoft Purview is not an optional extra. It is the platform that ensures sensitive data is classified, protected and managed in a verifiably compliant manner - automated, scalable and fully integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem.
Many organisations today manage data protection, information security, eDiscovery and data governance with separate tools, separate teams and separate policies. The result: gaps between systems, inconsistent classifications and no complete overview of what sensitive data is located where and who has access to it. Microsoft Purview solves this problem structurally: one platform, one portal, one consistent governance layer for all data in the organisation.
With the increasing use of AI systems - Microsoft Copilot, Azure OpenAI, own AI agents - new data protection risks arise: What data is fed into AI prompts? What information does a Copilot pass on? Microsoft Purview addresses these questions directly. The integrated AI hub monitors AI activities, recognises data protection risks in AI workflows and ensures that confidentiality designations and DLP guidelines also apply in AI environments. For companies using or planning to use AI, Purview is the governance foundation that makes legally compliant AI operations possible in the first place.
The introduction of Microsoft Purview is not just an IT configuration task. It requires an understanding of which data is considered sensitive in the company, which regulatory requirements apply and how classification guidelines can be integrated into day-to-day work without burdening operations. collana supports companies in the strategic planning, technical implementation and ongoing operation of Microsoft Purview.
The Purview Unified Catalog automatically captures, classifies and catalogues all data assets in the company: from Azure, Microsoft 365, Fabric, on-premises databases and external sources. Data Lineage seamlessly shows where data comes from, how it was transformed and where it is used. For the first time, companies gain complete transparency about their data - the basis for reliable data governance, GDPR evidence and AI compliance.
Relevant for: All industries, especially Healthcare, process industry, Authorities & public sector, Financial service provider, Regulated companies
Microsoft Purview Information Protection automatically classifies sensitive data with confidentiality labels - in emails, documents, Teams chats, SharePoint and OneDrive. Labels control who is authorised to open, edit, forward or print data and remain attached to the data even when it leaves the company. For companies with confidential customer information, research data or financial data, this is the structural protection that technical access controls alone cannot provide.
Purview DLP prevents sensitive information from leaving the company unintentionally or without authorisation - via email, Teams, SharePoint, end devices or cloud apps. Policies are defined centrally and take effect automatically: an email with credit card data is blocked, a file with personal information cannot be uploaded to an external cloud. DLP is not a manual control, but an automated protective wall that works in the background.
Relevant for: All industries, especially Healthcare, Financial service provider, E-Commerce, Telecommunications & IT
The Purview Compliance Manager assesses the company's compliance status against over 350 regulatory standards: GDPR, ISO 27001, NIS2, HIPAA, EU AI Act and many more. It provides specific recommendations for action, documents measures and provides evidence for auditors and authorities. For companies that previously compiled their compliance records manually, this is a structural efficiency gain.
Relevant for: All regulated industries, Healthcare, process industry, Authorities & public sector, Associations & NPOs
Purview controls the entire life cycle of data: Retention periods, archiving guidelines and legally compliant deletion are defined centrally and automatically applied to emails, documents, team messages and databases. For companies with legal retention obligations, for example in accounting, healthcare or the public sector, Purview creates verifiable compliance without manual effort.
Relevant for: Healthcare, Authorities & public sector, Associations & NPOs, Food industry, Financial service provider
The Purview AI Hub monitors AI activities in the company: which data flows into Copilot prompts, which AI apps access sensitive information and where data protection risks arise in AI workflows. For companies that fall under the EU AI Act or use Microsoft Copilot, Purview is the only platform that structurally combines AI governance and data protection - not as an afterthought, but as embedded protection.
Relevant for: All companies using AI, especially Healthcare, Financial service provider, Authorities & public sector
Not because they have less data. But because they finally know what they have. Those who introduce Microsoft Purview do not gain new compliance software, but a new way of dealing with data: Transparency instead of uncertainty, automated protection instead of manual controls, demonstrable compliance instead of hopeful trust. The following companies have taken this step with collana and show what is possible.
Most companies today manage data protection, information security and compliance with a mix of several tools: an archiving system for emails, a DLP tool for the endpoint, manual processes for GDPR deletion requests and an Excel spreadsheet for proving compliance to auditors. Each of these tools has its own costs, administration and visibility limits. The result is not protection - it's an illusion of control.
The switch to Microsoft Purview does not begin with a complete migration of all existing tools, but with a clear inventory: What data is sensitive? Where is it stored? What specific regulatory requirements apply? And which Purview solutions cover the most urgent needs most quickly? collana develops an implementation strategy that matches the actual requirements and the existing IT landscape - not a generic best-practice template.
For companies that already use Microsoft 365, Azure or Microsoft Fabric, Purview is the logical next step: the platform integration is native, classifications apply immediately to all Microsoft applications and the effort required for implementation is significantly lower than with an external governance solution. For companies with growing AI investments, Purview is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for legally compliant AI operations.
A Purview implementation is more than just a technical setup. It touches on data protection, IT security, compliance and the day-to-day work of all employees who handle sensitive data. What is needed is a partner who combines technical depth with an understanding of regulatory requirements and operational realities. This is precisely the approach that collana takes when supporting companies with the introduction and ongoing operation of Microsoft Purview.
collana is a six-time certified Microsoft Solutions Partner and fulfils the requirements in several areas of expertise: Business Applications, Data & AI, Digital & App Innovation, Infrastructure, Security and Modern Work. These certifications are not an end in themselves. They prove that we not only know the Microsoft platform, but that we have mastered it at enterprise level and are continuously developing it further.
What sets collana apart from a pure tool implementer is our understanding of the regulatory requirements that companies in Germany, Switzerland and other European markets are actually confronted with. Whether it's GDPR-compliant data storage in the healthcare sector, NIS2 implementation in critical infrastructure or AI governance for the EU AI Act: we know the requirements, the typical implementation hurdles and the points at which technical solutions meet organisational realities.
collana supports companies not only until the Purview implementation. The aim is a long-term partnership: from the initial governance strategy, classification architecture and implementation through to ongoing operation and continuous adaptation to new regulatory requirements. More than 1,000 customers in Germany, Switzerland and other European markets rely on this collaboration.
Not every company needs all Purview solutions immediately. collana offers targeted introductory formats that quickly provide clarity: Where are the biggest compliance risks? Which Purview component creates the fastest added value? And how is Purview integrated into the existing security and IT architecture? The IT security assessment is the structured first step before moving on to implementation.
Microsoft Purview is a platform for data governance, data protection, information protection and compliance - united in one portal. Companies use Purview to automatically classify and protect sensitive data, implement data loss prevention, demonstrate compliance requirements such as GDPR, NIS2 or ISO 27001, control the lifecycle of data and monitor AI activities. Purview is deeply integrated into Microsoft 365, Azure and Microsoft Fabric and is considered the governance layer of the entire Microsoft ecosystem.
In 2022, Microsoft merged Azure Purview (data governance for Azure data assets) and the Microsoft 365 Compliance Centre (information protection, DLP, eDiscovery for M365) under the name Microsoft Purview. The new Purview thus unites both worlds: Data Governance for a company's entire data pool and compliance solutions for Microsoft 365 environments, together in one portal and with a standardised classification logic.
Yes, and it is one of the strongest technical foundations for GDPR-compliant data management. Purview shows where personal data is located, who accesses it and how it is processed. Retention periods are automatically adhered to, deletion obligations are carried out by the system and data breaches are recognised before they become notifiable. The Compliance Manager assesses the GDPR status and provides specific measures. Purview does not replace legal advice, but creates the technical infrastructure for verifiable GDPR compliance.
Yes, Microsoft Purview has connectors for over 100 external data sources: Salesforce, SAP, Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, AWS S3, Box and many more. The data map also scans on-premises databases and hybrid environments. Classifications and DLP policies can be applied to endpoints, regardless of whether data is used in Microsoft or third-party applications. Purview is therefore not a purely Microsoft-internal solution, but a company-wide governance platform.
The EU AI Act requires companies to document the use of AI systems, assess risks and provide evidence of data protection measures. Purview provides the technical basis for this: the AI Hub monitors which data flows into AI prompts, recognises data protection risks in AI workflows and ensures that DLP guidelines and confidentiality designations also apply to AI-generated content. For organisations using Microsoft Copilot, Purview is the only native governance solution that fully monitors and secures Copilot activities.
Basic Purview functions are included in Microsoft 365 plans. Advanced functions such as comprehensive DLP, Insider Risk Management, Advanced eDiscovery and the Compliance Manager with all assessment templates are available in the Microsoft 365 Purview Suite, which is licensed as an add-on. Usage-based tariffs are available for governance across the entire data pool (Azure, Fabric, external sources). The total costs depend on the functions used, the number of users and the scope of the data sources to be covered. collana advises on licensing and helps to find the optimum model for the respective requirements.
Yes, Purview has a modular structure and can be introduced step by step - starting with the functions that address the greatest compliance requirements. For companies already using Microsoft 365, getting started is particularly easy: many Purview functions are already included in existing licences and only need to be activated and configured. collana supports medium-sized companies in Germany, Switzerland and other European markets with the structured introduction of Purview - from the initial governance strategy through to full implementation.