As regulations tighten and cyber threats evolve, managing and protecting this data is more critical than ever. This is where Microsoft Purview comes into play—offering a comprehensive solution that can safeguard your business, ensure compliance, and streamline operations. But why should your business care about Microsoft Purview? And more importantly, why is it worth the investment?
What is Microsoft Purview?
Microsoft Purview is a unified data governance solution that provides end-to-end visibility into your data landscape. It enables businesses to manage, discover, classify, and protect data across their entire organisation, whether it's stored on-premises, in the cloud, or within third-party services.
At its core, Purview is designed to help businesses understand where their data is, how it's being used, and who has access to it. By doing so, it ensures that your data is not only secure but also compliant with relevant regulations and accessible to those who need it. Purview’s capabilities span from data classification and labelling to advanced analytics, making it an essential tool for any business looking to harness the power of its data while mitigating risks.
For SMBs, Microsoft Purview offers a comprehensive approach to data governance that integrates seamlessly with existing Microsoft 365 and Azure environments. This integration means that businesses can leverage familiar tools and platforms while enhancing their data management capabilities.
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/purview
The Data Dilemma
As your business grows, so does the volume of data you need to manage. But with growth comes the complexity of ensuring that this data is not only accessible but also secure and compliant with various regulations. Australian businesses are increasingly under scrutiny when it comes to data management, particularly in light of the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme and other stringent regulations. A single misstep can lead to significant financial penalties and irreparable damage to your brand's reputation.
Microsoft Purview provides a robust framework to manage, govern, and protect your data. It offers an integrated approach to data governance, ensuring that your business complies with regulations while also enabling you to extract maximum value from your data assets. For SMBs, which often operate with limited resources, Purview can be the game-changer that allows you to compete on a level playing field with larger enterprises.
Unified Data Governance
One of the standout features of Microsoft Purview is its ability to unify data governance across your entire organisation. Imagine having a single, integrated platform where you can manage data across various environments—whether on-premises, in the cloud, or within third-party applications. Purview simplifies data management by providing a clear overview of your data estate, allowing you to identify risks, enforce policies, and ensure compliance with ease.
For SMBs, this means you no longer have to juggle multiple tools and platforms to manage your data. Purview centralises these functions, reducing the complexity and administrative burden on your team. This is particularly important for businesses that may not have a dedicated IT department or the resources to manage data governance manually.
Risk Mitigation: Protecting Your Most Valuable Asset
Data breaches are no longer a question of "if," but "when." The financial and reputational damage caused by a data breach can be devastating, particularly for SMBs. Microsoft Purview offers advanced risk management capabilities that help you identify and mitigate potential threats before they become a problem. By providing visibility into where your data resides, who has access to it, and how it's being used, Purview enables you to proactively protect your most valuable asset—your data.
Purview's automated compliance capabilities ensure that your business stays ahead of regulatory requirements. Whether it's GDPR, the Australian Privacy Act, or industry-specific regulations, Purview helps you navigate the complex landscape of compliance, reducing the risk of costly fines and legal challenges.
Example: Legal Services
Sarah runs Insight Legal, a growing law firm in Melbourne. As her firm expands, so does the volume of sensitive client information, legal documents, and confidential communications. This data is stored across various platforms - cloud services, employee devices, and third-party applications—making it difficult to manage securely and ensure compliance with strict legal regulations.
Sarah is concerned about the risk of data breaches and the severe consequences of non-compliance, which could damage her firm’s reputation and lead to substantial fines. Enter Microsoft Purview. With Purview, Sarah gains full visibility into her firm’s data, including where it’s stored, who has access, and how it’s being used. Purview automatically classifies sensitive legal data and alerts Sarah if it’s at risk, enabling her to respond immediately.
By investing in Purview, Sarah ensures that Insight Legal’s data is secure, compliant, and well-managed, allowing her to focus on delivering top-notch legal services without worrying about data security or regulatory issues.
The Bottom Line: Why Invest in Microsoft Purview?
Investing in Microsoft Purview may seem costly, especially for SMBs, but the expense is justified when compared to the potential consequences of not having robust data governance and protection.
- Financial Impact of Downtime: Data breaches and system failures can be crippling, with the average cost of a data breach in Australia reaching AUD 4.03 million. SMBs are particularly vulnerable, with 60% closing within six months of a major cyber attack. Microsoft Purview helps mitigate these risks by securing your data, ensuring compliance, and reducing the likelihood of costly disruptions.
- Risks of Non-Compliance: Non-compliance with regulations like the Australian Privacy Act can result in fines of up to AUD 2.1 million per breach. As regulatory requirements tighten, Microsoft Purview becomes crucial in maintaining compliance, protecting your business from financial penalties, and safeguarding your reputation.
- Customer Trust: In a 2023 survey by Deloitte, 74% of Australian consumers indicated they wouldn’t do business with a company they don’t trust with their data. A single breach can damage customer trust beyond repair. Purview’s advanced protection features help prevent breaches, ensuring your customers’ data is secure and maintaining trust in your brand.
How Diamond IT Can Support Your Microsoft Purview Implementation
Microsoft Purview offers SMBs a comprehensive solution to manage, protect, and govern their data. It simplifies complexity, reduces risk, and ensures compliance, all while enabling your business to unlock the full potential of its data assets.
Diamond IT's deep expertise as a Microsoft Partner ensures that we not only provide the tools but also the strategic guidance and support needed for your success.
Our Business Technology Managers and Business Technology Consulting teams can work with you to analyse and review the current state of your Microsoft environment and provide recommendations on Microsoft Purview implementation. Call us today and organise a consultation 1300 307 907.
