475062 – Microsoft Purview compliance portal: Information Protection – Scan cold files in SharePoint and OneDrive for sensitive information

Product:

Copilot, OneDrive, Purview, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview compliance portal, Purview Information Protection, SharePoint

Platform:

Web, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

MC1013459

Details:

This new capability will enable admins to scan existing files at rest in SharePoint or OneDrive for Business for sensitive data and classify and/or label them accordingly. This includes files that have never been scanned or scanned in some time. #copilotcontrolsystem

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Preview, General Availability

Created:
2025-01-24

updated:
2026-01-21

Public Preview Start Date

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Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Please, look at the most relevant linked item for details

explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you have a large library filled with books, some of which contain sensitive information like personal letters or confidential documents. Over time, you might forget which books contain this sensitive information, or new books might be added without you knowing what's inside them. To keep track of everything, you need a system that can scan through all the books, identify the ones with sensitive content, and label them appropriately so you can easily find and protect them.

In the digital world, Microsoft Purview's new capability is like having a librarian who can do this for your files stored in SharePoint and OneDrive. This tool allows administrators to scan files that are just sitting there, not actively being used—these are called "cold files." Just like the librarian, it can go through these files, identify any sensitive information they might contain, and then classify or label them. This helps ensure that sensitive data is properly managed and protected, even if the files haven't been looked at in a while or have never been scanned before.

This process is crucial for maintaining data security and compliance with regulations, much like how a library needs to keep track of its rare or confidential books. By using this tool, organizations can have a better handle on their digital information, ensuring that sensitive data is identified and safeguarded, reducing the risk of accidental exposure or data breaches.