MC1147390 – Purview Information Protection – Support for Cross Cloud Protected Files (archived)

Product:

Entra, Purview, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview compliance portal, Purview Information Protection

Platform:

Android, iOS, Mac, Online, US Instances, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

New feature, User impact

Links:

495000

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Purview Information Protection will support sharing sensitivity-labeled files across Microsoft 365 clouds (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, 21Vianet). Public preview starts mid-August 2025; general availability by late October 2025. The feature is off by default and requires admin configuration with Entra ID group controls.

Details:
Introduction
We're introducing support for sharing files protected with Microsoft Purview Information Protection sensitivity labels across Microsoft 365 cloud boundaries. This includes Worldwide, GCC High, and Microsoft 365 operated by 21Vianet. This enhancement enables secure collaboration across previously siloed environments, allowing recipients to view, edit, print, and more, based on the rights assigned by the document owner.
This message is associated with Roadmap ID 495000.
When this will happen
Public Preview (Worldwide): Begins mid-August 2025, completes by late September 2025
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Begins late September 2025, completes by late October 2025

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

Created:
2025-09-04

updated:
2025-09-04

Public Preview Start Date

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Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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linked item details

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Cross-Cloud Sharing Configuration
Without proper configuration, users may be unable to share or access sensitivity-labeled files across different Microsoft 365 clouds, leading to collaboration issues.
   - roles: IT Administrators, Compliance Officers
   - references: https://aka.ms/Purview/CrossCloudDocs, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=495000

User Training and Documentation
Failure to prepare training and documentation may result in users being unaware of new sharing capabilities, leading to confusion and potential misuse of the feature.
   - roles: End Users, Training Coordinators
   - references: https://aka.ms/Purview/CrossCloudDocs, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=495000

Compliance and Security Risks
If compliance and security teams are not informed about the new capabilities, there may be risks of data breaches or non-compliance with regulations due to improper sharing of sensitive information.
   - roles: Compliance Officers, Security Analysts
   - references: https://aka.ms/Purview/CrossCloudDocs, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=495000

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

Enhanced Collaboration Across Clouds
The new feature allows secure sharing of sensitivity-labeled files across Microsoft 365 cloud environments, facilitating better collaboration among teams that operate in different regulatory frameworks. This is particularly beneficial for organizations with international operations or those working with government contracts that require strict compliance.
   - next-steps: Identify teams that frequently collaborate across different cloud environments. Provide training on the new feature and update internal documentation to include guidelines on cross-cloud sharing.
   - roles: Compliance Officer, IT Administrator, Project Manager
   - references: https://aka.ms/Purview/CrossCloudDocs, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=495000

Improved Compliance Management
By enabling cross-cloud sharing with sensitivity labels, organizations can ensure that compliance requirements are met even when documents are shared across different jurisdictions. This reduces the risk of non-compliance and enhances data governance.
   - next-steps: Review current compliance policies to integrate the new sharing capabilities. Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential compliance gaps that may arise from cross-cloud sharing.
   - roles: Compliance Officer, Legal Advisor, Data Protection Officer
   - references: https://aka.ms/Purview/CrossCloudDocs, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=495000

Streamlined IT Administration
The requirement for admin configuration using Entra ID group controls allows for centralized management of access rights. This can lead to more efficient IT operations by reducing the administrative burden associated with managing multiple cloud environments.
   - next-steps: Develop a standardized process for configuring and managing access rights across clouds. Train IT staff on using Entra ID for group management and access control.
   - roles: IT Administrator, System Architect, Security Officer
   - references: https://aka.ms/Purview/CrossCloudDocs, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=495000

Potentional Risks**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**

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DPIA Draft**

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explanation for non-techies**

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