check before: 2026-02-01
Product:
Exchange, Microsoft 365 suite, Purview, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview compliance portal, Purview Data Loss Prevention, Purview Information Protection
Platform:
Online, US Instances, Web, World tenant
Status:
In development
Change type:
New feature, User impact, Admin impact
Links:
(543969)
Details:
Summary:
Starting early February 2026, Microsoft Purview Activity Explorer will let admins preview flagged email attachments in Exchange Online directly within the portal, without downloading emails. This feature is enabled by default, requires no action, and maintains existing DLP and Information Protection policies.
Details:
[Introduction]
We're enhancing Activity Explorer in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal to provide better visibility into sensitive data detected in Exchange Online. Today, admins can only view email message bodies when investigating Data Loss Prevention (DLP) or Information Protection events. With this update, admins will be able to preview flagged email attachments directly within Activity Explorer-without downloading the email-simplifying investigations and reducing risk exposure.
This message is associated with Microsoft Roadmap ID 543969.
[When this will happen]
General Availability (Worldwide) rollout will begin in early February 2026 and complete by early February 2026.
Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Scope:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Release Phase:
General Availability
Created:
2026-01-13
updated:
2026-01-13
Public Preview Start Date
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Task Type
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Docu to Check
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS How does it affect me
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS Preperations
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS Urgency
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS workload name
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
linked item details
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Pictures
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
summary for non-techies**
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Direct effects for Operations**
Email Attachment Preview Feature
Admins may experience confusion or disruption in their investigation workflows if they are not prepared for the new preview functionality, potentially leading to misinterpretation of flagged content.
- roles: Admins, Compliance Officers
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=543969
Change in Investigation Process
The automatic enabling of the new feature without prior training or communication may lead to inefficiencies as admins adjust to the new process of previewing attachments instead of downloading them.
- roles: Admins, IT Support Staff
- references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=543969
Configutation Options**
XXXXXXX ... paid membership only
Data Protection**
XXXXXXX ... paid membership only
IT Security**
XXXXXXX ... paid membership only
explanation for non-techies**
Imagine you're working on a case and you need to quickly review a document that was sent as an email attachment. Traditionally, you might have to download the entire email to see what's inside the attachment, which can be time-consuming and pose security risks.
Now, think of Microsoft Purview's new feature as a virtual magnifying glass that lets you peek into these attachments without actually having to download them. Starting in February 2026, this feature will be available in the Activity Explorer of the Microsoft Purview compliance portal. It allows administrators to preview email attachments directly, much like flipping through a book to find a specific chapter without taking the book off the shelf.
This change is akin to having a digital window into the content, providing a quick and secure way to investigate potential data loss or information protection issues. It's like being able to look at a photo album through a glass case; you can see what's inside without handling the physical album, thus maintaining its security and integrity.
The update is automatic and requires no action from your side, similar to how your smartphone updates its apps in the background. It’s designed to make the process smoother and safer for those managing sensitive information, ensuring that existing policies remain intact and no additional configurations are needed.
This enhancement will streamline workflows, allowing compliance and security teams to conduct their investigations more efficiently, just as a librarian might use a digital catalog to locate a book rather than searching through physical shelves. By simplifying the process, it reduces the time and effort needed to ensure compliance and protect sensitive data.
** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
a free basic plan is required to see more details. Sign up here
A cloudsocut.one plan is required to see all the changed details. If you are already a customer, choose login.
If you are new to cloudscout.one please choose a plan.
Last updated 2 weeks ago ago
