Microsoft has extended the data loss prevention features in Office 365 so that they are available not only for its email tools but also for data in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business.
Office 365 already had DLP capabilities for Exchange Online and Outlook, so that compliance officers could monitor email communications and enforce corporate and regulatory rules regarding the use of sensitive corporate data, such as confidential intellectual property details and customers' financial information.
On Wednesday, Microsoft announced that it's now taking its "first steps for DLP" in Office 365's SharePoint Online collaboration server and its OneDrive for Business cloud storage service for employees.
Administrators will be able to search for content across SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business, zeroing in on 51 predefined sensitive information types, like credit card numbers, passport data and Social Security information. If they identify policy breaches, they'll be able to export a report and take the appropriate action. DLP tasks are managed from Office 365's eDiscovery Center console.
"With this new capability, you can be better informed about what and where sensitive documents exist in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business. And having this information will help you work better with content owners to ensure protection of sensitive data," the blog post reads.
Later this year, Microsoft plans to expand the DLP features, adding the ability to automatically detect sensitive content based on policies and trigger actions like deleting or quarantining the data. "You'll also see us unify the entire compliance experience for you across Office 365, providing you with consolidated, built-in security controls at your fingertips," the blog post reads.
Juan Carlos Perez covers enterprise communication/collaboration suites, operating systems, browsers and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Juan on Twitter at @JuanCPerezIDG.
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