Data Loss Prevention Expanded to Office 365

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is an important component for data security and compliance. Microsoft first rolled this feature out in Exchange, Outlook, and OWA, and now the company is set to expand DLP coverage for the entire Office 365 suite.

Microsoft understands that business users collaborate and share documents using mechanisms other than email. So it makes sense that the same functionality will be made available for Office 365 customers using Excel, Word, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business.

For SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business, new policies will be made available to help restrict and block access to sensitive data. The policies will be available soon, rolling out over the next few months and new policies like Information Rights Management will be included during the first quarter of 2015.

Also in the first quarter of 2015, Microsoft will roll out DLP to Office 365 applications to protect Windows classified content or dynamic access control and rights management. This feature will allow organizations to comply with compliance statutes by protecting classified data from accidental or criminal disclosure.

Office applications will also receive DLP capabilities. Coming to Excel first, DLP will roll out to Word and PowerPoint later in 2015. DLP in Office applications will help ensure that, no matter where a document resides, it is identified, monitored, and protected.