Microsoft Purview Sensitivity Labels: Sensitivity label grouping modernization coming this fall (?)

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There is a change coming to Microsoft Purview Information Protection that simplifies sensitivity label architecture. The goal is to make label management easier, more scalable, and less rigid for organizations. The new model will only include standalone labels and sublabels. Parent labels will be replaced by label groups, which act as organizational containers. These groups cannot be applied to content and have no actions or scope, but they retain color and priority for visual organization. Hopefully, this change will make it much easier to move labels around and make other changes in production: for example, converting a standalone label into a sublabel or moving sublabels between groups without breaking dependencies.  From my experience, this update solves one of the biggest challenges in large environments: rigid label hierarchies. The new dynamic model gives admins the agility they need to adapt quickly as compliance and business needs evolve. For admins, migration will be quic...

Smarter Retention in Microsoft 365: A Step Toward Cleaner, More Relevant Data - Coming soon

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Anyone who has worked with SharePoint management knows that data governance is a cornerstone of digital productivity, especially in large organizations where information can accumulate rapidly. Today, retention policies in Microsoft 365 allow administrators to manage data based on creation or modification dates. However, in my experience, this approach is not always sufficient. Files that haven’t been accessed in years may still linger in OneDrive or SharePoint, cluttering storage, slowing down search, and diluting the relevance of AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot.

A new feature in Microsoft Purview Retention Policies, expected this winter, promises to enhance Data Lifecycle Management. This upcoming setting will enable policies to identify files that have remained untouched for a specified period and automatically flag them for deletion or archival.

This enhancement is particularly valuable for organizations leveraging Microsoft 365 Copilot. By removing outdated or irrelevant files, Copilot can access more relevant data, resulting in more accurate and contextually appropriate responses—ultimately boosting productivity and decision-making.

According to the Microsoft 365 Message Center, the feature will begin rolling out in preview in late December and is expected to reach general availability early next year. Although it will be automatically available, administrators must configure new policies or update existing ones to take advantage of the new setting.

My advice is for organizations to begin preparing by reviewing their current retention configurations and identifying which policies they plan to update once the new setting is released—and tested, of course.

For more details, refer to Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 472030.