Purview
Last Updated: 11th March 2025Microsoft Purview: Unlocking Unified Data Governance
Technical Overview
In today’s data-driven world, organisations are grappling with an explosion of data sources, formats, and regulatory requirements. Microsoft Purview emerges as a comprehensive solution to unify data governance, ensuring that enterprises can discover, classify, and manage their data assets effectively. At its core, Purview is a unified data governance platform that provides visibility into your data estate, enabling organisations to make informed decisions while maintaining compliance.
Architecture
Microsoft Purview operates on a modular architecture that integrates seamlessly with Azure services and on-premises environments. At a high level, it consists of the following components:
- Data Map: The foundational layer of Purview, the Data Map automatically scans and catalogues data assets across hybrid environments. It uses metadata harvesting to create a unified view of your data estate.
- Data Catalog: This component provides a searchable interface for users to discover and understand data assets. It includes features like business glossaries, lineage tracking, and classifications.
- Data Insights: Purview’s analytics capabilities allow organisations to monitor data usage, identify risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Scalability
Purview is designed to scale with the needs of modern enterprises. Whether you’re managing petabytes of data across multiple geographies or a smaller, centralised data estate, Purview’s architecture ensures consistent performance. Its integration with Azure Data Factory and Azure Synapse Analytics enables seamless data ingestion and processing at scale.
Data Processing
Purview leverages automated data scanning and classification to process data assets. It supports a wide range of data sources, including Azure Data Lake, SQL databases, on-premises file systems, and even third-party cloud platforms like AWS S3. The platform uses machine learning models to classify sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information (PII), and applies labels based on predefined policies.
Integration Patterns
One of Purview’s standout features is its ability to integrate with other Azure services and third-party tools. For example:
- Azure Synapse Analytics: Purview enhances Synapse by providing data lineage and governance insights directly within the Synapse workspace.
- Power BI: Purview integrates with Power BI to ensure that reports and dashboards are built on trusted, well-governed data.
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud: By integrating with Defender for Cloud, Purview helps identify and mitigate security risks associated with data assets.
Advanced Use Cases
Purview’s capabilities extend beyond traditional data governance. Here are some advanced scenarios where it shines:
- Regulatory Compliance: Organisations in heavily regulated industries can use Purview to ensure compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA by automating data classification and applying retention policies.
- Data Democratisation: By providing a centralised data catalog, Purview empowers business users to discover and utilise data assets without relying on IT teams.
- Risk Management: Purview’s insights into data usage and access patterns help organisations identify potential risks and take proactive measures.
Business Relevance
Data is the lifeblood of modern enterprises, but without proper governance, it can quickly become a liability. Microsoft Purview addresses this challenge by providing a unified platform for data governance and compliance. Here’s why it matters:
- Improved Decision-Making: With a comprehensive view of your data estate, decision-makers can rely on accurate, up-to-date information.
- Cost Optimisation: By identifying redundant or unused data assets, Purview helps organisations optimise storage costs.
- Enhanced Security: Purview’s integration with Azure security tools ensures that sensitive data is protected against breaches and unauthorised access.
In a world where data breaches and regulatory fines are on the rise, Purview provides the tools needed to mitigate risks and maintain trust with customers and stakeholders.
Best Practices
To maximise the value of Microsoft Purview, organisations should follow these best practices:
- Start with a Clear Governance Framework: Define your organisation’s data governance goals and policies before implementing Purview.
- Automate Data Scanning: Use Purview’s automated scanning capabilities to ensure that your data map is always up-to-date.
- Leverage Business Glossaries: Create and maintain a business glossary to standardise terminology and improve collaboration between technical and non-technical teams.
- Integrate with Existing Workflows: Ensure that Purview is integrated with tools like Power BI and Azure Synapse Analytics to streamline data governance processes.
- Monitor and Optimise: Regularly review Purview’s insights to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
Relevant Industries
Microsoft Purview is a versatile platform that benefits organisations across various industries. Here are some examples:
- Financial Services: Banks and financial institutions can use Purview to ensure compliance with regulations like Basel III and GDPR while managing sensitive customer data.
- Healthcare: Hospitals and healthcare providers can leverage Purview to protect patient data and comply with standards like HIPAA.
- Retail: Retailers can use Purview to gain insights into customer behaviour while ensuring that data is handled responsibly.
- Manufacturing: Manufacturers can optimise supply chain operations by using Purview to manage and analyse data from IoT devices.
- Government: Public sector organisations can use Purview to maintain transparency and comply with data sovereignty requirements.
Adoption Insights
With an adoption rate of over 12.61%, Microsoft Purview is steadily gaining traction among organisations looking to modernise their data governance strategies. By adopting Purview, you join a growing community of forward-thinking enterprises that are prioritising data governance and compliance.
