Microsoft Purview Technology Readiness Services

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Achieve data governance technology readiness, data classification and sensitivity labels implementation, compliance controls, retention, and eDiscovery readiness with a defensible operating model behind it through Microsoft Purview technology readiness services.

Your data sprawl is growing. Sensitive information lives across SharePoint, Teams, Exchange, OneDrive, endpoints, and cloud applications. Regulations demand protection. Auditors want evidence. Legal needs eDiscovery capability when incidents occur. Security teams want visibility into what data exists and who can access it.

Microsoft Purview provides powerful tools for data classification, loss prevention, retention, and compliance. But tools don’t equal governance. Features configured without strategy, policies deployed without operating procedures, and controls implemented without evidence of capability create compliance theater, the appearance of protection without the substance.

i3solutions helps enterprise IT and compliance leaders achieve Purview technology readiness through IT systems analysis paired with the architecture, policies, and operating model that make data governance real. We configure tools that work, build evidence you can produce, and establish procedures your team can operate with traceable findings, documented options, and defensible gates.

Important: We provide technology readiness services, configuration, assessment, and implementation expertise. We do not provide certification or attestation outcomes.

Make Your Data Governance Defensible

Validate your Purview architecture, close governance gaps, and establish the policies, procedures, and evidence auditors expect. It will help you operate in real enterprise environments.

Book a Microsoft Purview Technology Readiness Assessment

What Enterprise Data Governance Technology Readiness Requires

Purview is comprehensive and capable. It’s also complex, and the gap between activating features and achieving defensible data governance is consistently underestimated.

Enterprise data governance technology readiness requires:

Data classification and sensitivity labels implementation that reflects your reality. Sensitivity labels and information types that match your organization’s actual data, not just Microsoft’s default templates. A taxonomy that’s simple enough for users to apply, specific enough to be meaningful, and aligned to your regulatory and business requirements.
Compliance controls implementation that works without breaking workflows. Data loss prevention is only effective if it stops actual leakage without creating so much friction that users route around it. Policies that block everything generate workarounds. Policies that allow too much provide no protection. The balance requires understanding your workflows, not just configuring rules.
Retention that’s legally defensible. Retention schedules aligned to your actual legal and regulatory requirements, consistently applied across M365 workloads, with documentation you can produce when challenged. Retention policies that exist but aren’t enforced create liability, not protection.
eDiscovery readiness before you need it. When legal hold is required, it’s always urgent. If permissions aren’t configured, procedures aren’t documented, and staff aren’t trained, the scramble compromises defensibility. Readiness means architecture, access, and procedures in place before the incident.
An operating model behind the tools with defensible gates. Who owns the data classification taxonomy? Who tunes DLP policies when false positives spike? Who handles incidents when sensitive data is exposed? Who reviews retention schedules when regulations change? Without clear ownership, procedures, and defensible decision gates, even well-configured tools decay and drift.
Traceable evidence you can actually produce. Auditors don’t accept “we have Purview” as evidence of enterprise data protection readiness services. They want classification coverage reports, DLP incident trends, retention compliance documentation, and demonstrated procedures. If you can’t produce traceable findings, you don’t have governance.

This isn’t a licensing problem; you probably already own Purview capabilities. It’s a technology readiness problem requiring governance architecture and operating model work.

Who This Is For

This service is designed for:

IT and compliance leaders at mid-to-large enterprises with Microsoft 365 environments who need to achieve data governance technology readiness
Organizations under regulatory pressure (HIPAA, SOX, GDPR, CMMC, PCI-DSS, industry-specific requirements) that demand demonstrable data protection controls
Teams that have configured Purview features but aren’t seeing consistent protection, can’t prove compliance, or face user resistance to classification and DLP
Enterprises preparing for audits that will examine data governance controls and expect traceable evidence, not assertions
Organizations with data sprawl across SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Exchange, OneDrive, and endpoints that need to regain visibility and control
Leaders who need eDiscovery and legal hold readiness before an incident forces urgent, poorly executed response
Compliance teams working with IT to translate regulatory requirements into technical controls and operational procedures

This is not a fit if:

You want basic Purview feature activation without a governance operating model. We focus on technology readiness implementations that work sustainably, not checkbox configurations.
You expect DLP to work without a classification foundation. DLP depends on knowing what data you’re protecting. Classification comes first.
You need ongoing Purview administration. We help you build capability and achieve technology readiness; we don’t replace your team permanently.
You’re not prepared to enforce policies. Governance that isn’t enforced isn’t governance. If you’re not ready to act on what Purview reveals, implementation provides limited value.
You’re seeking certification or attestation outcomes. We provide technology readiness services, configuration, assessment, and implementation. Certification and attestation are separate processes requiring accredited assessors.

The Purview Challenge: Tools vs. Governance

Microsoft Purview provides extensive capabilities. The platform isn’t the problem. The problem is confusing feature configuration with data governance.

Where we see organizations struggle:

Configuration without strategy. Organizations enable Purview features without defining what they’re protecting, why, from what risks, or how they’ll maintain controls over time. Sensitivity labels exist, but don’t match the organization’s data. DLP policies exist, but don’t align with actual risk. Retention labels exist, but aren’t applied. A configuration without a strategy produces gaps and false confidence.
Classification nobody uses. Sensitivity labels are configured, but users don’t apply them. Auto-labeling generates noise, mislabeling content, or labeling everything at the same level, making classification meaningless. Manual labeling is too burdensome for users to adopt. Classification fails, and everything downstream that depends on it fails too.
DLP creates more problems than it solves. DLP policies block legitimate business workflows, generate overwhelming false positives, and train users to ignore warnings or find workarounds. The helpdesk is flooded with complaints. Business units demand exceptions. Protection exists in name only while actual data exposure continues through unmonitored channels.
Retention that’s never actually enforced. Retention labels are configured, but content isn’t classified. Retention policies are either too broad (deleting things that should be kept) or too narrow (missing content that should be managed). Legal defensibility is uncertain because nobody is confident that the policies actually work.
eDiscovery configured during a crisis. A legal matter requires document hold. Nobody knows who has eDiscovery permissions. Search scope is unclear. Collection procedures don’t exist. Custodian notification happens ad hoc. Evidence collection is chaotic, defensibility is compromised, and the organization learns expensive lessons about readiness.
No operating model with defensible gates. Policies were configured during an initial project. Since then, no one has tuned DLP rules, updated classification taxonomy, reviewed retention schedules, or validated that controls still work. Configuration drift accumulates. The documented governance doesn’t match the actual state.

The pattern is consistent: tools are activated without governance. Features configured without an operating model. Checkboxes completed without sustainable protection or defensible gates.

Our Purview Technology Readiness Services

We deliver Purview implementation with governance architecture, classification strategy, policy design, operating procedures, and evidence production, not just feature configuration. Our focus is on technology readiness with traceable findings, documented options, and defensible gates.

Purview Technology Readiness Assessment

Evaluate your current state and build a realistic roadmap:

Assess existing data protection posture: current classification, DLP, retention configuration
Identify sensitive data exposure and protection gaps across M365 workloads
Evaluate workload coverage: SharePoint, Teams, Exchange, OneDrive, endpoints
Review compliance requirements and map to Purview capabilities
Assess governance maturity: ownership, procedures, review cadence
Deliver a prioritized roadmap with traceable findings, documented options, and defensible decision gates

Data Classification and Sensitivity Labels Implementation

Build the foundation that DLP and retention depend on:

Design sensitivity label taxonomy aligned to your data types, regulatory requirements, and business context
Configure label policies with appropriate scope, default labels, and mandatory labeling where required
Implement auto-labeling policies with testing and tuning to minimize false positives
Develop trainable classifiers for organization-specific content types where standard classifiers don’t fit
Build user training and communication programs for manual labeling adoption
Establish classification governance: taxonomy ownership, review cadence, change procedures

Compliance Controls Implementation (DLP)

Implement data loss prevention that protects without disrupting:

Design DLP policy architecture aligned to your data classification and risk priorities
Implement staged rollout: simulation mode to understand impact, test users for validation, production with monitoring
Tune policies iteratively to reduce false positives without creating protection gaps
Configure policy tips and user notifications that educate rather than frustrate
Establish incident handling workflow: triage, investigation, escalation, remediation
Build dashboards for DLP effectiveness monitoring and trend analysis

Retention and Records Management

Establish legally defensible retention that’s actually enforced:

Design retention schedules aligned to your legal, regulatory, and business requirements
Configure retention labels and policies across M365 workloads
Implement records management for formal record declaration where required
Establish defensible deletion procedures with appropriate documentation
Build retention governance: schedule ownership, review cadence, and exception handling
Create evidence artifacts demonstrating retention compliance

eDiscovery and Legal Hold Readiness

Prepare before incidents force poorly executed response:

Configure eDiscovery permissions with appropriate role-based access controls
Establish legal hold procedures: initiation, custodian notification, scope definition, release
Build search and collection best practices and repeatable playbooks
Test eDiscovery workflows with non-production scenarios to validate readiness
Document defensible procedures for legal review and approval
Train designated staff on eDiscovery tools and procedures

Purview Operating Model Implementation

Build the governance that makes tools sustainable:

Define roles and responsibilities: classification owners, DLP administrators, retention managers, eDiscovery officers
Establish policy review cadence: scheduled assessment of rule effectiveness and adjustment
Build incident response workflows for data exposure, policy violations, and compliance events
Create governance dashboards showing classification coverage, DLP trends, and retention compliance
Develop training and enablement programs for governance stakeholders
Document procedures for audit and compliance, evidence with defensible gates

Purview for Endpoints and Beyond Microsoft 365

Extend data governance to devices and additional platforms:

Configure endpoint DLP for Windows and macOS devices
Implement device-based restrictions for sensitive content
Assess Purview Data Map and Data Catalog for Azure and hybrid data estates (where applicable)
Design governance approach for data beyond M365 boundaries

Extend Data Governance Beyond Microsoft 365

Protect sensitive data wherever it lives: on endpoints, across platforms, and beyond core M365 workloads. We help you design and implement Purview controls for devices and hybrid environments with visibility, enforcement, and defensible operating models.

Assess Endpoint & Cross-Platform Governance Readiness

How We Work: From Assessment to Operating Model

Phase 1: Discovery and Assessment (Weeks 1-3)

Understand your current state before designing the future:

Evaluate existing Purview configuration: what’s enabled, what’s enforced, what’s working
Assess data landscape: where sensitive data lives, who accesses it, and current exposure
Review compliance requirements: regulations, internal policies, audit expectations
Identify gaps between the current state and governance objectives
Understand organizational constraints: user tolerance, change capacity, resource availability

Deliverable: Assessment report with traceable findings, gap analysis, documented options, and prioritized roadmap with defensible gates

Phase 2: Classification Strategy (Weeks 3-5)

Build the foundation before DLP and retention:

Design a sensitivity label taxonomy based on your data types and regulatory requirements
Align the classification approach to user workflows and adoption reality
Plan auto-labeling strategy with appropriate scope and confidence thresholds
Define classification governance: ownership, review cadence, and change procedures

Deliverable: Classification design document with taxonomy, policies, and governance model

Phase 3: Policy Design and Configuration (Weeks 5-10)

Implement policies with staged rollout:

Configure sensitivity labels and label policies
Implement DLP policies in simulation mode, validate impact, tune rules
Deploy retention labels and policies with appropriate scope
Configure eDiscovery permissions and test legal hold procedures
Validate each policy area before expanding the scope

Deliverable: Configured policies with validation documentation and traceable findings

Phase 4: Staged Rollout and Tuning (Weeks 10-14)

Expand to production with evidence of effectiveness:

Expand classification to production users with training and communication
Move DLP from simulation to enforcement in controlled phases
Activate retention policies with monitoring for unintended impact
Tune policies based on production feedback and incident data
Build dashboards and evidence reporting

Deliverable: Production deployment with tuned policies, monitoring, and defensible gates

Phase 5: Operating Model and Enablement (Weeks 14-16)

Establish sustainable governance:

Document roles, responsibilities, and procedures
Train governance stakeholders on tools and workflows
Establish review cadence and continuous improvement processes
Validate evidence production capability for audit readiness

Deliverable: Operating model documentation and trained governance team

Phase 6: Handoff and Ongoing Support

Transfer ownership with confidence:

Complete knowledge transfer to the internal team
Provide runbooks for common operations and incident response
Establish escalation paths for complex issues
Transition to ongoing advisory support if desired

Deliverable: Operational governance with documentation and a trained team

Why i3solutions for Purview

Technology readiness focus, not just configuration. We implement Purview with the operating model, ownership, and procedures that make data governance sustainable. Feature activation without governance creates false confidence; we build governance that achieves technology readiness with traceable findings and defensible gates.
Data governance technical consulting expertise. We’ve delivered hundreds of SharePoint, Teams, Exchange, and Microsoft 365 We understand how data flows across workloads, where protection breaks in practice, and how to implement controls that work within real collaboration patterns.
Classification-first approach. DLP and retention depend on classification. We build data classification and sensitivity labels implementation first, then layer protection on top. This approach applies not only across Microsoft 365 but also to data stored or processed in Azure, Microsoft Fabric, and Power Platform solutions. Organizations that skip to DLP without classification waste effort on policies that can’t reliably identify what to protect.
Staged, risk-managed rollout. DLP policies that break workflows create user revolt and demands to disable protection. We use simulation, pilot rings, and iterative tuning to deploy policies that work without creating operational chaos, including controls that span Power Platform automations, Fabric workloads, and integrated systems surfaced through Salesforce consulting
Evidence and defensibility focus. We build implementations that produce audit-ready evidence: classification coverage reports, DLP incident trends, retention compliance documentation, and demonstrated procedures. Where governance extends beyond Microsoft 365, we account for data sources and identity signals from Azure, Salesforce, and Okta consulting engagements, ensuring traceable findings across integrated platforms. Governance you can prove is governance that protects.
Senior-led, US-based delivery. The consultants who assess your environment design and implement Purview governance, while coordinating with parallel Azure architecture, Salesforce, and Okta initiatives to avoid siloed controls. All work is performed by US-based personnel.
No attestation or certification claims. We’re clear about what we deliver: technology readiness services. Configuration, assessment, and implementation expertise. Certification and attestation are separate processes requiring accredited assessors; we don’t claim to provide those outcomes.

Security, Compliance, and Governance Considerations

Regulatory alignment. We design Purview implementations with your compliance requirements in mind. We map capabilities to control objectives and build evidence production into implementation. Our approach also works well with Microsoft integration projects, ensuring governance extends across all connected platforms. We implement technical controls aligned to the requirements your compliance and legal teams define.
Data discovery implications. Purview can reveal sensitive data you didn’t know existed in locations you didn’t expect. Assessment may surface compliance gaps that require remediation beyond Purview configuration. We help you anticipate and plan for these discoveries, using data analytics to identify risks and opportunities in your data estate.
User impact management. Classification requirements and DLP restrictions affect how users work. We design implementations that balance protection with productivity, communicate changes effectively, and provide training that builds adoption rather than resistance. Where workflows intersect with broader IT systems, we coordinate with systems integration teams to maintain consistency.
Cross-workload consistency. Data governance gaps often exist at workload boundaries, endpoint restrictions that don’t match cloud policies, or analytics platforms that operate outside Microsoft 365. We design holistic governance that addresses boundaries and integrates with generative AI and other enterprise systems.
Audit and evidence capability. We configure Purview to produce evidence your auditors expect: coverage reports, policy effectiveness metrics, incident documentation, and procedure records. Traceable evidence capability is built in, not added later.
Ongoing governance requirements. Data governance isn’t a project with an end date. Classification taxonomies need updates. DLP policies need tuning. Retention schedules need review. We establish operating models with defined ownership, review cadence, and defensible gates so governance remains current.
Important clarification: Technology readiness is not certification. We help you prepare your Purview environment for production operation with proper configuration and evidence capability. Formal compliance certification or attestation requires separate processes with accredited assessors.

Engagement Options

15-Day Purview Technology Readiness Assessment

Timeframe: 15 business days

What you get:

Current state assessment: classification, DLP, retention, eDiscovery configuration
Gap analysis against compliance requirements and governance objectives
Data exposure and risk identification
Traceable findings document
Documented options with pros/cons
Defensible decision gates
Prioritized roadmap with 30/60/90-day action plan
Executive summary for stakeholder communication

Best for: Organizations exploring Purview implementation or needing to understand current governance posture before investing in remediation.

Note: This is a paid assessment engagement. No attestation or certification outcomes.

Discuss a Purview Readiness Assessment

Classification and Labeling Implementation

Timeframe: 4-6 weeks

What you get:

Sensitivity label taxonomy design
Label policy configuration and deployment
Auto-labeling policy implementation with tuning
User training and communication materials
Classification governance model documentation
Traceable findings for each phase

Best for: Organizations starting data governance or needing to establish data classification and sensitivity labels implementation before DLP deployment.

Plan a Classification & Labeling Implementation

Compliance Controls Implementation (DLP) Sprint

Timeframe: 6-8 weeks

What you get:

DLP policy architecture design
Staged rollout: simulation → pilot → production
Policy tuning based on real data
Incident handling workflow design
Effectiveness dashboards and monitoring
Defensible gates at each phase

Best for: Organizations with a classification in place, ready to implement compliance controls.

Scope a DLP Implementation Sprint

Comprehensive Purview Implementation

Timeframe: 12-16 weeks

What you get:

Full governance implementation: classification, DLP, retention, eDiscovery readiness
Staged rollout across all capability areas
Operating model with defined roles and procedures
Evidence and audit readiness
Training and knowledge transfer
Defensible gates throughout

Best for: Organizations ready for comprehensive data governance technology readiness with a full operating model.

Plan a Comprehensive Purview Implementation

eDiscovery Readiness

Timeframe: 3-4 weeks

What you get:

eDiscovery permission configuration
Legal hold procedures and documentation
Search and collection playbooks
Workflow testing and validation
Staff training on tools and procedures

Best for: Organizations needing litigation readiness before incidents require a response.

Assess My eDiscovery Readiness

Ongoing Purview Advisory

Timeframe: Monthly retainer

What you get:

Policy review and optimization
Incident support and troubleshooting
Classification and DLP tuning
Compliance reporting review
New capability evaluation and adoption guidance

Best for: Organizations with production Purview deployments needing ongoing expertise for optimization and governance maintenance.

Discuss Ongoing Purview Advisory

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Purview and Microsoft 365 Compliance?

Microsoft rebranded Microsoft 365 Compliance as Microsoft Purview in 2022. The core capabilities are the same: data classification, DLP, retention, eDiscovery, and related compliance features. We work with current Purview branding and capabilities, including newer additions to the platform.

Do we need E5 licensing for Purview?

Many Purview features require Microsoft 365 E5 or E5 Compliance add-on licensing. Some capabilities are available in E3. Specific features like advanced eDiscovery, insider risk management, and certain DLP capabilities require E5. We help you understand which features require which licenses and design within your licensing reality.

How long does a Purview implementation take?

It depends on the scope. A focused classification implementation takes 4-6 weeks. Comprehensive governance across classification, DLP, retention, and eDiscovery typically takes 12-16 weeks. Our 15-day assessment provides a realistic timeline for your specific scope.

Can you help if we’ve already configured Purview, but it’s not working?

Yes. We frequently engage with organizations that have configured features but aren’t seeing results, classification is not adopted, DLP is generating complaints, and retention is inconsistent. We assess the current state, identify gaps, and remediate to achieve working governance.

Do you help with specific regulations (HIPAA, SOX, GDPR)?

We design Purview implementations with your compliance requirements in mind. We map capabilities to control objectives and build evidence production into implementation. We don’t provide legal advice on regulatory interpretation; that’s your legal and compliance team’s role.

How do you handle DLP false positives?

False positives are expected initially. We deploy DLP in simulation mode first to understand behavior, tune rules before enforcement, and establish feedback mechanisms for ongoing adjustment. The goal is protection that works without overwhelming users with incorrect blocks.

Do you provide Purview certification or attestation?

No. We provide technology readiness services, configuration, assessment, implementation expertise, and evidence capability. Certification and attestation are separate processes that require accredited assessors. We help you achieve technology readiness; certification is a subsequent step with appropriate certification bodies.

Move From Governance Gaps to Defensible Readiness

Your data governance strategy should protect sensitive information, enable adoption, and stand up to audit and regulatory scrutiny. Our Microsoft Purview Technology Readiness Services help organizations assess current posture, identify risk, and establish a sustainable operating model for classification, compliance controls, retention, and eDiscovery.

Assess My Microsoft Purview Readiness