Tutorial / Cram Notes
It is vital for organizations to understand and classify their data to ensure it is adequately protected. Microsoft provides a suite of tools within its compliance solutions to help information protection administrators monitor data classification and label usage effectively. Among these tools are Content Explorer and Activity Explorer, integral parts of Microsoft’s information protection capabilities in the Microsoft 365 compliance center.
Content Explorer
Content Explorer gives an overview of labeled content across the organization. This tool allows you to see where sensitive items are located and understand the types of information your organization stores. Such visibility is critical in managing data protection policies and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Example usage of Content Explorer:
A compliance manager needs to check how many documents tagged with a “Confidential” label exist in the organization and where they are stored. By using Content Explorer, the manager filters the view accordingly and discovers the specific locations of these documents, including the owners and the last modified date.
To exemplify how Content Explorer can provide insights, consider this snapshot of what the interface might display:
| Label Name | Item Count | Location | Last Modified | File Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confidential | 120 | SharePoint | 03/18/2023 | John Doe |
| Internal Use | 350 | OneDrive | 03/19/2023 | Jane Smith |
| Public | 600 | Exchange Emails | 03/20/2023 | Bob Johnson |
Activity Explorer
While Content Explorer focuses on the static view of labeled content, Activity Explorer allows you to monitor what is happening with the labeled data in near real-time. It provides detailed information on label activity, such as when a label was applied, changed, or removed, enabling you to track how information is being handled and by whom.
Example usage of Activity Explorer:
Consider a scenario where an employee has changed the label of a document from “Highly Confidential” to “General.” Using Activity Explorer, information protection administrators can identify this activity, including who made the change, when, and from what location—it’s an invaluable feature for investigating possible breaches or policy violations.
Here is an example of an Activity Explorer output:
| Date & Time | User | Activity Type | Item Name | Original Label | New Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/21/2023, 10:15 AM | Emily.Ramos | Label downgrade | Budget.docx | Highly Confidential | General |
| 03/22/2023, 09:30 AM | Michael.Li | Label applied | Report.pdf | None | Internal Use |
| 03/22/2023, 11:00 AM | Karen.Patel | Label modification | Plan.xlsx | Confidential | Highly Confidential |
When used together, Content Explorer and Activity Explorer provide a comprehensive dashboard to protect sensitive information by allowing administrators to:
- Discover – Find sensitive items across Microsoft 365 locations.
- Monitor – Keep tabs on how classified content is being handled.
- Investigate – Delve into the context of labeling activities for audit or compliance purposes.
- Respond – Take action based on findings, inform policy improvements, and enforce data protection strategies.
These tools, within the Microsoft 365 compliance center, enable proactive management of data classification and labeling. As part of the SC-400 Microsoft Information Protection Administrator exam, understanding how to utilize these tools is essential. Administrators are expected to know how to navigate and interpret insights from the Content and Activity Explorers to safeguard data and assist their organizations in remaining compliant with various legislative frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, or any other data protection laws applicable to the organization’s operations.
This targeted approach in examining content and user activity closely aligns with SC-400 exam objectives, ensuring that candidates are well-equipped to manage and investigate information protection solutions within the ever-evolving digital workspace.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Content Explorer allows you to view labeled content, but it cannot generate detailed reports on label usage.
- Answer: False
Content Explorer not only allows users to view labeled content but also generates detailed reports on label usage, which can help in monitoring and analyzing data classification.
True or False: Activity Explorer provides real-time data about how users are interacting with labeled content.
- Answer: True
Activity Explorer provides real-time insights into user activities related to labeled content, enabling administrators to monitor label usage effectively.
Which of the following can be viewed in Activity Explorer? (Select all that apply)
- A) Data modifications
- B) Label application
- C) Data deletion
- D) Email encryption
- Answer: A, B, C
Activity Explorer provides information on data modifications, label application, and data deletion, but not specifically on email encryption.
True or False: Label analytics tools like Content Explorer and Activity Explorer are only available for Microsoft 365 E5 subscribers.
- Answer: False
While certain advanced features may be limited to higher-tier subscriptions, label analytics tools are not exclusively available to Microsoft 365 E5 subscribers and can be part of other compliance-related offerings.
Which tool would you primarily use to monitor the volume of items labeled as “Confidential” across your organization?
- A) Content Explorer
- B) Activity Explorer
- C) Compliance Manager
- D) Security & Compliance Center
- Answer: A
Content Explorer is designed to monitor and report on the volume of items labeled with specific classifications such as “Confidential.”
True or False: In order to use Activity Explorer, you must first configure data loss prevention (DLP) policies.
- Answer: False
Activity Explorer does not require the configuration of data loss prevention policies to function. It tracks activities related to labeled content regardless of DLP policies.
Activity Explorer helps you investigate which of the following activities? (Select all that apply)
- A) Label changes
- B) Access attempts to sensitive data
- C) Data transfers to external destinations
- D) Malware detections
- Answer: A, B, C
Activity Explorer helps investigate label changes, access attempts to sensitive data, and data transfers to external destinations but not malware detections.
True or False: Label analytics tools can only be used for data stored in Microsoft Office 365 applications.
- Answer: False
Label analytics tools can be used for data across different Microsoft services, not just Office 365 applications, as long as the data is within the scope of Microsoft’s information protection solutions.
To access Content Explorer and Activity Explorer, which portal do you primarily use?
- A) Azure Portal
- B) Microsoft 365 Compliance Center
- C) Microsoft 365 Admin Center
- D) Microsoft 365 Security Center
- Answer: B
Content Explorer and Activity Explorer are primarily accessed through the Microsoft 365 Compliance Center.
Which label analytics tool would provide you with information about who accessed a document labeled as “Company Confidential” last month?
- A) Content Explorer
- B) Activity Explorer
- C) Compliance Manager
- D) Data Governance Dashboard
- Answer: B
Activity Explorer is the appropriate tool for tracking specific user interactions with labeled data, such as who accessed a document within a certain timeframe.
True or False: In Content Explorer, you can filter data based on sensitivity labels, content types, and last modified date.
- Answer: True
Content Explorer provides filtering options to sort and view data based on sensitivity labels, content types, and the last modified date, making it a versatile tool for data classification monitoring.
Content Explorer and Activity Explorer integrate with which of the following tools for enhanced data protection insights? (Select all that apply)
- A) Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- B) Azure Information Protection
- C) Microsoft Cloud App Security
- D) Microsoft Defender for Identity
- Answer: B, C
Both Content Explorer and Activity Explorer integrate with Azure Information Protection and Microsoft Cloud App Security for enhanced data protection and monitoring insights.
Interview Questions
What is the purpose of the Activity Explorer tool?
The Activity Explorer tool is used to monitor how labels are being used in Microsoft 365, providing information on how labels are being applied, which types of content are being labeled, and which users are applying the labels.
How do you access the Activity Explorer tool?
To access the Activity Explorer tool, go to the Microsoft 365 Compliance Center and click on “Activity Explorer” in the left-hand menu.
What filters can be applied to Activity Explorer searches?
Filters that can be applied to Activity Explorer searches include label name, user, or date range.
How can Content Explorer be used to improve data classification and labeling practices?
Content Explorer can be used to identify which labels are being applied most frequently, which users are applying the labels, and which types of content are being labeled. This information can be used to identify areas for improvement in data classification and labeling practices.
How can Activity Explorer be used to improve data protection practices?
Activity Explorer can be used to identify areas where sensitive data may be at risk, such as if certain types of content are being labeled less frequently than others. By identifying these areas of risk, organizations can take steps to improve their data protection practices.
What is the benefit of monitoring data classification and labeling?
Monitoring data classification and labeling is essential for protecting sensitive data and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
What types of content can be monitored with Activity Explorer?
Activity Explorer can monitor a wide range of content types, including emails, documents, and SharePoint sites.
How can organizations use label analytics tools to identify areas for user training?
Label analytics tools can be used to identify areas where certain labels are not being applied frequently, which may indicate the need for additional user training on label usage.
How can organizations ensure that sensitive data is properly classified and labeled?
Organizations can ensure that sensitive data is properly classified and labeled by regularly reviewing and updating their data classification and labeling practices, and by using label analytics tools to monitor usage and identify areas for improvement.
Why is it important to prioritize label analytics and data protection?
Prioritizing label analytics and data protection is important for maintaining the trust of customers and stakeholders, and for protecting sensitive data in today’s digital age.
Can someone explain the difference between Content Explorer and Activity Explorer in label analytics?
Can we integrate these tools with third-party security solutions?
The ability to monitor label usage is crucial for compliance. How detailed are the log reports?
This blog post is very informative. Thanks!
What kind of labels can be analyzed using these tools?
I’ve had some issues with the reporting tools being slow. Anyone else experiencing this?
Great insights on using label analytics. Much appreciated!
Are there any limitations on which types of data can be classified using these tools?