Setting Up Your First Purview Account: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
From Zero to Purview Hero: Because Governance Doesn’t Have to Be Boring
Microsoft Purview is a unified data governance and compliance solution that helps organizations manage, protect, and gain insights from their data across on-premises, multi-cloud, and SaaS environments. If you’re new to Purview, this guide will walk you through the essentials of setting up your first account and preparing for a successful deployment.
Why Purview Matters
Before diving into the steps, it’s important to understand why Purview is critical:
Centralized Governance: Consolidates data discovery, classification, and lineage tracking.
Compliance & Risk Management: Offers sensitivity labels, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and Insider Risk Management.
Multi-Cloud Support: Extends governance to Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and on-premises sources.
Prerequisites
Before creating your Purview account, ensure:
An active Azure subscription and associated Microsoft Entra tenant.
Appropriate roles: Global Administrator or Compliance Administrator.
Registered resource providers:
Microsoft.Storage,Microsoft.Purview, and optionallyMicrosoft.EventHub.Defined network requirements if using private endpoints.
Step 1: Create Your Purview Account
Access Azure Portal: Navigate to https://portal.azure.com
Create Resource: Search for Microsoft Purview and select Create.
Configure Basics:
Subscription: Choose your Azure subscription.
Resource Group: Select or create a resource group.
Account Name: Provide a unique name.
Region: Pick the closest region to your data.
Networking: Decide between open access or private endpoints for secure connectivity.
Review + Create: Validate settings and deploy.
Step 2: Set Up Data Map and Catalog
Navigate to Purview Studio and open Data Map.
Register Data Sources: Add sources like Azure Blob Storage, SQL Server, or Microsoft 365.
Configure Scans: Define scope and frequency for automated metadata discovery.
Enable Classification: Apply system or custom classifications for sensitive data.
Step 3: Assign Roles and Permissions
Use Role Assignments to grant access:
Admins: Full control.
Curators: Manage metadata.
Readers: View-only access.
For scanning, ensure Storage Blob Data Reader role is assigned to the Purview account.
Step 4: Configure Governance Policies
Sensitivity Labels: Create and apply labels for files, emails, and sites.
DLP Policies: Prevent accidental sharing of sensitive data.
Retention Policies: Define lifecycle rules for compliance.
Step 5: Validate and Monitor
Use Compliance Manager to track adherence to regulatory standards like GDPR or HIPAA.
Monitor scans and classification results in Purview Insights.
Schedule periodic reviews to maintain governance maturity.
Pro Tips
Start small: Enable core capabilities (Data Classification, Information Protection, DLP) before expanding to advanced features like Insider Risk Management.
Automate where possible: Use PowerShell modules (
Az.Purview,Microsoft.Graph.Compliance) for bulk operations.Document your taxonomy: Keep sensitivity labels simple and intuitive.