As artificial intelligence and generative tools like ChatGPT, Notion AI, and Microsoft 365 Copilot revolutionise business operations, they also introduce significant data security challenges. While AI tools have the potential to streamline workflows and enhance productivity, they also raise concerns about data access, privacy compliance, and the potential for misuse.
In environments where sensitive data is processed dynamically, organisations are struggling to maintain control over data lineage, sharing practices, and compliance. These challenges are amplified by the rapid growth of AI technologies, which can create gaps in data security, making it difficult to ensure secure collaboration, meet regulatory requirements, and manage the risks associated with unauthorised data exposure.
In response to these growing concerns, Microsoft has introduced a robust solution: Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management for AI (DSPM for AI). Initially known as AI Hub Data Security Posture Management, the solution was rebranded in November 2024 and has been tailored to meet the specific security needs of AI applications, including Microsoft’s Copilot and other third-party AI tools.
What is DSPM for AI within Microsoft Purview?
Microsoft Purview DSPM for AI is a comprehensive solution designed to help organisations secure, govern, and identify risks in their use of AI applications. It offers an array of tools and policies to protect sensitive data while using AI, including ready-to-use policies that prevent data loss in AI prompts. Integrated seamlessly with Microsoft’s broader Purview features like sensitivity labelling, auditing, and data classification, DSPM for AI enables organisations to manage security and compliance across generative AI ecosystems, ensuring that tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot adhere to organisational security policies and regulatory standards.
Key Features of Purview's DSPM for AI
1. Real-Time Data Classification
DSPM for AI continuously monitors AI interactions to ensure sensitive data is properly classified and protected. It provides real-time insights into how AI tools interact with your data, highlighting any potential security violations.
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2. Monitoring for Policy Violations
With DSPM for AI, organisations can set up automated monitoring to detect and respond to policy violations in real time. This feature is particularly valuable in AI environments, where data is processed quickly and often without direct oversight.
3. Actionable Insights into Security Risks
The platform provides actionable insights into potential security risks, helping organisations identify vulnerabilities before they become threats. These insights allow for a proactive, left of bang approach to mitigating risks related to AI usage.
4. Ease of Use with One-Click Policies
Microsoft Purview DSPM for AI is designed with user-friendliness in mind. It includes one-click policies that help organisations quickly implement data protection measures and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
5. Centralised Management
DSPM for AI is accessible via the Microsoft Purview portal, offering a centralised location to manage data security for AI applications. From here, organisations can secure data for applications such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, other Microsoft Copilot tools, and third-party AI apps built on large language models (LLMs).
6. Managing Risks and Compliance in AI
As AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot become deeply embedded in business operations, it is crucial to balance productivity with security. DSPM for AI provides organisations with the capabilities needed to manage this balance effectively, ensuring that data is handled securely while still enabling the efficient use of AI.
Reports and Insights Within DSPM for AI
Microsoft Purview DSPM for AI offers a comprehensive set of reports and analytics to help organisations monitor AI activity and assess security risks out of the box. Key reports include:
- Total Interactions Over Time (Microsoft Copilot) – Track interactions with Microsoft 365 Copilot across your organisation.
- Total Interactions Over Time (Enterprise AI Apps) – Monitor usage of enterprise AI applications.
- Total Visits (Other AI Apps) – See the frequency of third-party AI application access by your organisation’s users.
- Sensitive Interactions per AI App – Understand how sensitive data is being interacted with across various AI applications, such as Google Gemini, OpenAI ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot.
- Top Sensitivity Labels Referenced in Copilot for Microsoft 365 – Track which sensitivity labels are most commonly used in AI interactions.
- Insider Risk Severity – Assess the severity of insider risks, including those specific to AI applications.
- Insider Risk Severity per AI App – Identify which AI applications are most commonly associated with insider risk.
As AI tools continue to evolve and become central to business operations, securing the sensitive data they process has never been more important. Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management for AI offers organisations the tools they need to maintain control over data security while embracing the benefits of AI. By combining advanced monitoring, real-time data classification, and policy enforcement, DSPM for AI helps businesses safely adopt AI technologies without compromising security or compliance.
Whether you are using Microsoft 365 Copilot, third-party AI tools, or a combination of both, DSPM for AI provides the comprehensive data security solution you need to confidently leverage AI while safeguarding your organisation’s most sensitive information.
For those organisations requiring a helping hand through their Purview implementation, Threatscape’s complimentary Microsoft Purview Advisory Service offers insight into the data security protections available within your Microsoft 365 license. With a no-obligation consultation with one of our award-winning Microsoft security experts, you’ll receive advice and recommendations on the type of data security risks companies face, and insight into how Purview and other capabilities within Microsoft 365 help defend against those risks.
