The amount of data organisations are handling today is nothing short of overwhelming, and it’s only getting more complex. Between legacy systems, multiple cloud platforms, third-party SaaS tools and ever-shifting compliance requirements, keeping everything secure and governed can feel like an impossible juggling act.
Most businesses start their data governance efforts in Microsoft 365 – and that’s a solid place to begin. But the reality is: if the rest of your estate is left unmanaged, you’re not seeing the full picture. And if you can’t see it, you can’t protect it.
That’s where the opportunity lies. With the right strategy, data governance becomes a unifying force, turning fragmented systems into a cohesive, compliant and insight-rich environment.
Why data governance needs to extend beyond M365
Taking a wider view of your data governance isn’t just about risk reduction. It’s an opportunity to extract meaningful business value from your data and simplify how your teams work with it.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Greater visibility and transparency
Know where your data is, how it moves, and who’s using it. No more blind spots, just clear oversight across your entire environment.
- More value from your data
When data is governed properly, it becomes more usable. That means better insights, smarter decisions and more confident innovation.
- Consistent, centralised policy enforcement
One governance policy, applied everywhere. Less duplication, less complexity and far fewer gaps to fall through.
- Cross-platform lineage and classification
See the full journey of your data and apply consistent labels, wherever it’s stored. That’s a win for compliance and reporting accuracy.
- Improved regulatory alignment
With built-in templates and automation, Purview simplifies the task of managing (and reporting on) requirements like GDPR, HIPAA and CCPA, even across borders.
Purview goes beyond Microsoft 365
You might know Microsoft Purview as your go-to for data protection in M365, but its capabilities reach much further. With the right setup, it can become the central nervous system for your entire data governance strategy, including:
- Third-party SaaS integration
Tools like Salesforce and Slack are no longer governance black holes. Purview connectors bring them into the fold with consistent controls.
- Multi-cloud visibility
AWS, Google Cloud – no problem. Purview lets you apply the same policies and oversight wherever your data lives.
- On-premises and legacy system support
Not everything lives in the cloud, and that’s OK. Purview can still scan and classify your historical and legacy data without the need for migration.
- Secure data sharing
Confident collaboration is easy with the right labels and access controls applied so that data stays protected, even when it moves.
Looking to take Microsoft Purview further?
Whether you’re just getting started with Purview, or ready to level up, we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence.
At Cloud Essentials, we focus on making governance practical, strategic and genuinely useful. Our team can help you:
- Expand your governance scope across platforms
- Design policies that align with your risk posture
- Configure Purview to fit your real-world environment
- Bring the right people on board to keep everything moving
With deep Microsoft expertise spanning everything from data governance and security to Azure, we’ll help you get more from your data, securely, efficiently and with less hassle.
Let’s turn your data governance into a business advantage. Get in touch.
