Analyze data loss prevention activities by using Activity explorer

In the realm of Microsoft 365 security, one of the key tools to monitor and analyze data loss prevention activities is the Activity explorer. The Activity explorer is part of the Microsoft 365 compliance center and provides a detailed, filterable and sortable audit trail of activities that can affect data security.

Understanding Activity Explorer

Activity explorer allows you to delve into the granular details of DLP incidents. It logs vast amounts of data regarding when and how your DLP policies are being triggered across Microsoft 365 services such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business.

Analyzing DLP Activities

When using Activity explorer for analyzing DLP activities, administrators can filter the data based on various criteria, such as:

• Date range: Narrow down the logs to a specific period.
• Activities: Focus on particular DLP actions such as policy matches or overrides.
• Users: Inspect the activities of specific users or groups.
• Location: View incidents in particular locations such as SharePoint sites or Exchange mailboxes.

These filters can be combined to create a very specific query to help pinpoint exactly what you are looking for in the potentially vast dataset.

Example Scenarios

For example, if you suspect that there has been unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in OneDrive for Business, you could configure Activity explorer to show DLP events related to OneDrive within a certain time frame. By scrutinizing these incidents, you could determine whether the policies in place are effective or need adjustments.

Another example could involve ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA. If your organization is required to prevent the sharing of personally identifiable information (PII), you might filter the activity log to show only events where PII policy rules were matched. This data can then be reviewed to ensure that your organization’s DLP policies are correctly identifying and taking action on sensitive information.

Analyzing Data in Detail

Within Activity explorer, you can drill down into specific incidents to view detailed information about each event. The columns in the Activity explorer can be customized, but typically you’ll find the following information:

• Date and time: When the event occurred.
• User: The account associated with the activity.
• Activity: The type of DLP event that occurred, such as a policy match or override.
• Item: The specific item involved in the event.
• Location: Where the event took place.
• Policy: The DLP policy that was triggered.

By reviewing this information, administrators can determine whether the DLP policies are functioning as intended, identify false positives, and adjust policy rules as necessary.

Reporting and Compliance

Using Activity explorer, you can also create reports from the filtered data, which can be extremely useful for demonstrating compliance with internal policies or external regulations. Reports can be exported for further analysis or shared with other stakeholders involved in the organization’s security strategy.

Conclusion

Analyzing DLP activities using Activity explorer within the Microsoft 365 compliance center aligns with the tasks performed by an Information Protection Administrator, as covered by the SC-400 exam. It is a powerful tool for gaining insight into how sensitive data is being handled within an organization and for ensuring that DLP policies are effective. The possibility to filter and sort quickly through complex data sets allows for proactive data protection management and compliance with regulatory requirements.