eDiscovery & Compliance in Microsoft Purview: What IT Teams Need to Know

Introduction

Data governance and compliance are no longer optional — they’re business-critical. As organizations generate enormous amounts of data across Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint, IT teams must ensure information is discoverable, secure, and compliant with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

Enter Microsoft Purview — the new umbrella solution that unifies Microsoft’s data governance, risk, and compliance tools. Within Purview, the eDiscovery and Compliance Center gives IT and legal teams everything they need to investigate, preserve, and export data while staying audit-ready.

This blog will walk you through the essentials of eDiscovery in Microsoft Purview and why it matters for IT teams today.

What is Microsoft Purview?

Microsoft Purview is Microsoft’s comprehensive data governance and compliance platform. It brings together compliance solutions like:

• eDiscovery for legal investigations

• Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

• Information Protection & Sensitivity Labels

• Audit & Insider Risk Management

• Communication Compliance

For IT teams, this means one unified hub for managing compliance policies, legal holds, and data governance across the entire Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

eDiscovery in Microsoft Purview: Core Capabilities

1. Case Management

Create and manage legal cases, assign roles, and keep all investigation-related data in one place.

2. Content Search & Export

Search across Exchange mailboxes, Teams chats, SharePoint sites, and OneDrive accounts. Export findings for legal review.

3. Legal Hold

Preserve relevant data to prevent deletion or tampering during investigations.

4. Advanced eDiscovery (E5)

• Collects and processes large datasets.

• Provides analytics like email threading and near-duplicate detection.

• Uses machine learning to reduce review workloads.

Why IT Teams Need Microsoft Purview for eDiscovery

Regulatory Compliance Made Easy

Whether it’s GDPR in Europe, HIPAA in healthcare, or local data protection laws, Purview helps IT teams enforce consistent compliance policies across Microsoft 365.

Faster Legal Investigations

Legal departments often need quick access to relevant files. With Purview, IT teams can locate and secure information in minutes instead of weeks.

End-to-End Data Protection

Beyond eDiscovery, Purview integrates DLP, sensitivity labels, and insider risk management, ensuring compliance and security go hand in hand.

Best Practices for Using eDiscovery in Microsoft Purview

1. Set Up Data Classification Early
   Use sensitivity labels and retention policies to tag and organize data.

2. Leverage Automation with PowerShell
   Run scripted searches or automate legal hold assignments.

3. Train Teams on Search Queries
   Teach compliance officers how to use KQL (Keyword Query Language) for precise searches.

4. Regularly Monitor & Audit
   Use Purview’s built-in reports to track unusual data activity.

5. Align Licensing with Needs
   Choose between Core eDiscovery (E3) or Advanced eDiscovery (E5) depending on your organization’s size and legal requirements.

   

Microsoft Purview Licensing & Availability

• Core eDiscovery: Included with Microsoft 365 E3 and higher.

• Advanced eDiscovery: Available with Microsoft 365 E5 or as an add-on.

Organizations should evaluate compliance requirements before selecting the right plan.

Conclusion

The eDiscovery and Compliance Center in Microsoft Purview empowers IT teams to handle regulatory challenges, legal investigations, and data governance in one unified platform. By combining powerful eDiscovery tools with Purview’s broader compliance capabilities, IT teams can ensure their organization stays secure, compliant, and audit-ready.

If your business is scaling or operating in regulated industries, now is the time to explore Microsoft Purview and leverage its compliance-first approach.

Do you need help configuring Microsoft Purview for your business? Contact ITCS today — your trusted Microsoft 365 partner in Pakistan.