Last updated: 3 October 2026
Short answer: Microsoft 365 compliance tools help you protect sensitive data, keep records for the right length of time, detect risky behaviour and prove to clients, insurers and the ICO that you are in control. Most of them sit in Microsoft Purview and are included, in part, in common Microsoft 365 business plans.
What are the benefits of Microsoft 365 compliance?
| Feature | Benefit to your business |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity labels | Mark files as Confidential or Internal and apply protection that follows them. |
| Data loss prevention | Warn or block when sensitive data is about to be shared outside the company. |
| Retention and records | Meet legal retention periods and remove data you no longer need. |
| Audit | See who accessed, changed or deleted content, which is vital after an incident. |
| eDiscovery | Find and export data for legal matters and subject access requests. |
| Communication compliance | Detect and act on inappropriate messages across the organisation. |
| Compliance Manager | Track your progress with a compliance score and clear improvement actions. |
Why does it matter for a small business?
Clients, insurers and regulators increasingly ask how you protect data. Having these controls switched on and documented answers those questions quickly, reduces the chance and impact of a breach, and supports your obligations under UK GDPR. It also makes safe use of tools such as Microsoft Copilot far easier.
How do we get started?
- Check your licenceSee which compliance features your Microsoft 365 plan already includes.
- Fix access and sharingTidy up overshared sites and files first.
- Switch on core protectionStart with MFA, sensitivity labels and a few data loss prevention policies.
- Set retentionKeep records for the right time, then delete them.
- Review and improveUse Compliance Manager to track progress.
Can ABCOM set up Microsoft 365 compliance for us?
Yes. We review what you are licensed for, configure the controls to suit how your team works, and manage them ongoing as part of our Microsoft Defender and Purview service. Read what Microsoft Purview is, or book a free IT review.
Sources and further reading
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