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In the world of increasing data volumes, the need to manage and govern information has significantly increased. Azure Purview, Microsoft’s comprehensive data governance solution is designed to meet this demand. Azure Purview allows organizations to oversee and manage their data, regardless of its location. With features like data discovery, classification, and policy definition, organizations can maintain data accuracy and compliance. This post dives into an in-depth view of Azure Purview, looking at its architecture and walking through a step-by-step configuration guide.

What Is Azure Purview?

Azure Purview is as a unified data governance solution, offering organizations a holistic view of their data landscape. This platform facilitates the discovery, classification, and management of data assets across different environments, including on-premises, multi-cloud, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms.

By leveraging Azure Purview, organizations can:

• Discover and inventory data assets
• Understand relationships between data assets
• Classify sensitive data
• Define policies for governing data usage and compliance
• Monitor and audit data usage

Azure Purview Architecture: Azure Purview sits on-top of various Azure services, including Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure Blob Storage. Its architecture is composed of three key components:

1. Azure Purview Studio: A web-based user interface which facilitates data asset management, data mapping, and policy definition.
2. Azure Purview Data Map: A graphical representation of the data landscape detailing relationships between data assets.
3. Azure Purview Data Catalog: A repository storing metadata about data assets, structure and usage.

Step-by-Step Configuration of Azure Purview:

Setting up Azure Purview is a streamlined process, achievable in a few steps:

1. Create an Azure Purview Account: Create an Azure Purview account through the Azure portal.
2. Configure Data Sources: Connect to various data sources (i.e., databases, file systems, SaaS applications) where data assets sit.
3. Create a Data Map: Utilize the Azure Purview Studio interface to create a representation of the data landscape and relationships between data assets.
4. Classify Data: Identify and label sensitive data using built-in classifiers for categories like PII, financial data, and healthcare information.
5. Define Policies: Establish rules governing data usage and compliance, specifying parameters such as authorized user access and any encryption requirements.
6. Monitor Data Usage: The final step involves actively monitoring data access and usage to ensure policy enforcement.

Azure Purview is a trailblazer for data governance solutions, providing a comprehensive understanding of your data landscape. Through features like discovery, classification, and management of data assets, you can guarantee data accuracy and compliance, regardless of where the data is located. Azure Purview can be an optimal choice for organizations seeking effective data management solutions.