Data Governance Using Azure Purview

Best Practices for Automating Data Discovery, Classification, and Cataloging with Azure Purview.

Posted by Aravind Nuthalapati on January 15, 2023

This Article explains data governance best practices using Azure Purview.

Best Practices for Data Governance using Azure Purview

1. Introduction

Azure Purview is a unified data governance service from Microsoft designed to help organizations manage, secure, and understand their data estate. With built-in data cataloging, lineage, classification, and access management capabilities, Azure Purview empowers organizations to drive compliance, data quality, and data-driven decision-making effectively.

2. Benefits of Using Azure Purview for Data Governance

  • Unified Data Catalog: Single source to discover, classify, and govern data.
  • Comprehensive Data Lineage: Visual tracking of data origin and transformations.
  • Simplified Compliance: Automated data classification and sensitivity labeling.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Shared data glossary and metadata across teams.
  • Security & Access Management: Integrates with Azure Active Directory and RBAC.

3. Best Practices for Implementing Azure Purview

3.1 Define Clear Governance Policies

  • Establish data classification policies (public, internal, sensitive, confidential).
  • Standardize naming conventions and metadata documentation.

3.2 Automate Data Discovery & Classification

  • Regularly scan your data sources to discover and classify data automatically.
  • Configure classification rules to detect sensitive information like PII, financial data, and healthcare information.

3.3 Implement Comprehensive Data Lineage

  • Track data movement across ETL/ELT processes and data transformations.
  • Use lineage visualization to assess impact analysis of changes and troubleshoot data issues.

3.4 Set Up a Business Glossary

  • Create a centralized business glossary with clearly defined business terms and data definitions.
  • Regularly update and refine glossary terms in collaboration with business and technical stakeholders.

3.5 Enforce Security & Access Controls

  • Leverage Azure Active Directory (AAD) integration for identity management.
  • Define granular role-based access control (RBAC) policies to secure access to sensitive data.

3.6 Regularly Monitor & Audit Data Governance Activities

  • Use Azure Purview’s insights to monitor data classification coverage and governance status.
  • Perform periodic audits to maintain compliance and identify governance gaps.

4. Common Use Cases of Azure Purview

Use Case Azure Purview Features
Data Discovery & Cataloging Automated Scanning, Data Map
Data Classification & Compliance Sensitivity Labels, Classification Rules
Impact Analysis & Data Lineage Lineage Visualization, Impact Analysis
Business Glossary Management Business Glossary, Collaboration Tools
Security & Access Management Azure AD Integration, RBAC

5. Key Features of Azure Purview

  • Data Map: Holistic map of your data estate, both on-premises and cloud.
  • Automated Scanning: Regular scanning and metadata extraction from diverse data sources.
  • Sensitivity Labeling: Auto-classify data based on sensitivity and compliance needs.
  • Lineage Tracking: End-to-end lineage tracking of data lifecycle and transformations.
  • Built-in Integration: Seamless integration with Azure services like Azure Synapse, ADLS Gen2, Azure SQL, Power BI, and more.

6. Implementation Steps for Azure Purview Data Governance

Step 1: Deploy Azure Purview Account


az purview account create --name myPurviewAccount --resource-group myResourceGroup --location eastus

Step 2: Register & Scan Data Sources

  • Add data sources (Azure SQL, ADLS Gen2, Synapse, etc.) in the Purview Portal.
  • Configure scheduled scans for regular metadata updates.

Step 3: Define and Apply Classification Rules

  • Customize classification rules for sensitive data detection (e.g., GDPR, PII, HIPAA).

Step 4: Establish a Centralized Business Glossary

  • Create a comprehensive business glossary in collaboration with business stakeholders.

Step 5: Configure Lineage and Impact Analysis

  • Monitor data lineage and visualize data movement across your analytics pipeline.

Step 6: Monitor & Audit Governance Metrics

  • Use Purview’s built-in analytics to continuously improve data governance maturity.

7. Summary

Implementing Azure Purview provides organizations with a robust and comprehensive data governance framework. By following these best practices—including automated data discovery, comprehensive lineage tracking, centralized business glossaries, and stringent security measures—you can ensure data quality, compliance, and effective data-driven decision-making across your enterprise.

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