Sensitivity Labels in Outlook

Andy Thomas 2 Reputation points
2020-09-09T08:10:37.463+00:00

In Outlook, when creating a new email, if you click file > properties, in the window that loads there is a drop down called sensitivity with a set of labels within it. How do these compare to the new unified labelling and what differences are there between these in terms of functionality and intended use?

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This also appears in the outlook options where you can set a default from these labels.

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Reason I ask is that it has come to my attention that some users use these. I am currently in the process of rolling out Unified labelling and forgot that these in built Outlook labels even existed. I feel these are legacy but the fact that they are there is a potential cause for confusion so wanted to reach out to see how others have dealt with these along side the unified labelling.

Many thanks in advance for your assistance with this.

Outlook Management
Outlook Management
Outlook: A family of Microsoft email and calendar products.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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Microsoft Exchange Online Management
Microsoft Exchange Online Management
Microsoft Exchange Online: A Microsoft email and calendaring hosted service.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Eric Yin-MSFT 4,386 Reputation points
    2020-09-10T08:09:40.397+00:00

    For the normal Outlook users, the Sensitivity level doesn't stop recipients from taking any actions on a message. People who receive your email can take any action on the message that they want to, such as forwarding a confidential message to another person.
    So actually Sensitivity Label means nothing except the recipients receive the message with a prompt:
    23727-2.png
    Since you mentioned unified labelling, I assume you are deploying Microsoft 365 now, then it is another thing.
    But it's Exchange online/Outlook forum here, we are not professional in Microsoft 365 area, this forum may provide you with better support: azure-information-protection
    Read these docs and you should have a better understanding then:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compliance/sensitivity-labels?view=o365-worldwide
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compliance/encryption-sensitivity-labels?view=o365-worldwide

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