How to use Microsoft 365 data protection features including sensitivity labels, information protection policies, and data loss prevention (DLP) tools.

Articles (10)

Apply Information Protection Label

Step-by-step instructions for applying a sensitivity label (Public, Sensitive, or Restricted) to a document or email in Microsoft 365. Covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Sensitivity labels help classify content and ensure appropriate handling of Bowdoin information.

DMARC

Explains what DMARC is, how it works, and why Bowdoin uses it. DMARC is an email authentication protocol that prevents others from sending emails using the bowdoin.edu domain without Bowdoin's authorization. No action is required from faculty, staff, or students.

Information Protection Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Frequently asked questions about Microsoft 365 information protection labels at Bowdoin. Covers what labels are, what the three label types do, how labels affect documents and emails, and whether labels can be removed.

Microsoft 365 (M365) Email Protection

Explains the two layers of Microsoft 365 email protection at Bowdoin — Exchange Online Protection (EOP) and Microsoft Defender for Office 365. Covers how spam, phishing, malware, and suspicious links are filtered, what users will see when protection is active, and what to do if a legitimate message is blocked.

Microsoft 365 External tag on new email messages

Explains the "External" tag that appears on email messages sent to Bowdoin addresses from outside the bowdoin.edu domain. Covers why the tag appears, what it means, and how to use it to identify potential phishing attempts.

Override a block when Microsoft 365 flags sensitive information

Explains how to override a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policy block in Microsoft 365 when sending or sharing content that contains sensitive information. Covers how to assess whether an override is appropriate, how to reduce sensitive content before overriding, and the step-by-step override process in Outlook and Teams/OneDrive. Overrides are logged and reviewed by IT Security.

Add or Change Sensitivity Labels for Files and Teams in Microsoft 365

How to add, apply, or change sensitivity labels for files in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive, and for Teams and SharePoint sites in Microsoft 365. Covers the three Bowdoin label types, how labels affect channels and files, and troubleshooting tips.

Managing Data Loss Protection (DLP) Alerts

Explains Bowdoin's Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies in Microsoft 365, what sensitive data DLP detects, what users will see when content is flagged across Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, and Copilot, and how to respond to or override DLP warnings.

Remove Sensitive and Hidden Information from Microsoft 365 Documents and PDFs

Step-by-step guidance for safely redacting sensitive or confidential information from Microsoft 365 documents and PDFs before sharing. Covers using Inspect Document tools to remove hidden metadata, true redaction using Adobe Acrobat Pro, and how to verify that redaction is complete.

How to completely log out of Microsoft 365

Step-by-step instructions for completely signing out of Microsoft 365 on all platforms — web browser, Office apps on macOS, Office apps on Windows, mobile devices (iOS/iPadOS and Android), and remotely signing out from all devices at once.