What is the purpose of automatic labeling in Microsoft Information Protection?

Automatic labeling in Microsoft Information Protection serves the specific purpose of applying sensitivity labels to items based on predefined rules and conditions. This capability enables organizations to control and protect sensitive information automatically without requiring manual intervention from users.

By defining rules that take into consideration various data attributes—such as keywords, content types, or specific patterns—automatic labeling helps to ensure that data is consistently classified and protected in accordance with the organization's compliance and governance policies. This not only streamlines the process of information protection, but also reduces the risk of human error in the labeling process, ensuring that sensitive data is appropriately marked and handled.

This functionality is especially useful in large organizations where the volume of data is high, and manual labeling may be impractical. By leveraging automatic labeling, companies can ensure that sensitive information receives the necessary protections based on its classification, allowing for more effective data governance and compliance efforts.