Changing label properties after they have been deployed as SharePoint default labels.

Question

Is there any way to configure labels to be totally invisible to the end user when they are being used as default labels on a SharePoint site? Also, if I make those changes, can I expect that change to be reflected on the existing files that have already been labeled without any further steps? I.E if i change the wording of a default label from "Confidential" to "Classified" do I need to do anything to make that change take effect on existing labeled documents?

Answer 1

Hi @jpcapone

Greetings & Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum! Thanks for posting your query!

Thank you for your inquiry regarding default sensitivity labels in Microsoft Purview for SharePoint document libraries. I would like to address and clarify a few points in response to your questions:

Is there any way to configure labels to be totally invisible to the end user when they are being used as default labels on a SharePoint site?

Visibility of Default Sensitivity Labels - Unfortunately, it is not possible to make default sensitivity labels completely invisible to end users. When these labels are applied to documents, they typically become visible to users during their interaction with those documents. However, you can minimize user interaction by implementing automatic labeling policies. This allows labels to be applied automatically based on predefined conditions, reducing the need for users to manually select or apply them.

Also, if I make those changes, can I expect that change to be reflected on the existing files that have already been labeled without any further steps? I.E if i change the wording of a default label from "Confidential" to "Classified" do I need to do anything to make that change take effect on existing labeled documents?

Changing Label Properties - If you change the wording of a default sensitivity label (for example, from "Confidential" to "Classified"), this change will not automatically update existing documents that have already been labeled. The new label properties will only apply to newly created or modified documents going forward.

Updating Existing Documents - To update existing documents with the new label, you will need to either manually reapply the label or use automation tools such as PowerShell scripts or the Microsoft Purview Information Protection Scanner.

Unfortunately, there is no built-in feature that automatically updates labels on existing documents when label properties are changed.

For additional information, please refer:

• Configure a default sensitivity label for a SharePoint document library
• Default sensitivity labels and policies to protect your data

I hope this information helps. Please do let us know if you have any further queries.

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Answer 2

Here are answers to your two questions:

1.Sensitivity labels are used to classify data based on its confidentiality and sensitivity. When a default sensitivity label is applied to a SharePoint site, it is visible to all end users. This visibility serves as a reminder and warning about the data's sensitivity. Unfortunately, there is no way to make the default sensitivity label invisible to all end users.

2.After changing the default sensitivity label from "Confidential" to "Classified," the change will not automatically reflect on existing labeled documents. The new label will only apply to new or updated documents within the library. Existing files will not have any label inheritance automatically applied unless they are manually adjusted.

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