Information Barriers
Microsoft Purview Information Barriers enable you to restrict communication and collaboration between specific user groups. Create "ethical walls" to prevent conflicts of interest, maintain regulatory compliance, or separate competing research teams.
What are Information Barriers?
Information Barriers block interactions between defined segments:
| Blocked | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Teams chat between segments | Chat within same segment |
| Teams meeting invitations | Meetings within segment |
| SharePoint site access | Site access within segment |
| OneDrive file sharing | Sharing within segment |
| Outlook communication | Communication within segment |
How It Works
Define Segments → Create Policies → Users Assigned → Barriers Enforced
| Step | Example |
|---|---|
| Segment A | Audit Committee members |
| Segment B | Finance Department |
| Policy | A cannot communicate with B |
| Result | Audit members can't Teams chat with Finance |
Common Scenarios
Conflict of Interest
Prevent investment bankers from communicating with research analysts.
Research Ethics
Separate competing research teams working on similar grants.
️ Legal Separation
Isolate legal team during mergers and acquisitions.
IRB Compliance
Separate IRB reviewers from research teams they evaluate.
What Gets Blocked
| Workload | Barrier Effect |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams | Can't start chat, add to team, invite to meeting |
| SharePoint | Can't access sites owned by blocked segment |
| OneDrive | Can't share files with blocked users |
| Outlook | Can't view GAL entries (optional) |
| Viva Engage | Can't follow or message blocked users |
Key Capabilities
Segment Definition
Define user segments based on Entra ID attributes:
- Department
- Job title
- Custom attributes
- Dynamic membership
Bidirectional Policies
"A cannot communicate with B" automatically means "B cannot communicate with A"
Policy Insights
Reports show blocked communication attempts and policy effectiveness.
️ Granular Control
Policies can allow some workloads while blocking others.
Considerations
Information Barriers are disruptive by design. Carefully plan segments and policies before deployment. Once enabled, users cannot communicate across barriers regardless of previous relationships.
| Consideration | Impact |
|---|---|
| Existing Teams | Users removed from cross-segment teams |
| Shared mailboxes | May need policy exceptions |
| Manager access | Ensure managers aren't blocked from reports |
| Guest users | Barriers apply to guests in segments |
Quick Links
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Purview Information Barriers | Policy management |
| Information Barriers Overview | Microsoft documentation |
| Implementation Guide | Enterprise deployment guide |
Related Solutions
- Data Loss Prevention — Content-based restrictions
- Sensitivity Labels — Access control via encryption
- Insider Risk Management — Monitor barrier policy violations