Session Abstract

With 73% of unstructured sensitive data remaining undiscovered and unclassified, organisations face a growing challenge: how to protect what they can’t see. In this session, Microsoft MVP and data security and governance expert Nikki Chapple will guide you through practical strategies for securing sensitive data using Microsoft Purview Information Protection and Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Framed around Microsoft’s “Secure by Default” blueprint, this session takes you on a journey through four strategic phases: Foundational, Managed, Optimised, and Strategic. Each phase is designed to help you scale your organisation’s data protection maturity. You’ll learn how to classify and label data, apply encryption, implement adaptive protection, and govern workspaces with confidence. Whether you're just starting your data protection journey or looking to optimise your existing strategy, this session will equip you with actionable insights, real-world examples, and a clear roadmap to climb your own “data Everest.” Key Takeaways: - Understand Microsoft Purview’s “Secure by Default” approach to data protection. - Learn how to apply sensitivity labels, DLP policies, and adaptive protection effectively. - Discover how to simplify complex label structures and align them with business needs. - Gain practical tips for training users, starting small, and scaling securely.

Nikki Chapple

Nikki Chapple is a Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay and a dual Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Microsoft 365 and Security. She specialises in AI governance, Microsoft Purview and helping organisations build trusted data foundations for AI across Microsoft 365, Copilot and AI agents. With more than 35 years of experience spanning IT and business, Nikki works with organisations to identify sensitive information that is overshared or exposed, strengthen data security and governance, and implement Microsoft Purview to protect critical information. By ensuring data is trusted, secure and well governed, she helps organisations adopt AI with confidence while reducing risk and meeting compliance obligations. Nikki believes successful AI adoption starts with trusted, governed data, not the AI itself. This philosophy underpins her work with enterprise customers and is the foundation of her conference sessions, workshops and technical guidance. Nikki co-authored the Governance, Risk & Compliance competency of the Microsoft 365 Maturity Model and was recognised in Microsoft's People of Purview (2025) and with the UK Community Award for Security & Compliance Evangelist (2023). She is an international conference speaker, blogs at nikkichapple.com, and co-hosts the AI Governance & Data Security Show.