Identifying when to use trainable classifiers in managing information protection is a key area of content to master when preparing for the SC-400 Microsoft Information Protection Administrator exam. Trainable classifiers are used with Microsoft 365 to help you identify and categorize data across numerous platforms. This includes OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, and Exchange Online.
What Are Trainable Classifiers?
In Microsoft 365, classifiers are tools used to categorize data based on trainable machine learning models. Unlike sensitive information types that are defined by patterns or keywords, trainable classifiers categorize data based on what they have learnt about given datasets.
They are often used when predefined sensitive information types or patterns are not suitable, enabling administrators to use machine learning to distinguish the data that’s important to protect. This could be source code files, financial reports, or even HR documents.
When to Use Trainable Classifiers
Identifying when to use trainable classifiers depends on the type of data you have across your Microsoft 365 environment and how adequately it can be managed with the existing tools.
Here’s when you should opt for trainable classifiers:
- Data Identification Requires Context: Classifiers are ideal when data identification requires understanding the context instead of just matching patterns or keywords.
- Large Amounts of Unstructured Data: When dealing with large amounts of unstructured data that can’t be categorized with predefined sensitive information types.
- High Precision Identification Needed: When precision in identification is crucial to prevent data leaks, trainable classifiers are a good option.
- Evolving Data Patterns: If your data pattern is expected to evolve over time, classifiers can adapt to these changes as you retrain them with new examples.
Example: Confidential project documentation may not contain any standard sensitive information like credit card numbers or social security numbers. However, it might have certain phrases or terminology that is unique to the project. In such a case, using a trainable classifier would be effective.
Example: If you have a library of research papers with no specific keywords or patterns, a trainable classifier could learn from examples and make accurate identifications.
Example: Certain business reports might contain a mix of public and confidential data. Classifiers can be trained to accurately identify and protect only the sensitive parts.
Example: Let’s say your organization introduces a new format or template for strategic plans or proposals. By retraining your classifier with these new examples, it can accurately identify them, ensuring continuous data protection.
Case | Trainable Classifiers | Sensitive Information Types | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Find credit card numbers in documents | Not Ideal | Ideal |
2 | Categorize internal project documents | Ideal | Not Ideal |
3 | Locate GDPR-related data | Not Ideal | Ideal |
4 | Catalog thousands of research documents | Ideal | Not Ideal |
Remember that while the exam focuses on the usage of these classifiers, getting a hands-on experience is also a crucial part of understanding when to employ these powerful tools.
Trainable classifiers are a highly effective way to manage, categorize and protect your organization’s data when unique or complex requirements are present, a concept that is core to Microsoft’s SC-400 exam. They offer a robust solution to the challenges of identifying varied forms of sensitive information, a crucial step in data protection and compliance.
As you prepare for the SC-400 exam and leverage Microsoft Information Protection for your origination, striking the right balance between sensitive information types and trainable classifiers based on your data needs is the way to achieving optimal results. Understanding these tools and their practical applications is a lesson worth learning.
Practice Test
True/False: Trainable classifiers can be used to identify and classify sensitive data in SharePoint and Exchange Online.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Trainable classifiers can indeed be used to identify and classify sensitive data across both SharePoint and Exchange Online.
Which of the following can trainable classifiers be used to identify?
- a) Sensitive data in SharePoint Online
- b) Sensitive data in Exchange Online
- c) Sensitive data in OneDrive for Business
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Trainable classifiers can be used across all these platforms to identify and classify sensitive data.
True/False: For trainable classifiers to work effectively, you need to provide them with a training dataset.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: A training dataset is necessary to train the classifier to recognize and identify the type of data you want it to.
Single select: What is not true about trainable classifiers?
- a) It can automatically classify and protect information
- b) It can only detect sensitive data in Exchange Online
- c) It can detect patterns in information
- d) It uses machine learning
Answer: b) It can only detect sensitive data in Exchange Online
Explanation: Trainable classifiers can be used across various platforms such as SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, and OneDrive for Business, not just Exchange Online.
True/False: To use trainable classifiers, you should have the Sensitivity Labels option enabled in the Security & Compliance Center.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Yes, trainable classifiers are part of the Sensitivity Labels solution and the option must be enabled to use them.
Multiple select: What are some requirements needed to train classifiers?
- a) 50 example items
- b) 200 example items
- c) SharePoint Online
- d) 500 example items
Answer: b) 200 example items, d) 500 example items
Explanation: The minimum items needed to train a classifier are 200, and the recommended items are
True/False: You cannot retrain a classifier once it has been trained.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: You can train and retrain a classifier as many times as you need to improve its accuracy.
Single select: What is the role of a Microsoft Information Protection Administrator in classifier training development?
- a) Providing feedback on the classifier’s performance
- b) Creating a new classifier
- c) Training the classifier
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: An administrator can be involved in all stages: giving feedback on the classifier, creating new classifiers, and training the classifiers.
Multiple select: What types of data can trainable classifiers help detect?
- a) Atypical data patterns
- b) Sensitive data
- c) Unusual content
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Trainable classifiers can be used to detect atypical data patterns, sensitive data, and unusual content across an organization’s data.
True/False: You can only use built-in classifiers and cannot create your own.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While Microsoft does provide built-in classifiers, admins also have the ability to create custom classifiers to meet specific needs of their organization.
Single select: What kind of tool is a trainable classifier in Microsoft 365 compliance center?
- a) Data recovery tool
- b) Data breach detection tool
- c) Data classification tool
- d) Data encryption tool
Answer: c) Data classification tool
Explanation: Trainable classifier is a tool in Microsoft 365 compliance center that uses machine learning to recognize and classify data based on your organization’s needs.
Multiple select: To use trainable classifiers for sensitive data detection in your organization, which of the following permissions are required?
- a) Compliance Data Administrator
- b) Compliance Administrator
- c) Organization Management
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: All these roles are necessary to correctly configure and manage trainable classifiers in an organisation. The permissions give the necessary rights to manage sensitive data classification settings.
True/False: The trainable classifiers in Microsoft 365 compliance center require no maintenance once they are set up.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Trainable classifiers require regular retraining and refining to maintain their accuracy and effectiveness.
Single select: When refining a trainable classifier, what can you do after testing it with unbiased data?
- a) Publish it outright
- b) Review its predictions
- c) Delete it immediately
- d) None of the above
Answer: b) Review its predictions
Explanation: After testing a classifier with unbiased data—a set of items not used in training—you can review its predictions to understand how accurately it’s identifying the content.
True/False: You can train a classifier on any type of data or file.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Classifiers can only be trained on text data. Binary files, encrypted content, and some special file types can’t be processed for trainable classifiers.
Interview Questions
What are trainable classifiers in Microsoft 365?
Trainable classifiers in Microsoft 365 are machine learning models that you can train with your own business-specific labelled content to categorize and manage the content.
When should you use trainable classifiers?
You should use trainable classifiers when you need to categorize and manage your business-specific content in Microsoft 365, and built-in types do not fully cover your requirements.
Can you use trainable classifiers across all the Microsoft 365 services?
No, currently Microsoft 365 trainable classifiers can only be used across Exchange, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
What is the minimum number of items required to train a classifier model?
To train a classifier model, you need a minimum of 50 samples each of positive and negative examples.
What is an advantage of using trainable classification compared to keyword searches?
Unlike keyword searches, trainable classification intuitively understands the content’s context and is not limited to finding specific words or phrases in a document.
Is it necessary to retrain a trainable classifier?
Yes. To maintain the classifier’s effectiveness, retraining it periodically with fresh examples is recommended as it enhances the accuracy of the classifier.
What is the role of stability in trainable classifiers?
Stability refers to how consistently the classifier makes predictions. A stable classifier is crucial to ensure that the data remains classified correctly over time.
How are false positives and false negatives managed in trainable classifiers?
False positives and false negatives can be managed by refining the training data. This can involve adding more positive or negative examples or removing irrelevant samples.
In what format should the input data for training be?
The input data should be in the form of a .json file containing the URLs of the SharePoint Online sites that contain the items you want to use for training.
Can I use pre-existing labeled data to train the classifier?
Yes. If you already have labelled data, it can be used to train the classifier in the seed stage.
How can you measure the effectiveness of a trained classifier?
The effectiveness of a trained classifier can be measured by evaluating its precision and recall.
What permissions are needed to create a trainable classifier?
To create a trainable classifier, you need to have permissions for the Microsoft 365 compliance center, and you also need Power Shell access.
Can a trainable classifier identify and group similar content based on a single label?
Yes, a trainable classifier can be trained to identify and group content based on a single label or category.
What is the usual ADCycle value for retraining classifiers?
For retraining classifiers, the ADCycle is usually set to 28 days, indicating that the classifiers should be retrained approximately every month.
Can you use trainable classifiers outside of Microsoft 365?
No, trainable classifiers are a proprietary feature of Microsoft 365 and aren’t available for use outside of this platform.