Microsoft 365 Usage Analytics data is becoming anonymous by default

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Published onAugust 31, 2021

published onAugust 31, 2021

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Microsoft hasannounced that it’s making some privacy changesto its Microsoft 365 configurations starting next month. This update will begin rolling out to business customers on September 1, and it will make all user-level information anonymous by default in Microsoft 365 usage analytics.

“At Microsoft, we’re committed to both data-driven insights and user privacy. As part of that commitment, we’re making a change to Microsoft 365 usage analytics on September 1st to pseudonymize user-level information by default.,” the company explained.

For those unfamiliar,Microsoft 365 usage analyticsprovides access to a dashboard that provides analytical capabilities to measure adoption trends within an organization. It lets IT Admins analyze usage data of Microsoft 365 services, generate custom reports, as well as share insights. Microsoft says this change will allow companies to comply with local privacy laws, and it will impact user-level information stored and accessed across:

Microsoft noted that global admins will need to head to the Microsoft 365 admin center to revert this change and show personally identifiable information in their respective tenants. To do this, go to Settings, Org Settings, Services, and choose the “Reports” option. Once there, select the “Show identifiable user information in reports” option available under the “Choose how to show user information” section.

Once enabled, the personally identifiable information (PII) will be visible to both administrators and report readers, but it won’t be accessible to the Usage Summary Reports Reader as well as Global reader. Let us know in the comments below if you think that these changes will help to improve privacy within your organization.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

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Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft 365 Usage Analytics data is becoming anonymous by default#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Microsoft 365 Usage Analytics data is becoming anonymous by default