Capabilities

Microsoft Purview, formerly known as Azure Data Catalog, is a cloud-based data governance and metadata management service provided by Microsoft. It's designed to help organizations discover, understand, and manage their data assets, regardless of where those assets reside—on-premises, in the cloud, or in other data stores. Microsoft Purview is part of Microsoft's broader Azure Data services ecosystem.

Key Features:

1. Data Discovery: Purview allows users to discover and catalog data assets, making it easier for organizations to understand the types of data they have and where it's located.

2. Metadata Management: The service enables the capture and management of metadata, which includes information about the data's structure, lineage, and usage. Metadata is essential for data governance, compliance, and data quality.

3. Data Classification and Governance: Organizations can classify data based on sensitivity or regulatory requirements. Purview provides tools for data governance, including access control and auditing capabilities to manage and secure data assets.

4. Integration: Purview integrates with a wide range of data sources, such as databases, data lakes, and cloud services, making it versatile for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

5. Data Lineage: Users can trace the origin and transformation of data through data lineage visualization, which helps in understanding the data's journey and transformations.

6. Data Catalog: It offers a data catalog to provide a comprehensive, searchable inventory of an organization's data assets. Users can search, discover, and access data efficiently.

7. Data Collaboration: Teams can collaborate on data documentation and descriptions within the platform. This ensures that users can share knowledge and insights about data assets.

8. Data Quality: Purview helps maintain data quality by capturing and tracking data quality rules, enabling users to assess and maintain data quality standards.

9. APIs and Integration: It provides APIs for programmatically interacting with the platform, enabling custom integrations and automated workflows.

Use Cases:

1. Data Governance: Purview is used for data governance to ensure that data assets are appropriately classified, controlled, and compliant with regulations and policies.

2. Data Discovery: Organizations use Purview to discover data across various data sources, making it easier to understand and manage data assets.

3. Metadata Management: It's valuable for capturing and managing metadata, allowing users to document and understand data definitions, lineage, and usage.

4. Data Lineage Analysis: Teams use Purview to analyze data lineage to understand how data flows through systems and processes, improving data quality and regulatory compliance.

5. Data Catalog: A key use case is creating a data catalog to provide a central inventory of data assets that users can search and access.

6. Data Collaboration: It promotes collaboration among data professionals, data stewards, and analysts, facilitating the sharing of insights about data assets.

7. Data Quality Management: Organizations can use Purview to maintain data quality by defining and tracking data quality rules and metrics.

Microsoft Purview is a comprehensive data governance and cataloging solution that helps organizations make the most of their data assets. It's especially useful in multi-cloud and hybrid environments, providing a unified platform for managing data across various sources and locations.