How to troubleshoot data loss prevention policy tips in Exchange Online Protection in Microsoft 365

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    Exchange Online, Exchange Online Protection, Office Professional Plus 2013, Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

Original KB number: 2823263

Problem

Assume that you create or change a data loss prevention (DLP) policy in Microsoft Exchange Online Protection in Microsoft 365 policy. This policy notifies users when an email message that they create in Microsoft Outlook 2013 contains sensitive information. However, when a user creates an email message that contains sensitive information, the policy tips aren't displayed as expected.

Solution

The following table contains possible causes and resolutions for this issue. Use the resolution that's appropriate for your situation.

Cause Resolution
The full Microsoft Office 2013 Professional Plus suite isn't installed on the computer. Outlook 2013 relies on components from other programs in Office 2013. Policy tips don't work if you install Outlook 2013 separately.
NOTE Policy tips aren't supported in Office 2010 or earlier versions of Office.		 Install the full Office 2013 Professional Plus suite. For more information about features and business benefits of Office Professional Plus 2013, go to the following Microsoft website:
https://office.microsoft.com
Outlook 2013 isn't set up to use policy tips. Make sure that policy tips are enabled in Outlook 2013. To do this, follow these steps:
1. In Outlook 2013, click the File tab, click Options, and then click Mail.
2. Scroll to the MailTips section, and then click the MailTips Options button.
3. In the Select MailTips to be displayed selection dialog box, make sure that the Policy tip notification option is selected.
4. Click OK two times to close the File window.
5. Restart Outlook 2013.
The DLP policy doesn't have policy tips enabled. In the properties of the DLP policy in Exchange Online Protection, under Choose a mode for the requirements in this DLP policy, make sure that either the Enforce or Test DLP policy either Policy Tips option is selected.
Sensitive data threshold for the DLP policy isn't met. Therefore, the associated DLP policy tips aren't displayed. Modify the conditions of the applicable DLP policy by using the steps in Manage DLP Policies. For example, you may have to adjust the minimum or maximum sensitive item count values or adjust the kind of sensitive data that triggers the policy.

Note

Outlook 2013 doesn't support all the sensitive information types that are listed in Sensitive information types inventory.

More information

For an example of a DLP policy that's applied successfully, see the following screenshot:

Screenshot of an email message, showing a D L P policy that is applied successfully.

Note

Only valid credit card number formats will trigger the rule.

For more information about DLP features in Exchange Online Protection, go to the following TechNet website:

Data loss prevention

Still need help? Go to Microsoft Community.