How to Automatically Apply a Retention Label to Documents Containing Social Security Numbers
A compliance administrator needs to automatically apply a retention label to all documents in a SharePoint Online site that contain Social Security numbers. The label should retain the documents for 5 years and then automatically delete them. Which feature should they configure?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is a retention label with auto-labeling. This feature is the right choice because it allows a compliance administrator to automatically apply a retention label to documents containing Social Security numbers by using sensitive information types within Microsoft Purview, triggering a five-year retention period followed by automatic deletion. On the MS-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how auto-labeling policies differ from manual labeling or retention policies, which cannot scan content for specific data patterns. A common trap is confusing retention labels with retention policies—remember that policies apply at the container level (site or library), while labels apply to individual items based on content. For memory, think “label for content, policy for location,” and recall that auto-labeling uses sensitive info types like SSN to enforce both retention and deletion automatically.
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse DLP policies (which detect and protect) with retention labels (which manage lifecycle), leading them to choose Option A because both involve sensitive data detection, but only retention labels can enforce deletion after a set period.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
retention label with auto-labeling
Retention labels with auto-labeling are designed to automatically apply retention settings based on sensitive information types, such as Social Security numbers, and can enforce a retention period (5 years) followed by automatic deletion. This feature is part of Microsoft Purview's records management and uses trainable classifiers or sensitive info types to trigger the label assignment on SharePoint Online documents.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policy
Why it's wrong here
DLP policies are designed to detect and prevent the sharing of sensitive data, not to manage retention or deletion.
- ✗
sensitivity label with auto-labeling
Why it's wrong here
Sensitivity labels classify and protect content through encryption and markings; they do not enforce retention or deletion after a fixed period. It is tempting because auto-labelling also detects sensitive information like Social Security numbers. Retention labels with auto-apply policies deliver the five-year retention and automatic deletion.
- ✓
retention label with auto-labeling
Why this is correct
Auto-labeling retention labels use sensitive information types, such as Social Security numbers, to detect matching content and apply the label automatically. The label's retention settings then retain documents for five years before deleting them, meeting both requirements.
- ✗
An information barrier policy
Why it's wrong here
Information barriers prevent specific groups from communicating or collaborating; they do not inspect document content or apply retention and deletion. It is tempting because barriers are a compliance control within Microsoft Purview. Retention labels with auto-apply policies are what detect Social Security numbers and enforce the five-year retain-then-delete requirement.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Named Locations and Network-Based Policies
Key term
Compliance
Compliance is the process of ensuring that an organization follows laws, regulations, standards, and internal policies that apply to its operations and data handling.
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
About these practice questions
This MS-102 question is part of Courseiva's 712-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on MS-102
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A compliance administrator needs to automatically apply a retention label to documents in a SharePoint Online site that contain the keyword 'Project Alpha'. The label should retain the documents for 5 years and then delete them. Which two Microsoft Purview features must be configured to achieve this? (Choose two.)
medium- A.Trainable classifiers
- ✓ B.Auto-labeling policy for SharePoint Online
- C.Document Fingerprinting
- ✓ D.Sensitive info type with a keyword dictionary (e.g., 'Project Alpha')
Why B: An auto-labeling policy for SharePoint Online (option B) is required because it can automatically apply a retention label to documents based on conditions such as the presence of specific keywords. The sensitive info type with a keyword dictionary (option D) defines the condition by creating a custom sensitive information type that matches the exact phrase 'Project Alpha', which the auto-labeling policy then uses to trigger the label application.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This MS-102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MS-102 exam.