The ability to prevent the delivery of email messages containing specific words or phrases within an Exchange Online environment offers a crucial layer of security and control. For example, an organization might choose to implement such a rule to automatically block emails containing sensitive information like credit card numbers or confidential project names, mitigating the risk of data leaks and breaches.
This functionality is vital for maintaining data governance, ensuring compliance with industry regulations, and protecting sensitive company information. Historically, organizations relied on perimeter security and manual review processes, but the increasing volume of email traffic necessitates automated solutions. This automated filtering minimizes human error, reduces the workload on IT staff, and provides a proactive defense against malicious or unwanted communications.