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Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) SDK setup and configuration

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The Quickstart and Tutorial articles are centered around building applications that use the MIP SDK libraries and APIs. This article shows you how to set up and configure your Microsoft 365 subscription and client workstation, in preparation for using the SDK.

Prerequisites

Be sure to review the following topics before getting started:

Important

To honor user privacy, you must ask the user to consent before enabling automatic logging. The following example is a standard message Microsoft uses for logging notification:

By turning on Error and Performance Logging, you are agreeing to send Error and Performance Data to Microsoft. Microsoft will collect error and performance data over the internet (“Data”). Microsoft uses this Data to provide and improve the quality, security and integrity of Microsoft products and services. For example, we analyze performance and reliability, such as what features you use, how quickly the features respond, device performance, user interface interactions, and any problems you experience with the product. Data will also include information about the configuration of your software like the software you are currently running, and the IP address.

Sign up for an Office 365 subscription

Many of the SDK samples require access to an Office 365 subscription. If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for one of the following subscription types:

Name Sign-up
Office 365 Enterprise E3 Trial (30-day free trial) https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=403802
Office 365 Enterprise E3 or E5 https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/enterprise/office-365-e3
Enterprise Mobility and Security E3 or E5 https://www.microsoft.com/security
Azure Information Protection Premium P1 or P2 Microsoft 365 licensing guidance for security & compliance
Microsoft 365 E3, E5, or F1 https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/enterprise/microsoft365-plans-and-pricing

Configure sensitivity labels

If you're currently using Azure Information Protection, you must migrate your labels to Office 365 Security and Compliance Center. For more information on the process, see How to migrate Azure Information Protection labels to the Office 365 Security & Compliance Center.

Configure your client workstation

Next, complete the following steps to ensure your client computer is set up and configured correctly.

  1. If you're using a Windows 10 workstation:

    Using Windows Update, update your machine to Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709) or later. To verify your current version:

    • Click the Windows icon in the lower left.
    • Type "About your PC" and press the "Enter" key.
    • Scroll down to Windows specifications and look under Version.

  2. If you're using a Windows 11 or Windows 10 workstation:

    Ensure "Developer Mode" is enabled on your workstation:

    • Click the Windows icon in the lower left.
    • Type "Use developer features" and press the "Enter" key, when you see the Use Developer Features item show.
    • On the Settings dialog, For developers tab, under "Use developer features", select the Developer mode option.
    • Close the Settings dialog.

  3. Install Visual Studio 2019, with the following workloads and optional components:

    • Universal Windows Platform development Windows workload, plus the following optional components:

      • C++ Universal Windows Platform tools
      • Windows 10 SDK 10.0.16299.0 SDK or later, if not included by default

    • Desktop development with C++ Windows workload, plus the following optional components:

      • Windows 10 SDK 10.0.16299.0 SDK or later, if not included by default

      Visual Studio setup

  4. Install the ADAL.PS PowerShell Module:

    • Because administrator rights are required to install modules, first you need to either:

      • sign in to your computer with an account that has Administrator rights.
      • run the Windows PowerShell session with elevated rights (Run as Administrator).

    • Then run the install-module -name adal.ps cmdlet:

      PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> install-module -name adal.ps

Untrusted repository
You are installing the modules from an untrusted repository. If you trust this repository, change its
InstallationPolicy value by running the Set-PSRepository cmdlet. Are you sure you want to install the modules from
'PSGallery'?
[Y] Yes  [A] Yes to All  [N] No  [L] No to All  [S] Suspend  [?] Help (default is "N"): A

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>

  5. Download Files:

    The MIP SDK is supported on the following platforms, with separate downloads for each supported platform/language:

    Operating system Versions Downloads Notes
    Ubuntu 20.04 C++ tar.gz
    Java (Preview) tar.gz
    .NET Core
    Ubuntu 22.04 C++ tar.gz
    Java (Preview) tar.gz
    .NET Core
    Ubuntu 24.04 C++ tar.gz
    Java (Preview) tar.gz
    .NET Core
    RedHat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9 C++ tar.gz
    Debian 10 and 11 C++ tar.gz
    macOS All supported versions C++ .zip Xcode development requires 13 or greater.
    Windows All supported versions, 32/64 bit C++
    C++/.NET NuGet
    Java (Preview) .zip
    Android 9.0 and later C++ .zip Protection and Policy SDKs only.
    iOS All supported versions C++ .zip Protection and Policy SDKs only.

    Tar.gz/.Zip downloads

    Tar.gz and .Zip downloads contain compressed files, one for each API. The compressed files are named as follows, where <API> = file, protection, or upe, and <OS> = the platform: mip_sdk_<API>_<OS>_1.0.0.0.zip (or .tar.gz). For example, the file for Protection SDK binaries and headers on Debian would be: mip_sdk_protection_debian9_1.0.0.0.tar.gz. Each contained .tar.gz/.zip is split into three directories:

    • Bins: Compiled binaries for each platform architecture, where applicable.
    • Include: Header files (C++).
    • Samples: Source code for sample applications.

    NuGet packages

    If you're doing Visual Studio development, the SDK can be also installed via the NuGet Package Manager Console:

    Install-Package Microsoft.InformationProtection.File
Install-Package Microsoft.InformationProtection.Policy
Install-Package Microsoft.InformationProtection.Protection

  6. If you're not using the NuGet package, add the paths of the SDK binaries to the PATH environment variable. The PATH variable allows the dependent binaries (DLLs) to be found at runtime, by client applications (OPTIONAL):

    If you're using a Windows 11 or Windows 10 workstation:

    • Click the Windows icon in the lower left.

    • Type "Path" and press the "Enter" key, when you see the Edit the system environment variables item show.

    • On the System Properties dialog, click Environment Variables.

    • On the Environment Variables dialog, click the Path variable row under User variables for <user>, then click Edit....

    • On the Edit environment variable dialog, click New, which creates a new editable row. Using the full path to each of the file\bins\debug\amd64, protection\bins\debug\amd64, and upe\bins\debug\amd64 subdirectories, add a new row for each. The SDK directories are stored in a <API>\bins\<target>\<platform> format, where:

      • <API> = file, protection, upe
      • <target> = debug, release
      • <platform> = amd64 (x64), x86, etc.

    • When finished updating the Path variable, click OK. Then click OK when returned to the Environment Variables dialog.

  7. Download SDK samples from GitHub (OPTIONAL):

Register a client application with Microsoft Entra ID

As part of the Microsoft 365 subscription provisioning process, an associated Microsoft Entra tenant is created. The Microsoft Entra tenant provides identity and access management for Microsoft 365 user accounts and application accounts. Applications that require access to secured APIs (such as MIP APIs), require an application account.

For authentication and authorization at runtime, accounts are represented by a security principal, which is derived from the account's identity information. Security principals that represent an application account are referred to as a service principal.

To register an application account in Microsoft Entra ID for use with the Quickstarts and MIP SDK samples:

Important

To access Microsoft Entra tenant management for account creation, you'll need to sign in to the Azure portal with a user account that is a member of the "Owner" role on the subscription. Depending on the configuration of your tenant, you may also need to be a member of the "Global Admininstrator" directory role to register an application. We recommend testing with a restricted account. Be sure the account only has rights to access the necessary SCC endpoints. Cleartext passwords passed via commandline may be collected by logging systems.

  1. Follow the steps in Register an app with Microsoft Entra ID, Register a new application section. For testing purposes, use the following values for the given properties as you go through the guide steps:

    • Supported Account Types - Select "Accounts in this organizational directory only."
    • Redirect URI - Set the redirect URI type to "Public client (mobile & desktop)." If your application is using the Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL), use http://localhost. Otherwise, use something in the format <app-name>://authorize.

  2. When finished, you'll be returned to the Registered app page for your new application registration. Copy and save the GUID in the Application (client) ID field, as you will need it for the Quickstarts.

  3. Then click API permissions to add the APIs and permissions to which the client will need access. Click Add a permission to open the "Request API permissions" blade.

  4. Now you'll add the MIP APIs and permissions the application will require at runtime:

    • On the Select an API page, click Azure Rights Management Services.
    • On the Azure Rights Management Services API page, click Delegated permissions.
    • On the Select permissions section, check the user_impersonation permission. This right allows the application to create and access protected content on behalf of a user.
    • Click Add permissions to save.

  5. Repeat step #4, but this time when you get to the Select an API page, you'll need to search for the API.

    • On the Select an API page, click APIs my organization uses then in the search box type "Microsoft Information Protection Sync Service", and select it.
    • On the Microsoft Information Protection Sync Service API page, click Delegated permissions.
    • Expand the UnifiedPolicy node and check UnifiedPolicy.User.Read
    • Click Add permissions to save.

  6. When you're back on the API permissions page, click Grant admin consent for (Tenant Name), then Yes. This step gives pre-consent to the application using this registration, to access the APIs under the specified permissions. If you signed in as a global administrator, consent is recorded for all users in the tenant that run the application; otherwise, it applies only to your user account.

When finished, application registration and API permissions should look similar to the following examples:

Microsoft Entra app registration Microsoft Entra app API permissions

For more information on adding APIs and permissions to a registration, see Configure a client application to access web APIs. Here you'll find information on adding the APIs and permissions needed by a client application.

Request an Information Protection Integration Agreement (IPIA)

Before you can release an application developed with MIP to the public, you must apply for and complete a formal agreement with Microsoft.

Note

This agreement is not required for applications that are intended only for internal use.

  1. Obtain your IPIA by sending an email to IPIA@microsoft.com with the following information:

    Subject: Requesting IPIA for Company Name

    In the body of the email, include:

    • Application and product name
    • First and last name of the requester
    • Email address of the requester

  2. Upon receipt of your IPIA request, we'll send you a form (as a Word document). Review the terms and conditions of the IPIA, and return the form to IPIA@microsoft.com with the following information:

    • Legal name of the Company
    • State/Province (US/Canada) or Country of Incorporation
    • Company URL
    • Email address of the contact person
    • Additional addresses of the company (optional)
    • Name of the Company Application
    • Brief Description of the Application
    • Azure Tenant ID
    • App ID for the application
    • Company contacts, email, and phone for Critical Situation Correspondence

  3. When we receive your form, we'll send you the final IPIA link to digitally sign. After your signing, it will be signed by the appropriate Microsoft representative, completing the agreement.

Already have a signed IPIA?

If you already have a signed IPIA and want to add a new App ID for an application you are releasing, send an email to IPIA@microsoft.com and provide us with the following information:

  • Name of the Company Application
  • Brief Description of the Application
  • Azure Tenant ID (even if the same one as before)
  • App ID for the application
  • Company contacts, email, and phone for Critical Situation Correspondence

Upon the sending of the email, allow up to 72 hours for an acknowledgment of the receipt.

Ensure your app has the required runtime

Note

This step is necessary only if deploying the application to a machine without Visual Studio, or if the Visual Studio installation lacks the Visual C++ Runtime components.

Applications built with the MIP SDK require the Visual C++ 2015 or Visual C++ 2017 runtime to be installed, if not already present.

These will only work if the application has been built as Release. If the application is built as Debug, then the Visual C++ runtime debug DLLs must be included with the application or installed on the machine.

Next Steps