Preparing for Microsoft Copilot: Is Your Data Ready for AI?

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a buzzword; with the integration of Microsoft Copilot into Microsoft 365, it is becoming a daily productivity tool. However, turning on AI without preparing your environment can lead to data sprawl and security risks. AI is powerful, but it requires a clean house.

The "Oversharing" Problem

Copilot uses the permissions you already have in place to surface information. If your internal permissions are loose—for example, if "Payroll Data" is accidentally accessible to "Everyone" but nobody noticed because nobody looked for it—Copilot will find it. If a user asks, "What are the executive salaries?", Copilot will answer if it has access.

Sanitizing Your SharePoint and Teams

Before rolling out AI tools, a thorough audit of your data governance is required. We must ensure that the principle of "Least Privilege" is enforced. Data should only be accessible to those who absolutely need it for their role.

Steps to AI Readiness:

• Data Classification: Tagging sensitive data so AI treats it with higher security protocols.

• Permission Audits: Reviewing SharePoint and Teams access rights to close security gaps.

• Standardization: Organizing files logically so AI can retrieve accurate and relevant context.

• Training: Teaching staff how to write effective prompts to get the most out of the tool.

Conclusion

AI represents a massive leap in productivity, but security comes first. Let’s work together to secure your data foundation so you can deploy Microsoft Copilot with confidence.