Microsoft Copilot
Before a Copilot rollout, fix oversharing first
Microsoft 365 Copilot works with information users can already access. Start by checking permissions, sharing and ownership across your environment.
Copilot reflects existing access
Microsoft says Microsoft 365 Copilot uses data a person is already authorised to access. A rollout can therefore make existing oversharing easier to discover, even when Copilot respects current permissions.
Before enabling a wider group, review who can access SharePoint sites and OneDrive files, whether sharing links are broader than intended, and whether important sites have active owners.
A short readiness check
Microsoft’s current deployment guidance recommends identifying overshared or inactive sites, improving access controls and applying suitable data protection settings before deployment.
- Find sites and folders with broad or anonymous sharing.
- Remove access people no longer need.
- Assign owners to important workspaces and review inactive content.
- Pilot with a small group and check what information appears in real tasks.
Roll out in stages
A licence is not a substitute for information governance or staff preparation. Agree the pilot’s purpose, permitted use and support route, then expand when the access review and user feedback show the setup is working as intended.
Authoritative sources
This guidance is informed by the following primary sources and Secure AI's practical, security-first delivery approach.
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