How Secure is Microsoft 365’s Copilot?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the landscape of technology in today’s world, and the workplace is no exception. One of the technologies at the forefront of this evolution is Microsoft 365’s Copilot.

Designed to enhance workplace productivity by integrating AI-powered assistance into Microsoft apps such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, Copilot is a game-changer for efficiency. However, as people begin to incorporate this tool into their workflow, one of the main questions people – and especially companies – ask is this:

How secure is Copilot for Microsoft 365?

Copilot’s Security Framework

To answer the big question, you first have to understand the framework of Copilot and its security components.

Copilot operates within the security ecosystem of Microsoft 365, meaning it benefits from the same enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance standards that Microsoft enforces across its cloud services. The key areas of this security include:

Data Privacy & Protection

Copilot adheres to Microsoft’s strong data privacy principles. It doesn’t retain user data beyond a current session which ensures private information remains private. It uses a zero-retention policy, meaning your data isn’t stored or used to improve AI, and also features end-to-end encryption for added peace of mind.

Compliance with Industry Standards

Copilot is built to comply with global security and privacy regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Information Security Management System Standard, Service Organization Control Reports, and HIPPA. This means Copilot for Microsoft 365 meets the highest standards for protecting user and corporate data, making it a reliable choice for companies working with sensitive information.

Role-Based Access & Permissions

Copilot follows existing Microsoft 365 security policies, so it only accesses data users are authorized to view. For example, if a user doesn’t have permission within the system to open a file, Copilot won’t be able to retrieve or process that information. Organizations can also set specific data-access policies to further restrict AI-data driven insights from certain documents and folders.

Secure AI Processing

The models behind Copilot run in Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service, which is design with security in mind. Data processed by Copilot stays within Microsoft’s secure cloud environment, which reduces the risk of external threats to users and companies. And with the integration of Microsoft Defender for Cloud, something is actively monitoring for abnormal activity and security risks.

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Potential Security Risks

Much like any digital technology or software, Copilot for Microsoft 365 is not completely risk free. While it’s built with security at the forefront to protect users, there are still potential cybersecurity threats, including:

• Data Leaks: Users might unintentionally share private data through their AI-generated content. To help avoid this, companies can implement data governance policies.
• User Awareness: Like with all technology and internet programs, employees need to know how these programs use their data to avoid human errors that can lead to accidentally sharing or misusing information. Implementing and requiring a security training program for any employee that uses Copilot can help minimize this risk.
• Third-Party Integrations: If Copilot interacts with external apps, companies need to ensure those integrations meet their security standards and policies to help avoid security breaches, as well as regularly audit connected apps for potential vulnerabilities.

How to Enhance Copilot’s Security

If companies choose to implement Copilot for Microsoft 365 into their business, there are a few actions they can take maximize their security coverage and minimize risks.

• Enforce action controls and ensure only authorized users can use Copilot for certain tasks
• Use Microsoft Purview to monitor and govern data usage
• Educate and train employees on responsible AI usage
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for enhanced security

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Final Verdict – Is Microsoft 365’s Copilot Secure?

While all technologies and AI programs come with an inherent level of risk, by taking the right steps for security and training, the risk is minimized rather significantly. Because Copilot is designed with enterprise security in mind and aligns with Microsoft’s security-first approach, it is deemed as secure.

However, companies need to take proactive steps to properly educate users, enforce data governance policies, and monitor AI interaction to maintain a secure digital workspace.

If you are considering adopting Microsoft 365 Copilot into your business, ensure you have the right security policies in place, and you’ll be ready to unlock the full potential of AI-powered productivity.

How We Can Help

As a leading IT solutions provider in Texas, we know how important cybersecurity is to the efficiency and overall success of your company. Because of that, our IT team is well versed in cybersecurity measures and works with security at the forefront of everything they do. If you are looking to hire an IT experts to help set up your systems, check your cybersecurity risks and implement stronger measures, and teach your employees about staying safe online, send us a message! We’ll schedule a free consult to learn more about you and your needs, then get to work for you!