Rolling out Copilot without exposing sensitive data

Copilot searches your Microsoft 365 environment. If a SharePoint site is open to too many people, Copilot can show its content to people it was not meant for. That is called oversharing. Microsoft published a plan to prevent it, in 3 phases.

Copilot in Teams training

Phase 1: Pilot

Start with a small group of users. Generate reports to find the most used and possibly sensitive SharePoint sites. Block or limit Copilot's access to sites that need it. That way you test with little risk and gather feedback for the wider rollout.

Phase 2: Deploy

Roll out more widely and improve data security. Microsoft Purview and SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) help you find and close leaks. You can also set up automatic checks against oversharing.

Phase 3: Operate

Keep it up. Regular reports show where oversharing still happens. Automatic labels and ongoing attention to security make Copilot better and more reliable.

What this means for your team

A Copilot licence is not a project. The technical steps are for your IT, the habits are for your team: what you put where, who may see it, and what you ask Copilot. Our advice follows the same order as Microsoft: start small, learn, then go wider.

Microsoft's blueprint is on the Microsoft Learn site, under "Microsoft 365 Copilot blueprint for oversharing".

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Want your team to learn to use Copilot well? See the Copilot in Teams training or book a call.

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