Executive Summary
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a powerful productivity tool, but its effectiveness and safety depend on your existing governance and permissions. Copilot respects the access controls already in place, so if your SharePoint or Teams environment is messy, oversharing becomes the biggest risk. This guide provides:
- A 12-point security and governance checklist before enabling Copilot.
- A 30-day safe rollout plan for SMEs.
- How Get Support IT Services can own Copilot readiness and governance as a managed service.
Introduction
Copilot for Microsoft 365 is more than just a new feature—it’s a fundamental shift in how your team interacts with data. By leveraging AI to summarise, draft, and analyse, Copilot can dramatically improve productivity. But here’s the catch: Copilot doesn’t create new permissions. It uses what’s already there.
If your SharePoint sites have overly broad access or your Teams channels include external guests, Copilot could surface sensitive information to the wrong people. That’s why enabling Copilot should be treated as a managed change project, complete with governance, training, and ongoing oversight.
The Big Idea: Copilot Follows Permissions
The most important concept to understand is this: Copilot only shows users what they already have permission to access. If a user can open a file in SharePoint or Teams, Copilot can reference it. If permissions are too broad, Copilot will amplify that exposure.
Example: Imagine your Finance folder is accidentally shared with “Everyone”. Copilot could summarise last year’s accounts for any employee who asks. That’s why permissions hygiene is critical before rollout.
The 12-Point Copilot Security and Governance Checklist
1) SharePoint and Teams Permissions Review
Why it matters: Copilot draws from SharePoint and Teams. Poorly managed permissions mean oversharing. What good looks like: Clear site ownership, no “Everyone” or “Company-wide” access unless intended. Quick win: Audit high-risk sites like Finance and HR. Get Support can: Run a full permissions audit and fix misconfigurations.
2) Reduce Broad Access and Tidy Legacy Sites
Why it matters: Old sites often have outdated permissions. What good looks like: Remove unused sites, archive old content, and restrict access. Quick win: Identify sites with no recent activity and review their permissions. Get Support can: Implement lifecycle policies and clean up legacy sites.
3) Guest Access and External Sharing
Why it matters: External users could access sensitive data via Copilot. What good looks like: Guest access limited to what’s necessary, external sharing disabled for sensitive sites. Quick win: Review guest accounts and revoke unnecessary access. Get Support can: Configure external sharing policies and monitor guest activity.
4) Sensitivity Labels and Classification
Why it matters: Labels help Copilot respect data classification. What good looks like: Apply sensitivity labels to confidential documents. Quick win: Start with Finance and HR folders. Get Support can: Deploy and manage sensitivity labels across Microsoft 365.
5) DLP Policies
Why it matters: Data Loss Prevention stops sensitive data from leaving your organisation. What good looks like: Policies for financial data, personal data, and IP. Quick win: Enable built-in DLP templates for GDPR. Get Support can: Configure and monitor DLP policies.
6) Retention and Data Lifecycle
Why it matters: Copilot can surface old data unless retention policies are enforced. What good looks like: Clear retention rules for emails and documents. Quick win: Apply retention policies to inactive sites. Get Support can: Set up retention and deletion policies.
7) Device Compliance and Access Conditions
Why it matters: Secure endpoints prevent data leaks. What good looks like: Conditional Access and compliant devices only. Quick win: Block access from unmanaged devices. Get Support can: Implement Conditional Access and compliance policies.
8) Admin Roles and Least Privilege
Why it matters: Overprivileged admins increase risk. What good looks like: Role-based access control with least privilege. Quick win: Review admin roles and remove unnecessary permissions. Get Support can: Audit and enforce least privilege principles.
9) Audit Logging and Visibility
Why it matters: You need visibility into Copilot activity. What good looks like: Unified audit logging enabled. Quick win: Turn on Microsoft Purview Audit. Get Support can: Monitor logs and provide regular reports.
10) Third-Party Apps and OAuth Consent Governance
Why it matters: Apps with broad permissions can expose data. What good looks like: Admin consent required for new apps. Quick win: Block user consent for risky apps. Get Support can: Manage app governance and consent workflows.
11) User Guidance, Training, and Acceptable Use
Why it matters: Users need to know what Copilot can and cannot do. What good looks like: Clear acceptable use policy and training sessions. Quick win: Publish a Copilot FAQ and run a short training. Get Support can: Deliver training and provide ongoing support.
12) Pilot Group, Feedback Loop, and Support Process
Why it matters: Controlled rollout reduces risk. What good looks like: Start with a small, trained pilot group. Quick win: Identify 5–10 users for the first phase. Get Support can: Manage pilot, gather feedback, and refine policies.
Safe Rollout Plan (First 30 Days)
- Week 1: Pilot group setup, permissions triage.
- Week 2: Tune policies, deliver training, establish support process.
- Week 3: Controlled expansion, monitor activity.
- Week 4: Governance review, plan next phase.
How Get Support Owns Copilot Readiness and Rollout
We take operational responsibility for:
- Data access and permissions review.
- Policy and governance setup.
- Pilot management and stakeholder communication.
- Ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement.
- Training and acceptable use alignment.
With Get Support, Copilot becomes a managed service, not a risk.
Conclusion
Copilot can transform your business, but only if you enable it responsibly. Start with a readiness review and let Get Support manage the rollout and governance for you.
Ready to get started? [Contact us today][Get Support Contact page] for a Copilot readiness assessment.
FAQs
No. Copilot only surfaces data the user already has permission to view.
Yes. A permissions review is essential to prevent oversharing.
Apply sensitivity labels, enforce DLP policies, and review permissions.
Start with a small, trained group and monitor activity closely.
Absolutely. We provide ongoing monitoring, policy updates, and user support.