Microsoft 365 Copilot is the new AI powered solution from Microsoft, and it looks set to revolutionise the way we work. Microsoft have recently announced they are removing the 300-seat purchase minimum for commercial plans and making Microsoft 365 Copilot available as an add-on licence for Office 365 E3 and E5 customers, as well as those on Business Standard and Business Premium plans.

Cybersecurity and IT support experts, ramsac, deep-dive into what Microsoft 365 Copilot is and how you can prepare your organisation for it.

What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered chatbot that leverages the power of large language models (LLMs) to offer innovative solutions across Microsoft Cloud and it can help you with a wide variety of tasks including:

• Writing emails
• Creating presentations
• Analysing data
• Generating content
• Scheduling and recapping meetings

All you need to do is chat with Microsoft 365 Copilot in natural language, and it will provide you with relevant suggestions, insights, and actions.

What are some of the most exciting features of Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Microsoft 365 Copilot has many features that will simplify your working life, taking the most popular Microsoft tools we have summarised a few of the ways it can help:

Word: Microsoft 365 Copilot can help you write faster and better by suggesting relevant content and formatting for your documents. For example, you can ask Microsoft 365 Copilot to write a summary of a report or insert a table of contents. Watch a video of how Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word can help you rework a document.

Excel: Microsoft 365 Copilot can help you analyse and visualise your data by suggesting formulas and creating charts for your spreadsheets. For example, you can ask Microsoft 365 Copilot to calculate the average, create a pie chart, or highlight outliers in your data. Watch a video of how Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel can help you identify key insights.

PowerPoint: Microsoft 365 Copilot can help you create engaging and impactful presentations by suggesting design content for your slides. For example, you can ask Microsoft 365 Copilot to add a title, insert an image, or generate bullet points for your topic. Watch a video of how Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint can take the hassle out of creating presentations.

Outlook: Microsoft 365 Copilot can help you manage your email and calendar by suggesting actions, responses, and creating reminders for your messages and events. For example, you can ask Microsoft 365 Copilot to schedule a meeting, reply to an email, or follow up on a task. Watch a video of how Microsoft 365 Copilot can help you organise your inbox.

Teams: Microsoft 365 Copilot can help you collaborate and communicate with your team by suggesting chat, meeting, and file sharing options for your conversations and channels. For example, you can ask Microsoft 365 Copilot to start a video call, share a document, or create a poll for your team. Watch a video of how Microsoft 365 Copilot can support collaborative working

How to use Microsoft 365 Copilot safely and responsibly

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an amazing tool and the benefits of using it are clear but before you get started, you need to be aware of some potential risks. Microsoft 365 Copilot uses large language models (LLMs) to generate suggestions based on your data and context. This means it can access and process sensitive or confidential information from your Microsoft Graph, such as emails, chats, documents, and contacts. To protect your data and privacy, you need to ensure that you have the appropriate permissions, policies, and controls in place. For example, you can use Azure Information Protection to classify and label your data and apply security measures such as encryption and authentication. You can also use the EU Data Boundary to store and process your data within the EU.

Additionally, you need to be mindful of the quality and accuracy of the content that Microsoft 365 Copilot creates. Microsoft 365 Copilot is not a substitute for human judgment and creativity. You are responsible for reviewing and verifying the suggestions before using them. You also need to comply with any legal or ethical obligations that apply to your use of Microsoft 365 Copilot, such as intellectual property rights, data protection laws, and responsible AI principles.

Founder and Executive Chairman at ramsac, Rob May, had this to say:

“The announcement regarding Microsoft 365 Copilot and its availability for non-enterprise clients presents significant implications and opportunities for businesses. Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered tool integrated into Microsoft 365, leveraging large language models (LLMs) to enhance productivity in various Microsoft applications. It can assist with a range of tasks, including writing emails, creating presentations, analysing data, generating content, and managing schedules and meetings.

For businesses, the introduction of Microsoft 365 Copilot marks a step forward in integrating AI into everyday work processes. Undoubtedly it will lead to increased efficiency, as routine tasks are automated or simplified, allowing employees to focus on more complex and creative aspects of their work. The ability to quickly generate content, analyse data, and manage communication and scheduling can streamline operations and enhance productivity.

However, it’s also crucial for businesses to be aware of and manage the potential risks associated with using AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot. Since the tool uses LLMs to generate suggestions based on user data and context, it can access and process sensitive or confidential information. Ensuring appropriate permissions, policies, and controls are in place is essential to protect data and privacy. Businesses should use tools like Azure Information Protection for data classification and labelling and apply security measures such as encryption and authentication. Compliance with legal and ethical obligations, including data protection laws and responsible AI principles, is also vital.

Furthermore, while Microsoft 365 Copilot offers numerous advantages, it’s not a substitute for human judgment and creativity. Businesses must ensure that the content created by Copilot is reviewed and verified before use. The introduction of Microsoft 365 Copilot presents businesses with a valuable tool for enhancing efficiency and productivity. However, it requires careful management to ensure data security, compliance with legal standards, and the maintenance of quality and creativity in work processes.” 

How can you get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Following this week’s announcement, Copilot for Microsoft 365 is available as an add-on for clients on Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Business Premium, Office 365 E3/E5 and Microsoft 365 E3/E5 plans. Organisations can purchase between one and 299 seats for £24.70 per user per month. More information from Microsoft is available here.