Microsoft Copilot is now available for every business: maximizing its benefits 

Microsoft Copilot is now available for every business: maximizing its benefits

Microsoft has made a surprising announcement: Copilot is now available for every business, regardless of size. This expansion is set to further boost the adoption of AI in the office automation landscape. This digital assistant makes your life significantly easier, but at the same time, it has significant implications for the security of your data. In this blog, you will not only read about the undeniable benefits but also about the risks involved.

Microsoft 365 Copilot utilizes Large Language Models, similar to those you know from, for example, ChatGPT. These models are combined with your own data, including information from applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook. This combination results in a powerful tool that can enhance productivity, efficiency, and creativity.

AI accelerates innovation...

What can you do with it? Imagine you don't have time to read through a lengthy email exchange in Outlook. If you ask Copilot for a summary, you'll get one in an instant. You can also ask the assistant to draft a reply email with the tone of voice you prefer.

In Teams, you can request Copilot to summarize a meeting and outline the key action points.

In Word, you can ask it to write an article on any topic you desire. You can also generate texts and add images. With a press of a button, you can turn them into slides for a compelling presentation. Copilot can even assist you in writing code, speeding up software development.

...but there are risks too

If you've worked with ChatGPT before, you may have noticed that the content is not always accurate. Additionally, Microsoft acknowledges that Copilot's outcomes are not particularly original: "Anyone instructing Copilot to create a 'recipe for apple pie' will likely get identical or nearly identical content."

This limitation is partially addressed by combining it with your own data, making the responses more specific. However, with the ability to search faster and more broadly across all business data, a new risk emerges, especially considering this information is also displayed broadly. How do you prevent sensitive data from ending up in the wrong hands or being exposed within the organization?

Microsoft offers some built-in security measures. Furthermore, the manufacturer promises to handle AI carefully, meaning every effort is made to avoid generated content containing, for example, hateful or discriminatory passages. However, since you are ultimately responsible for the content you disseminate, a critical review of the existing information security policy is essential. This includes ensuring that the roles and permissions structure is in order and that you comply with laws and regulations.

Assistance in deploying Copilot responsibly

At Avit, we are happy to assist you. For instance, we can map out the existing setup for you. Based on this assessment, we can provide advice on how to mitigate the risks associated with Copilot. If desired, we can also implement the necessary measures for you, allowing you to take advantage of innovation opportunities without worries.

If you want to know more about how we can help you, please contact our expert Marten Mooi.