Quick Guide: How to Get Copilot for Microsoft 365 Ready with Governance Controls

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is transforming productivity, but without proper governance it can expose sensitive data and create compliance risks. Before enabling Copilot, organizations must ensure data security, compliance, and responsible AI usage. This quick guide walks you through a proven roadmap using Microsoft Purview DSPM for AI, SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM), and Purview compliance controls.

Why Governance Matters for Copilot

Copilot draws insights from your Microsoft 365 data including SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and more. If sensitive files are overshared or unlabeled, Copilot could surface confidential information in prompts or summaries. The solution is a governance-first approach that combines risk assessment, access control, and data protection.

✅ Step 1: Discover & Assess Risk

Start by identifying where sensitive data lives and how it is shared.

Run Purview DSPM for AI Data Risk Assessment

• Detect oversharing patterns (Anyone links, external sharing).
• Identify unlabeled sensitive files.
• Monitor Copilot-related activity via Activity Explorer.

Use SharePoint Advanced Management Reports

• Data Access Governance (DAG): Find overshared sites.
• Site Lifecycle: Clean up inactive sites.
• Change History: Track recent permission changes.

✅ Step 2: Design Governance Controls

Design guardrails before enabling Copilot.

• Restricted Access Control (RAC): Lock down sensitive sites.
• Restricted Content Discoverability (RCD): Hide sensitive sites from Copilot and search.
• Sensitivity Labels: Apply to files and containers (SharePoint sites, Teams).
• DLP Policies: Block Copilot from summarizing labeled content and prevent external sharing.

✅ Step 3: Deploy Controls

Put your governance plan into action.

• Apply RAC and RCD to high-risk sites.
• Enable auto-labeling for sensitive files.
• Activate Copilot-aware DLP policies across SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and endpoints.
• Implement retention policies to remove stale data.

✅ Step 4: Monitor & Optimize

Governance is not a one-time task. Keep refining.

• DSPM Continuous Monitoring: Weekly risk assessments and Copilot activity tracking.
• SAM Oversharing Reports: Regular reviews of DAG and permission changes.
• Policy Effectiveness: Track sensitivity label adoption and DLP hits.

Your Governance Roadmap

• Discover: DSPM and SAM risk assessment.
• Design: Governance policies (RAC, RCD, labels, DLP).
• Deploy: Apply controls and enforce compliance.
• Monitor: DSPM insights and SAM reports for continuous improvement.

Final Thoughts

Getting Copilot ready is not just about enabling AI. It is about enabling secure, compliant, and responsible AI. By leveraging Purview DSPM for AI, SharePoint Advanced Management, and Purview compliance controls, you can unlock Copilot's potential without compromising data security.