Cybersecurity Blog / AI Security

Microsoft Copilot Security for Canadian Businesses

Before expanding Microsoft Copilot across an organization, review identity, permissions and information governance. AI can make existing access problems more visible because users can discover and summarize information faster.

Key point: Copilot security starts with the security of the Microsoft 365 environment it works within. Fix excessive access and weak identity controls before relying on AI policy alone.

Review identity security first

Use strong authentication, protect privileged accounts and review administrative roles. Compromised identities become more consequential when they can interact with AI-enabled business workflows.

Find overshared information

Review SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive and group permissions. Files that are technically accessible to a user may become easier for that user to discover once AI-assisted search and summarization are available.

Establish information governance

Define ownership, retention and sensitivity for important information. Security teams should understand where regulated, confidential and client information is stored before broad AI adoption.

Review connected applications

Third-party applications, connectors and automation can expand the effective data boundary. Inventory integrations and remove permissions that are no longer required.

Prepare employees

Users need clear rules for acceptable AI use, verification of generated output, handling confidential information and escalation when unexpected results appear.

Monitor and improve

AI deployment should be treated as an ongoing security program. Review access, incidents, policy exceptions and new integrations as adoption expands.

Use our Microsoft 365 security baseline as the foundation. Also see AI governance and cybersecurity and the Knowledge Center.