Copilot for Microsoft 365 Security - Security Features of the Tool and What You Can Do

With Copilot, Microsoft enables the integration of artificial intelligence in all programs of Microsoft 365The AI is based on the GPT-4 language model developed by OpenAI and, for the first time, provides you with a comprehensive assistance tool for many everyday tasks. You give the AI instructions via a chat, and the tool takes care of the rest. This not only saves time - you can also effectively skip repetitive or tedious tasks. Due to the comprehensive approach and the wide range of functions of Copilot for Microsoft 365, one question still arises: How secure is the tool? Our blog article explains how Copilot for Microsoft 365 protects your data and what security measures you can take yourself.

When you use Copilot for Microsoft 365, you take some of the responsibility for your company's own data out of your own hands. Artificial intelligence then processes, edits, or creates relevant documents, tables, and graphics or searches the Internet using Bing. This immediately raises several security-related questions: What data do the tool and the AI access? How do you monitor relevant incidents? To what extent does the content created make your company vulnerable, and how controllable are potential threats?

There is also the question of whether the commands and data used by your employees will ultimately remain internal. After all, you don't want your company strategy or other internal information to be revealed due to a data leak of the chats at Microsoft.

These questions and how you can make your use of Copilot even more secure are answered below.

By default, Copilot for Microsoft 365 includes many security features that make it easier to use the tool securely:

• Copilot users can be restricted 
  Copilot for Microsoft 365 AI only accesses data that users can access. Thanks to this feature, you can prevent unauthorized access and set limits for the tool.
• Chat commands to Copilot for Microsoft 365 are not processed further
  The data input in the Copilot chat is not used to train the AI's Large Language Model (LLM). In addition, the data remains within the EU, unless otherwise contractually agreed.
• Web search with Bing is optional
  Web search via Copilot for Microsoft 365 can be deactivated for users. If it is activated, the AI uses the Bing Search API.
• All plugins meet high-quality standards
  All plugins available for Copilot for Microsoft 365 have been tested and validated to high-quality standards. Nevertheless, before using the plugins, you should ensure that all accesses are carried out within the scope of the defined compliance level.

Another security-relevant topic is that of sensitivity labels. To explain: Sensitivity labels are a way of assigning a security and access level to documents and emails in Office 365. You can use these labels to manage access to certain data. If these labels were copied when generating new documents, this would represent a potential gap for cyber attacks.

Copilot for Microsoft 365, therefore, does not automatically adopt the labels of the material used for generated content. It is, therefore, all the more important to carefully monitor the use of sensitivity labels in conjunction with Copilot for Microsoft 365 and ensure that your employees apply the labels correctly.

When it comes to security measures in your organization, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Here are some important security considerations you and your security teams should keep in mind when using Copilot for Microsoft 365 for Office 365:

1. Access control: Ensure only authorized users can access Copilot for Microsoft 365. Use secure passwords and enforce multi-level authentication. This measure effectively protects against unauthorized access.
2. Protect sensitive data: Protect sensitive data stored in Office 365—Encrypt data at rest and in transit to protect it from unauthorized access or interception.
3. User authorizations: Assign suitable user permissions in Copilot for Microsoft 365. As described above, this prevents unauthorized persons from accessing sensitive data.
4. Secure configuration: Configure Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Office 365 according to security best practices. Check and update the security configurations regularly. This prevents potential threats from new security vulnerabilities.
5. Monitoring and logging: Implement monitoring and logging mechanisms. This lets you track user activity and identify suspicious behavior or relevant incidents. Important: Check these logs regularly for signs of unauthorized access or data breaches.
6. Data backup and recovery: Ensure that regular backups of Office 365 data are performed. This helps to recover from data loss or corruption due to accidental deletion, hardware failure, or cyber-attacks.
7. Security updates: Keep Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Office 365 updated with the latest security patches and updates. Regularly check for security updates and apply them to protect yourself from known security vulnerabilities.

As an international IT specialist, Arvato Systems supports numerous companies in digitalizing their corporate structure. Are you interested in Copilot for Microsoft 365 and/or advice on an effective security strategy for using the tool? Our software and security teams will provide you with comprehensive advice and maximize your benefits.

Do you have further questions about Copilot for Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365, or the associated security precautions?