How to Prepare Your Microsoft 365 Tenant for Copilot

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the business landscape, Microsoft's AI-driven tool, Copilot, is set to revolutionise productivity within Microsoft 365. Copilot leverages AI to automate tasks, provide insights, and streamline workflows, but before your business can fully harness its potential, it's essential to ensure your Microsoft 365 tenant is ready. In this guide, we'll outline the key steps to prepare your business for a successful integration of Copilot.

Ensure Your Data is Organised and Secure

The first step in preparing for Copilot is to ensure your Microsoft 365 tenant has well-organised and secure data. AI tools, like Copilot, require access to vast amounts of data to function effectively. If your data is scattered, disorganised, or unsecured, it could hinder Copilot’s ability to generate accurate insights and suggestions.

• Data Organisation: Review your existing SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams data structures. Organise files into logical groups and eliminate outdated or redundant information. This ensures Copilot can easily access and analyse relevant data.
• Security Measures: With AI becoming more integral to business processes, data security must be a top priority. Implementing strong security protocols is crucial to protecting sensitive data. AI and cybersecurity go hand in hand, and a poorly secured system could leave your business vulnerable to cyberattacks. Make sure your Microsoft 365 tenant is updated with the latest security patches and that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled.

Train Your Team for AI

To fully leverage Copilot’s capabilities, your employees need to be comfortable using AI tools in their daily workflows. Providing Microsoft Copilot training is essential to maximising its value across your business. Copilot can greatly enhance efficiency, but only if your team understands how to use it effectively.

• AI Cybersecurity Awareness: In addition to general AI training, it's important to educate your team on AI cybersecurity. AI-Tools expose new attack surfaces, and all staff should be aware of the potential risks and how to mitigate them.
• Hands-on Training: Offer practical workshops or training sessions that demonstrate how Copilot works across Microsoft 365 apps, including Teams, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Integrating Microsoft Copilot into your Microsoft 365 tenant can unlock powerful AI-driven insights and efficiencies for your business. However, it requires careful preparation—organising data, securing your tenant, optimising licenses, and ensuring compliance are all crucial steps in the process. For SMEs, Copilot represents a major opportunity to stay competitive and agile, but success hinges on being proactive with AI and cybersecurity planning. By following these steps, your organization can be well-prepared to capitalise on the full potential of AI within Microsoft 365.