Security and governance challenges are now the leading barriers to successful Microsoft 365 Copilot deployments. This exclusive Gartner report offers in-depth guidance for digital workplace leaders, IT decision-makers, and security professionals seeking to enable Copilot at scale without compromising organizational risk posture.

Drawing from extensive research and survey data, Gartner outlines the five primary risks associated with M365 Copilot adoption:

1. Information Oversharing
2. Response Inaccuracy
3. External Data Leakage
4. New Attack Vectors
5. Agent Sprawl

The report provides actionable strategies grounded in Gartner’s AI Trust, Risk and Security Management (AI TRiSM) framework. It guides organizations through a five-step roadmap to establish effective Copilot governance, evaluate native vs. third-party tooling, apply baseline protections, improve information governance maturity, and develop continuous runtime controls.

Key recommendations include:

• Forming a cross-functional Copilot governance group
• Implementing container-level sensitivity labels using Microsoft Purview
• Conducting regular audits of overshared sites, files, and permissions
• Controlling agent and plugin creation across SharePoint and Copilot Studio
• Integrating adaptive, ongoing risk assessments as Copilot evolves

The article also covers licensing implications (E3 vs. E5), architectural design for Copilot agents, and how to assess when to augment native Microsoft 365 controls with third-party tools such as BigID, AvePoint, Varonis, and AI TRiSM vendors.

Whether you’re just beginning to pilot M365 Copilot or scaling across business units, this Gartner research provides essential frameworks to mitigate risk, optimize collaboration, and maximize ROI from AI-driven productivity.