Knowledge base
May 11, 2025
Everyone wants to get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot…
But is your data ready?
AI assistants such as Microsoft 365 Copilot promise time savings and smarter collaboration. More and more SMB organizations want to get started with it. Logical. But before you press “on,” there’s one important question:
👉 Is your data ready for that?
The reality is often different…
We hear it from SMBs every day:
❌ “Why can Copilot access confidential contracts?”
❌ “Help, colleagues see each other’s HR files via SharePoint!”
❌ “I didn’t know Teams chats are also searched…”
Copilot works on what you put in. And if your data is (still) a mess … you’ll get messy answers back, too. AI amplifies what’s already there – including the chaos.
What are SMEs’ biggest concerns?
We did a mini-poll on LinkedIn¹. It showed that the biggest concern is not even technology, but the structure and control of data:
🟡 42% – No policy or agreements on data use
🟡 21% – Too many people have access to sensitive info
🟡 21% – Unclear exactly what Copilot does
🟡 16% – We don’t know exactly where our data resides
And therein lies precisely the risk. Because without good governance, Copilot runs the risk of exposing sensitive information to people who shouldn’t see it at all.
How do you prevent that?
Smart deployment of AI starts with the basics:
🔹 Make sure you know where your data resides
🔹 Limit access to sensitive info
🔹 Set clear agreements and policies
🔹 Train your team on what Copilot does and does not do
Recognizable?
At ALTA-ICT, we help SMBs work safely and smartly with Copilot. Without fuss. Together we look at your data structure, permissions and governance – so that AI really adds value.
🤔 Need to spar about Copilot and your data? Feel free to schedule an appointment at alta-ict.co.uk/acquaintance
Reference
¹ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/altaict_mkb-copilot-datagovernance-activity-7327220172539195392-diHM
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