01/28/2026
If you're thinking about turning on Microsoft Copilot, be sure to check your file permissions first.
Copilot is powerful because it reads your data in OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams to cull data for the answers it provides. Simply put, if a user can open a file, Copilot can read it, too.
This is good for accurate insight, but it has potential to be a problem if your permissions are disorganized. You might have an old payroll spreadsheet that was shared with "Everyone" years ago. You may have forgotten it exists, but Copilot will find it instantly.
So, if an employee were to ask Copilot about pay rates for a position being listed, and that file is accessible, then AI would use that data to provide its answer.
Before you turn it on, look at your files:
- Ensure HR, Finance, and folders with employee data are restricted to the right people.
- Remove or limit access to outdated files with "Company-wide" sharing links.
- Use Microsoft's "Sensitivity Labels" (like Confidential) so Copilot knows what it can and cannot touch.
Copilot is a helpful tool for sure, but it works best when it has rules and guardrails. Need a hand, Simple IT is here to help!