How to Securely Use Microsoft Copilot with SharePoint Advanced Management and Purview

The arrival of Microsoft 365 Copilot is a game-changer for productivity. But with this innovation comes increased risks. With Microsoft 365 Copilot surfacing insights from SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Exchange, sensitive business data becomes more discoverable, accessible, and valuable than ever. For CEOs and CISOs, this means one thing: security and governance must evolve.

At Exigo Tech, we believe that SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) and Microsoft Purview are the twin pillars of secure Copilot deployment. Together, they help IT teams lock down Copilot, giving employees the power of AI while keeping business-critical data secure.

Why Copilot Needs a Data Governance Strategy

As you know, Copilot doesn’t create knowledge out of thin air; it surfaces insights from your SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Exchange data. If sensitive content is overshared, Copilot may unintentionally expose it.

Common Risks:

• Overshared sites and files: Old projects, sensitive documents, or partner content left wide open.
• Shadow sprawl: Duplicate Teams or SharePoint sites that contain uncontrolled content.
• Inconsistent permissions: Users with access to data they no longer need.

Without proper governance, Copilot could accelerate data leakage just as quickly as it accelerates productivity.

SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM): Precision Control at Scale

SAM enhances standard SharePoint controls with advanced governance features customised for Copilot readiness.

Key Capabilities:

Restricted Access Controls

• Limit external sharing across specific sites.
• Apply “least privilege” access policies so Copilot only sees what it should.

Policy Enforcement at Scale

• Automatically apply sensitivity or access policies to SharePoint sites.
• Ensure new sites inherit the right governance controls.

Oversharing Insights

• Identify and remediate overshared files or sites.
• Use automated scripts and policies to pull back permissions quickly.

Scoped Access to Copilot

• Ensure Copilot only indexes sites with the right data classification.
• Keep sensitive or regulatory data out of Copilot’s context.

Site-Level Restrictions: The Frontline of Copilot Security

Site-level restrictions are essential for controlling what Copilot can access and respond with.

What They Do

Site-level restrictions let admins control access at the site level—deciding who can view or share content, and under what conditions. This is particularly critical for Copilot because Copilot automatically inherits SharePoint permissions. If a site is overshared, Copilot will surface its contents to anyone with access.

When to Apply

• Before Organisation-wide Copilot Rollout: Lock down high-risk sites (HR, finance, legal, etc.)
• For Regulated Data: Apply restrictions to sites with compliance obligations.
• For External Collaboration: Exclude contractor-accessible sites from Copilot indexing.
• For Legacy Sites: Lock down orphaned sites until reviewed.

How to Apply

• Pair with Purview Sensitivity Labels: Automate classification and restriction.
• Use Conditional Access Policies: Restrict access based on device or location.
• Automate Enforcement: Ensure new “Confidential” sites inherit secure defaults.
• Review Regularly: Adjust restrictions using SAM’s oversharing insights.

Microsoft Purview: Deep Governance for Copilot

If SAM is the lock on the door, Purview is the blueprint of what’s inside the house. It provides the classification, labelling, and auditing capabilities that let you govern Copilot at a deeper level:

• Data Classification & Sensitivity Labels: Mark sensitive information (e.g., financial data, PII, health records) so Copilot respects boundaries.
• Information Protection: Apply encryption and access controls based on sensitivity labels.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Stop risky sharing of sensitive data before it reaches Copilot or leaves the organisation.
• Audit & Insider Risk Management: Track Copilot queries and user behaviour around sensitive files.

Together, Purview ensures that Copilot respects data boundaries and that IT has the visibility to monitor and govern usage.

Best Practices for Locking Down Copilot

1. Audit Your SharePoint & OneDrive Environment: Use SAM to identify overshared files and sites.
2. Apply Site-level Restrictions: Lock down high-risk or regulated sites first, then scale across the organisation.
3. Apply Sensitivity Labels with Purview: Classify and protect your most critical data.
4. Restrict Copilot’s Scope: Ensure only appropriately governed sites are included in Copilot indexing.
5. Enable DLP & Conditional Access: Protect data when users export, share, or access it in Copilot.
6. Monitor & Adjust: Review Purview insights regularly and tighten controls where needed.

Final Thoughts: AI with Accountability

Copilot is only as secure as the data foundation beneath it. By combining SharePoint Advanced Management with Microsoft Purview, organisations can embrace AI responsibly—balancing innovation with governance.

This isn’t just about compliance. It’s about building trust with employees, customers, and partners that their data is safe, even in the age of AI.

Exigo Tech: Your Partner in Secure Copilot Deployment

At Exigo Tech, we don’t just enable AI, we secure it. Our deep expertise in Microsoft 365, SharePoint Advanced Management, and Microsoft Purview ensures that your Copilot rollout is governed, compliant, and future-ready.

Why Exigo Tech?

• Microsoft Specialisations in Azure Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Modern Work, and Database Migration.
• ISO27001-certified practices for enterprise-grade data protection.
• Alignment with Microsoft’s Responsible AI framework to ensure ethical AI deployment.
• Maturity Level 3 across all Essential Eight cybersecurity strategies.

Whether you are in finance, aged care, government, manufacturing, or anything else, we customise governance strategies to your industry’s compliance needs, so you can innovate confidently.

Next Step: Review, Restrict, Reinvent

If your organisation is preparing to deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot, now is the time to review your governance posture.

Let Exigo Tech help you:

• Audit and secure your SharePoint and OneDrive environments.
• Classify and protect sensitive data with Purview.
• Restrict Copilot’s scope to governed, compliant sites.
• Reinforce governance with automation and insights.