Managing data security in an AI-driven world is a balancing act: you need seamless productivity without compromising sensitive information.

At Microsoft Ignite 2024, Erica Toelle and Jeremy Chapman introduced a fresh approach to this challenge, focused on Just Enough Access (JEA) with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Here’s a practical look at how these new tools help maintain control and security without slowing down innovation.

Why Just Enough Access Matters

Microsoft 365 Copilot leverages your organization’s data to boost productivity, but it also needs precise access controls to prevent oversharing. If someone accidentally gains access to sensitive data, the risks multiply.

The solution? Just Enough Access—giving users the access they need, no more, no less.

Three Phases of Data Security for Copilot

Microsoft’s approach to preventing data oversharing in Copilot involves a three-step strategy: Pilot, Deploy, and Optimize.

1.

Pilot Phase:
 Quick Wins with Guardrails

In the Pilot phase, the focus is on setting up restricted search to limit Copilot’s data access to the most critical 100 sites within your organization. This ensures users only find data they’ve interacted with or that has been explicitly allowed.

Why It Matters:

  • Protects sensitive data during early Copilot deployment.

  • Provides users with the right tools without exposing unnecessary information.

2.

Deploy Phase:
 Rapid Risk Mitigation

The Deploy phase introduces more advanced controls with features like oversharing assessments and data security posture management in Microsoft Purview. By identifying sensitive data and applying sensitivity labels, you can actively block unauthorized access and ensure data protection.

Key Actions:

  • Use sensitivity labels to automatically protect files, emails, and meetings.

  • Apply data loss prevention (DLP) policies to block Copilot from summarizing or processing sensitive files.

3.

Optimize Phase:
 Long-Term Protection

The Optimize phase is about embedding security into daily operations. By automating protection measures, you ensure future files and sites are secure by default.

Key Strategies:

  • Use auto-applied sensitivity labels to guard new files as they’re created.
  • Regularly review and update access controls to adapt to evolving business needs.

Tips for Getting Started

  • Start small: Deploy restricted search to limit access during initial rollouts.
  • Leverage Purview tools: Use the new data security posture management tools to stay ahead of risks.
  • Review access regularly: Conduct periodic site access reviews to ensure only the right people have permissions.
By following Microsoft’s Pilot-Deploy-Optimize model, you can confidently embrace Copilot’s capabilities without compromising security. Remember: it’s not about locking everything down but about creating smart, flexible guardrails that empower your team while keeping sensitive data safe.

Microsoft has released an in-depth guide on oversharing and access controls.

You can explore it further here.