microsoft 365 copilot best practices

Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 is an integration that allows Copilot experiences to take place within individual apps, such as Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Excel, and Outlook. To ensure a smooth experience with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, it is important to meet certain requirements and follow best practices. This article provides an overview of the prerequisites, network requirements, license requirements, and privacy settings for using Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365.

Prerequisites

Before using Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, ensure that the following prerequisites are met:

Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise must be deployed in your organization. You can use the Microsoft 365 Apps setup guide in the Microsoft 365 admin center to deploy the apps to your users.

Note: To enable Copilot in Word Online, Excel Online, and PowerPoint Online, make sure that third-party cookies are enabled.

Microsoft Entra ID

Users must have Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) accounts. You can add or sync users using the onboarding wizard in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Microsoft OneDrive

Certain features in Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, such as file restore and OneDrive management, require users to have a OneDrive account. You can enable OneDrive for your users using the OneDrive setup guide in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 works with the new Outlook (for Windows and Mac), which is currently in preview. Users can switch to the new Outlook by selecting “Try the new Outlook” in their existing Outlook client.

To make Copilot appear in the new Outlook, you need to sync your Microsoft 365 settings. Go to View and manage your Microsoft 365 settings to do this.

Please note that Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 will be supported on classic Outlook for Windows (Win32 desktop app) in the future.

Microsoft Teams

You can configure popular Teams settings, including external access, guest access, and team creation permissions, using the Microsoft Teams setup guide in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Copilot in Teams is available on Windows, Mac, web, Android, and iOS.

Microsoft Loop

To use Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 with Microsoft Loop, you must have Loop enabled for your tenant. You can enable Loop in the Microsoft 365 admin center or the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center under Customization | Policy Management.

Microsoft Whiteboard

To use Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 with Microsoft Whiteboard, you must have Whiteboard enabled for your tenant. For more information on enabling Microsoft Whiteboard, see the documentation on managing access to Microsoft Whiteboard for your organization.

Network Requirements

To ensure optimal performance of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, it is recommended to align your network with the Microsoft 365 network connectivity principles. This will help minimize latency and improve the network quality of service for critical network flows.

Copilot services connect to endpoints within the Microsoft 365 endpoint taxonomy. WebSocket connections (wss://) are used for many Copilot experiences, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Loop. To use these Copilot experiences, make sure that WebSocket connections are allowed from user endpoints to the endpoints listed in the Microsoft 365 endpoint taxonomy, specifically in ID number 46 in the section for Microsoft 365 Common and Office Online.

License Requirements

Users of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 require a license for Microsoft 365 E3 or Microsoft 365 E5, as well as a license for Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. You can assign the required licenses to users using the Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 setup guide in the Microsoft 365 admin center. For detailed instructions, refer to the documentation on assigning licenses to users in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Conditional Access

While Copilot supports Conditional Access Policies in SharePoint Online that are configured to target “all cloud apps” or “Office 365 group,” Microsoft 365 Chat does not currently support Conditional Access policies configured directly to the SharePoint Online app. However, a change is expected to be deployed in the coming weeks to address this limitation.

Restricted Access Control

Microsoft 365 Chat does not currently support Restricted Access Control and Microsoft 365 Information Barriers (Implicit and Owner moderated mode) on sites. Support for both policies is intended, and a change is expected to be deployed in the coming weeks to enable these features.

Privacy Settings for Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise

Review the privacy settings for Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, as these settings may impact the availability of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 features. For more information on privacy settings and their effect on connected experiences, refer to the documentation on Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 and policy settings for connected experiences.

In conclusion, by ensuring that the prerequisites are met, network requirements are aligned, licenses are assigned correctly, and privacy settings are properly configured, organizations can optimize their use of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. Following these best practices will help maximize the benefits and functionality of Copilot within the Microsoft 365 suite of apps and services.

To learn more about Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 and its features, visit https://365copilotteams.com/.

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