Microsoft blocks sensitive Copilot prompts to stop accidental data leaks
Microsoft has released a suite of security and analytics updates for Microsoft 365 Copilot. The headline addition is the general availability of Purview Data Loss Prevention for Copilot prompts. This feature automatically blocks users from entering sensitive company information into the Copilot chat window. The update also introduces Data Security Posture Management to address overshared files. IT administrators can now identify and bulk-remediate documents that have loose permissions before Copilot can surface them in user queries. Finally, Microsoft expanded the Copilot Dashboard to track user satisfaction and categorize prompt intents. This gives companies visibility into exactly how employees are using the tool across Word, Excel, and Teams.
Until now, data governance was the primary reason companies stalled their Copilot rollouts. Because Copilot searches everything a user has access to, a poorly configured SharePoint site meant a casual prompt could accidentally pull up executive salaries or confidential HR files. This left users terrified to use the tool during screen shares and forced IT to rely on trust rather than hard controls. These new tools shift the burden of security from the user to the system. By blocking sensitive prompts at the point of entry and automatically fixing broken file permissions, Microsoft is removing the psychological friction of adoption. Employees can finally query their data without the lingering fear of triggering a career-ending data exposure.
Analysis
Stop letting data paranoia kill your team's Copilot adoption. Tell your IT department to enable Purview Data Loss Prevention for prompts today, then explicitly announce to your team that the guardrails are up and it is finally safe to use Copilot for real work.
Citation
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