Navigating the Security Risks and Challenges of Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot is transforming the way organizations and their teams handle productivity and creativity by integrating AI-powered assistance into Microsoft’s everyday work applications like Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. While the benefits of increased efficiency and enhanced creativity are clear, it's crucial for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to be aware of the security risks and challenges that come with this powerful tool.  

In this blog, we’ll discuss the key security concerns associated with Microsoft 365 Copilot and how to ensure your business is set up for success with tools that help to mitigate the risks and challenges it can pose.   

Over-Permissive Microsoft Graph Permissions 

Microsoft Graph is a powerful API that connects various services and data within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Yes, one of the primary security concerns with Microsoft 365 Copilot is the potential for over-permissive Microsoft Graph permissions. If not properly managed, it can lead to excessive permissions being granted to applications, increasing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. 

The Risk: Over-permissive permissions occur when applications request more access than they need to function. When applications have broad permissions, there is a higher risk of data leakage. Over-permissive access can allow applications to inadvertently or maliciously share sensitive information with unauthorized parties. For example, if an application has access to all user files, it could potentially expose confidential documents to external entities. For example, an Outlook might request access to read and write all user emails when it only needs to read calendar events. 

Mitigation: To address this risk, organizations must implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that applications only request the minimum permissions necessary for their functionality. Additionally, a company-wide content security platform that can analyze and monitor Microsoft 365 Copilot-generated content for data leakage risks before content is shared outside the organization is a necessity.   

Generation and Use Decoupling 

Another challenge with Microsoft 365 Copilot is the decoupling of content generation and its subsequent use. This separation can lead to security risks if the generated content is not adequately supervised and refined before use. 

The Risk: When content is generated by AI, it may not immediately align with the organization's security policies and compliance requirements. Without proper oversight, this content could inadvertently include sensitive information or fail to meet regulatory standards. 

Mitigation: Implementing a robust review process for AI-generated content is essential. This includes setting up workflows and security policies that ensure all content is evaluated against business context and business logic requirements for compliance and security before it is used or shared. By focusing on post-generation supervision, organizations can ensure that the final output meets the highest standards of quality and security.  

Multiple Communication Channels 

Microsoft 365 Copilot integrates with various communication channels, such as email, chat, and collaboration tools. While this integration enhances productivity, it also introduces multiple points of potential vulnerability. 

The Risk: The use of multiple communication channels, such as email and asynchronous communication platforms, increases the complexity of managing the security of generated content. Each channel can be a potential entry point for cyber threats, such as data leakage, misinformation, and unauthorized access. 

Mitigation: To mitigate these risks, organizations should implement comprehensive security measures across all communication channels that utilize business logic and business context as an input. This includes using AI-based learning to detect instances of false information, trade secrets, and sensitive data included in content that will be used externally. Additionally, educating employees about the risks and best practices for secure communication using AI-based content generation solutions can help reduce the likelihood of security incidents. 

Multi-Vendor Environment 

Every organization operates in a multi-vendor environment, adding another layer of complexity to managing Microsoft 365 Copilot and its output. Integrating various third-party applications and services can create interoperability challenges, an inconsistent application of security protocols, and an increase the risk of security vulnerabilities. 

The Risk: Each third-party application integrated with Microsoft 365 Copilot can introduce its own set of security risks, leading to inconsistencies in how content security is managed. These risks include potential vulnerabilities in sharing of information with third-party software, inconsistent security policies, and difficulties in managing access controls to data inputs across different platforms. 

Mitigation: To address these challenges, organizations should establish strict security standards for third-party integrations. This includes conducting thorough security assessments of third-party applications, ensuring they comply with the organization's security policies, and regularly reviewing and updating access controls. Additionally, using a centralized content security management platform will streamline the content that is generated in these multi-vendor environments. 

Microsoft 365 Copilot offers tremendous potential for enhancing productivity and creativity within organizations. However, it also introduces several security risks and challenges that CISOs must address to protect their data and how it is created and used across the organization. By understanding and mitigating the risks associated with over-permissive Microsoft Graph permissions, generation and use decoupling, multiple communication channels, and operating in a multi-vendor environment, organizations can confidently leverage the benefits of Microsoft 365 Copilot while safeguarding their sensitive information.