top of page

Integrating Microsoft Copilot with Your Existing IT Infrastructure

Writer: Joel ProulxJoel Proulx

Robot interacting with an AI hologram

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly taking over the business landscape. Enterprise AI adoption is becoming essential to remaining competitive in this shifting industry, and widely available tools like Microsoft Copilot make that goal achievable. Still, Microsoft Copilot integration can be intimidating for some teams.


Why Pursue Microsoft Copilot Integration?

Copilot is an AI-driven automation platform for Microsoft services like Teams, Dynamics 365, Office and Azure. Like many business productivity tools, it can automate repetitive tasks from data analytics to scheduling. Unlike conventional automation, though, it leverages generative AI to support conversational commands and extend its capabilities to content-generating workflows.


Capitalizing on that potential can yield impressive results. Of the 65% of organizations regularly using generative AI, lower costs and increased revenue have been common results.


Any generative cloud-based AI solution may produce such gains. However, Microsoft’s prominence in the software-as-a-service industry means its native AI tool may be the easiest for many to implement. There’s a reason why almost 70% of the Fortune 500 now use Microsoft 365 Copilot.


How to Integrate Copilot AI into Your IT Infrastructure

As with any business productivity tool, successful Copilot integration requires planning and care. Here are five steps to implement Copilot into your specific tech infrastructure and workflows.


Assess Your Current IT Stack

First, you must review your existing software suite to ensure Copilot fits. The cloud-based AI solution should be compatible with Azure, Teams or any Microsoft 365 apps as long as you run the latest version. Keep in mind that you may need enterprise-grade accounts on some of these services to use Copilot to its full potential.


Third-party integrations are trickier. Review any non-Microsoft tools your team uses to see if it’s compatible. As you assess your IT stack, be sure to consider the workflow, too, watching for any specific tasks that will benefit from AI-driven automation.


Adjust Copilot to Your Needs

Next, highlight areas where you’ll use Copilot. This platform is highly configurable, so you’ll get more out of it if you adjust its settings according to where you need it the most.


Many teams use AI to generate higher revenue in less time by automating repetitive tasks, but the most time-consuming work varies between companies. Be sure to tailor Copilot’s setting to your unique pain points, locations and level of expertise to make it as helpful as possible. Remember to adjust its security policies to align with any applicable regulations and cybersecurity goals, too.


Ensure Security and IT Compliance

Along similar lines, review any data privacy laws or security needs you’ll need Copilot to comply with. Many firms get security in AI wrong, so outline what data the tool can access and what it cannot from the start. You may also want to implement a continuous monitoring tool to ensure the AI assistant’s safety.


Your own users are often the biggest security risk, so create clear policies for how employees can and can’t use the AI model before implementing it. Remind everyone about potential AI security risks like overreliance and data poisoning ahead of time.


Train All Users

One of the most common reasons AI projects fail is because of misuse. Similarly, user error can lead to issues with IT compliance and security. Consequently, you should train your team to use Copilot before reshaping workflows around it.


Start by recognizing where the solution can help you and which workflows are best to leave to humans. Then, experiment with prompt engineering to find the best way to get the desired results. Once you deploy Copilot, onboard teams by explaining these best practices and encouraging them to ask questions.


Monitor and Adapt

Finally, you should set performance goals and monitor relevant key performance indicators before and after implementing Microsoft 365 Copilot. Regularly review your progress to determine if any technical or workflow changes are necessary. A reliable managed service provider can help by offering a dedicated ongoing support team to guide you through the transition.


Let PremCom Guide Your Mircosoft Copilot Integration

Making the most of your Microsoft Copilot Integration is easier with an experienced IT services partner. Turn to PremCom today to learn how we can help you ensure a secure and efficient Copilot deployment that fits your needs.

Comentários


bottom of page