By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
Describe what Microsoft 365 Copilot integration enables
Explain the difference between Copilot on copilot.microsoft.com and Copilot within Microsoft 365 apps
Apply appropriate considerations before using Copilot with work documents and email
Know where to find authoritative information about their organization's Copilot policies
Lesson Content
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Microsoft 365 Copilot integration features, availability, and subscription requirements change with product updates. Features described reflect publicly available information as of the course creation date. Some features require a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription in addition to a base Microsoft 365 plan. Verify current requirements at microsoft.com/microsoft-365/copilot.
What Microsoft 365 Copilot integration enables.
When Copilot is integrated within Microsoft 365 applications, it can work directly with the content you are creating and accessing in those applications:
Copilot in Word: Draft content, summarize documents, rewrite sections, ask questions about a document's content
Copilot in Excel: Analyze data, generate formulas, create visualizations, explain what data shows
Copilot in PowerPoint: Create presentations from a prompt or a document, add content to slides, generate speaker notes
Copilot in Teams: Summarize meeting transcripts, draft follow-up messages, answer questions about what was discussed
Copilot in Outlook: Draft emails, summarize long email threads, prepare meeting briefings
Copilot in OneNote: Organize and summarize notes, generate plans and summaries from note content
*Specific features available in each application vary by Microsoft product update cycle – verify current capabilities in each app at support.microsoft.com.*
The difference between Copilot on copilot.microsoft.com and Copilot in Microsoft 365.
These are different access points with different capabilities:
copilot.microsoft.com (standalone Copilot): The web-based interface accessible with a Microsoft account. This is the general-purpose Copilot that you interact with through conversation. You can paste text, documents, and images – but it does not have direct access to your Microsoft 365 files, email, or calendar unless you paste the content in.
Copilot within Microsoft 365 apps (Microsoft 365 Copilot): When your organization licenses Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot buttons and features appear directly within Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc. This version can access and work with your actual files, emails, and calendar directly – without requiring you to paste content. This typically requires a separate Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription.
Understanding which version you have access to determines what workflows are available to you.
Unique privacy and data considerations for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
When Copilot can access your actual work documents, emails, and calendar, several important considerations apply:
Organizational data governance: Your organization's IT and legal team has likely established policies about what data Copilot can access and how it is handled. Before using Microsoft 365 Copilot for sensitive work tasks, understand those policies.
Data stays within your Microsoft 365 tenant: Microsoft has stated that with Microsoft 365 Copilot, data is not used to train OpenAI models and stays within your organization's Microsoft 365 tenant – however, verify current data handling terms at microsoft.com/trust-center, as policies can change.
Confidentiality obligations: If you work with confidential client data, privileged communications, or regulated information, using Copilot with that data may have compliance implications. Consult your organization's legal or compliance team before using Copilot on such data.
Who can see what Copilot accesses: Copilot's access to organizational data through Microsoft 365 is governed by your organization's permissions and sharing settings. If you have access to a document or email, Copilot can help you work with it – understand this means Copilot assistance with sensitive organizational data creates access logs.
Where to get authoritative information about your organization's Copilot policies.
Your IT department or help desk
Your organization's acceptable use policy for technology tools
Microsoft's Trust Center at microsoft.com/trust-center for Microsoft's data handling commitments
Your organization's compliance or legal team for regulated data questions
