Home Stop Oversharing: Managing Risks in Microsoft Copilot

Stop Oversharing: Managing Risks in Microsoft Copilot

By Rotem Levi, Cloud Native & AI Security

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A New Era of Productivity – and New Security Challenges

The adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot marks a revolution in workplace efficiency, streamlining workflows with cutting-edge AI capabilities. From retrieving critical business insights to automating complex tasks, Copilot is transforming the way organizations operate.

But alongside these benefits comes a significant challenge: data oversharing.

Imagine an employee inadvertently gaining access to sensitive business data due to incorrect permissions, unsecured data structures, or lax information control policies. The risks? Unintended data leaks, regulatory violations, cybersecurity threats, and exposure of confidential business insights to unauthorized users.

To harness Copilot’s full potential without compromising security, organizations must proactively identify, mitigate, and prevent oversharing risks. Here’s a three-step strategy to ensure that your organization’s data stays protected—along with a comparison of security controls available at different Microsoft licensing levels.

How Does Oversharing Happen in Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Oversharing often occurs due to excessive permissions, lack of data classification, and cyber threats targeting Copilot. Public SharePoint sites and broad user groups often make sensitive content accessible beyond intended audiences. Uncontrolled permission inheritance can expose classified data inadvertently. Additionally, weak data classification policies, such as missing Sensitivity Labels, prevent organizations from effectively restricting access to sensitive information. Cybercriminals can also exploit prompt injection attacks, manipulating Copilot into revealing confidential data.

The 3-Step Strategy for Preventing Oversharing Risks

🔍 Step 1: Identify & Monitor At-Risk Data

Auditing SharePoint sites for vulnerabilities is crucial. The SharePoint Admin Center allows organizations to sort sites by usage frequency, helping to identify frequently accessed sensitive content. Running SAM Data Access Governance Reports highlights excessive permissions, while Microsoft Purview DSPM for AI detects unclassified dark data. Regular access reviews are essential to remove unnecessary permissions and flag inconsistencies with organizational security policies.

🛡️ Step 2: Reduce Risks & Strengthen Access Controls

Restricting access to sensitive sites is a key measure. Organizations should make SharePoint sites private by default and remove the ‘Everyone except external users’ group to prevent excessive access. Implementing automatic Sensitivity Labels ensures that sensitive documents are classified and protected. Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP) helps block unauthorized sharing. Additionally, enabling Restricted Content Discovery (RCD) prevents Copilot from accessing sensitive data, while Prompt Injection Prevention Policies block manipulation attempts.

📊 Step 3: Continuously Monitor & Enforce Permission Controls

Tracking and detecting suspicious activity is critical for maintaining security. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps helps monitor unusual data access patterns, while periodic Microsoft Purview Audit Premium reviews detect unauthorized access attempts. Enforcing a Zero Trust Model, where all data access requires explicit justification, further strengthens security. AI-powered access controls help identify and prevent unusual permission changes before they become risks.

Security Comparison: E3 vs. E5 Licensing – What’s Right for You?

When it comes to security, Microsoft E3 (Basic) and Microsoft E5 (Advanced) offer different levels of protection. Let’s break it down:

Managing Permissions & Sharing: E3 provides SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) for basic control, while E5 enhances this with Restricted Content Discovery (RCD) for more advanced data visibility.
Search & Access Control: E3 limits access with Restricted SharePoint Search (RSS), but E5 takes it further with DSPM for AI Oversharing Detection, ensuring sensitive data isn’t exposed.
Classifying Sensitive Data: With E3, classification is manual via sensitivity labels. E5 introduces AI-powered automated labeling and advanced policies for seamless security.
Preventing Data Loss (DLP): E3 applies only basic rules, while E5 strengthens security with smart policies powered by Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps.
Monitoring User Activity: E3 logs activities at a basic level, but E5 upgrades to Microsoft Purview Audit Premium, delivering deeper insights and analysis.
Detecting Excessive Access: E3 relies on SharePoint Reports, whereas E5 leverages AI-driven insights and recommendations, offering smarter, proactive security.

🔎 Key Takeaway: If your organization relies heavily on Copilot or manages highly sensitive data, upgrading to E5 is strongly recommended to maximize security protections.

Final Thoughts: How to Secure Your Copilot Usage

Implement Zero Trust principles to enforce strict access control.
Use Sensitivity Labels & DLP to classify and protect critical data.
Conduct regular permission audits & user activity monitoring.
Leverage AI-driven security tools to prevent oversharing risks.

With the right strategies, your organization can unlock Copilot’s full potential while safeguarding mission-critical data.

Ready to Take Control of Your Copilot Security?

CloudEdge specializes in securing Copilot environments and ensuring your organization’s AI-powered productivity remains safe.