How to Use Microsoft 365 Copilot | Technical Guide for IT Professionals

AI-driven tools have transformed work productivity across various industries, helping users streamline business processes, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance team collaboration. 

As one of the first AI productivity tools, Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed to assist your needs, while maintaining a secure and compliant environment. With Copilot, you can seamlessly integrate your apps and data while ensuring that your work remains protected – no matter where you are. 

As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, Trusted Tech Team is committed to helping our customers with their AI journey. Whether you’re a developer, IT manager, or even an IT support member, you may be wondering how exactly you can use Copilot.  In this blog, we’ll break down the fundamentals of the Copilot architecture, cover some practical applications for everyday use, and dive into the foundations of Copilot process optimization. 

How Does Copilot Work? 

Copilot uses advanced machine learning models that understand context, enabling Copilot  to analyze the input you provide, such as line code or a question, in order to offer recommendations.  

For example, in software development, Copilot can suggest entire lines of code based on what you're typing, or even detect errors and offer fixes. The real power of Copilot lies in its ability to contextualize your requests and provide suggestions that save you time and effort. 

What Are the Top Use Cases for Copilot? 

For IT professionals, Microsoft 365 Copilot can become an invaluable tool across various roles. From network administration to cybersecurity, here are some key use cases for Copilot: 

• For System Administrators: Copilot can automate repetitive tasks like scripting for system configurations, managing user accounts, and scheduling backups. Be advised that the automation will require some configuration with other platforms such as Power Automate. 
   
  For instance, if you're working with a PowerShell script to configure multiple servers, Copilot can suggest command sequences or even spot errors before execution. 

• For Network Engineers: In networking environments, Copilot can assist with writing and automating configurations for routers, switches, and firewalls. It can also generate monitoring scripts or analyze network logs to detect potential issues, saving valuable time during troubleshooting. 

• For DevOps Engineers: Copilot can help streamline Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. It can generate configuration files for tools like Jenkins or Kubernetes, automate deployments, and even suggest optimizations for Docker containers.  
  It can also help with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) by automating parts of Terraform or Ansible scripts. 

• For Cybersecurity Analysts: Copilot can assist in automating log analysis, detecting anomalies, and generating reports on security events. For example, when writing complex regex patterns for log parsing, Copilot can suggest patterns based on the type of data you're working with and generate regular expressions for you.  

• For IT Support Teams: In a help desk or support role, Copilot can assist with automating ticket responses or generating troubleshooting scripts for common issues, such as password resets or connectivity problems. It can also curate and summarize results, massively lowering research time. 

These examples show how IT professionals can use Copilot to automate tedious tasks, optimize configurations, and increase efficiency in system management and security, making it a valuable addition to the IT toolkit. 

How To Use Microsoft 365 Copilot 

Microsoft 365 Copilot interlinks with your Microsoft tools to enhance productivity across key business applications, transforming the way teams work and collaborate.  

1. Word: With Copilot in Word, you can create, summarize, and refine documents effortlessly, even pulling from multiple sources to draft comprehensive content.  
2. PowerPoint: In PowerPoint, it transforms ideas into visually engaging presentations at the click of a button. 
3. Excel: Copilot in Excel helps analyze and visualize complex data for informed decision-making.  
4. Outlook: Copilot in Outlook streamlines email management, from summarizing threads to generating replies in customizable tones.  
5. Teams: In Teams, Copilot provides summaries of conversations, schedules follow-ups, and organizes action points.  
6. Loop & OneNote: Tools like Copilot in Loop and OneNote revolutionize team collaboration and planning by generating summaries, organizing information, and enabling seamless co-creation.  

The versatility of Microsoft 365 Copilot across your modern work productivity applications empowers businesses to operate faster, smarter, and with greater efficiency, giving professionals the tools to stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape. 

For help with prompting, check out this Copilot prompting guide. 

How To Get Started with Copilot 

Before implementing Copilot, ensure that you and your team are equipped with Copilot’s best practices: 

• Have your applications ready: Make sure your M365 applications are updated to its most recent version before implementation. If you have legacy files, move them into Microsoft 365 and double-check that data governance policy is properly implemented. 

• Limit and control access to sensitive data: Copilot will only query accessible data based on the controls set up in your organization. To prevent data leakage among users, groups, and tenants, set up permissions and control access. 

• License requirements: If you’re looking to utilize features such as Microsoft Purview or SharePoint Advanced Management, you may be required to upgrade to specific licenses. Ensure that you and your team have gathered the requirements your organization needs to properly implement the right licenses the first time around. 

Interested in giving Copilot a try? Equip yourself with cybersecurity best practices and identify your AI plan with our Microsoft 365 Copilot Assessment.