In this post I like to point out and think about a few aspects regarding oversharing in the ear of AI in Microsoft 365 by using Microsoft 365 Copilot. Sharing information is key to success in a collaborative environment however oversharing is not. In this post, I’ll walk through Microsoft’s recommended approach to governing Copilot and agents, focusing on SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) and Microsoft Purview. Before we dive in deeper let us recap on what oversharing is.
What is Oversharing?
To keep it short, oversharing means that information is shared more widely as it should be. Mostly oversharing is from configuration issues rather than malicious intent.
Generative and agentic AI are transforming the digital workplace. Tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot can summarize, synthesize, and surface information across contexts but this power comes with a challenge: oversharing. When employees have access to more data than necessary, Copilot amplifies those gaps, potentially exposing sensitive information. Common patterns include:
- Sites set to “everyone in the organization” by default
- Broken permission inheritance between sites, folders, and files
- Sharing with broad groups like “everyone except external users”
- Missing sensitivity labels that enforce data protection
Without proper governance, Copilot can surface this data in unexpected ways.
How to cope with Oversharing?
A Structured Governance Blueprint?! Microsoft recommends a phased approach to deployment:
- 🕵️Pilot: Deploy Copilot to a small group with access to up to 100 low-risk sites. This helps validate permission controls and uncover oversharing issues.
- 🚀Deploy: Scale Copilot across the organization while remediating risks. Enforce labeling policies, secure sensitive data, and adjust site privacy settings.
- ⚙️Operate: Establish ongoing governance with automated policies, monitoring, and continuous improvement to keep AI aligned with business and security intent.
What Microsoft 365-related services can help with governance?
There are two services which can help you here, the SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) and Purview for AI Data Security.
SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM)
SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) is a governance toolkit within Microsoft 365 that helps IT and security teams assess, clean up, and lock down SharePoint sites before Copilot scales. It provides features like content management assessments, site lifecycle management, permission state reports, and restricted access controls.
SAM equips IT and security leaders with tools to clean up sprawling SharePoint environments before Copilot scales:
- Content Management Assessment: Guided evaluation of site misconfigurations, inactivity, and permission risks.
- Site Lifecycle Management: Identify and remediate inactive or ownerless sites.
- Permission State Reports: Detailed visibility into who can access what, uncovering broken inheritance and excessive group access.
- Restricted Access Control: Lock down sites to a strict allow list.
- Restricted Content Discovery (RCD): Block overshared sites from Copilot and agent access, with delegation options for site owners.
Microsoft Purview for AI Data Security
Microsoft Purview for AI Data Security extends protection across Microsoft 365 apps. It offers Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) for AI, weekly risk assessments of active sites, and automated policies to block Copilot access to sensitive files, enforce labeling, and apply retention rules.
While SAM governs SharePoint, Microsoft Purview enforces protections across Microsoft 365 apps:
- Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) for AI: Visibility into Copilot usage, risk assessments, and ready-to-use policies.
- Data Risk Assessments: Weekly scans of the 100 most active sites to identify sensitive files, overexposed links, and usage patterns.
- Remediation Actions:
- Block Copilot access to sensitive files or entire sites
- Auto-label and protect unlabeled files
- Apply retention policies to delete stale content
What is required for SAM and Purview DSPM?
Both services require additional licenses.
- SAM:
- Available as an add-on license for Microsoft 365 E5
- or as part of Microsoft 365 Copilot licensing bundles.
- Purview DSPM for AI:
- Requires Microsoft Purview licenses (often included in E5 Compliance
- or as separate add-ons).
Conclusion, opinion and summary
By combining SAM’s governance controls with Purview’s proactive protections, organizations can take a nativ and comprehensive approach to AI governance to achieve safe, secure innovation with Copilot and agents, without slowing down collaboration.
Oversharing is not just a compliance risk it’s a productivity risk. With the right governance blueprint, IT leaders can ensure Copilot surfaces the right information to the right people, while keeping sensitive data protected. This is where AI governance meets business value: data becomes an asset, not a liability.
erik365.blog 
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