So why are so few really getting started? Because it’s complex. It feels overwhelming, and there are lots of things to consider – like licensing, data security, environment setup, governance, user adoption, change management – and most importantly, you need a clear strategy or plan.
But that’s exactly what it takes if you want to work professionally with AI and Copilot – and unlock the potential that’s right in front of you.
Here are five practical tips to help you get started with Copilot, Copilot Studio, and Azure AI Foundry in a way that actually makes a difference. And yes – it takes more than just typing a prompt, but with the right approach and a solid partner, you can get started quickly, the right way, and safely.
1. Start with the boring stuff: licenses and costs
It might sound a bit dry, but it’s absolutely essential. If you don’t have a grip on your licenses and “pay-as-you-go” agreements, you risk overpaying – or worse: ending up with a solution that doesn’t deliver the business value you expected.
Start by getting a clear overview:
- What licenses do you have – and which ones do you actually need?
- Do you need Copilot for Microsoft 365, Copilot Studio, or both?
- What are your ongoing consumption costs?
- Where should those costs be allocated (e.g., cost centers, business units, departments)?
- How will you design your solutions to be most cost-efficient and properly licensed?
A clear picture of your finances and license model lays the foundation for the following steps in this blog.
2. Build a solid foundation: security and control first
It’s tempting to dive straight into all the cool connectors and features – but without control and governance, things can go south quickly.
For example: Do you have a connector to both Twitter and your CRM system (like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales), but no governance policies in place? Then you risk customer leads and data leaking – maybe even publicly posted on Twitter and visible to your competitors. That can be both costly and damaging to your reputation.
This is where Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies come into play.
Make sure to:
- Define clear DLP policies for each area
- Identify which data sources can be connected – and by whom
- Conduct risk assessments on the connectors allowed in your default environment or across the organization – and restrict connector actions where needed
Copilot is a powerful tool – but it must be used with care and responsibility.
3. Set up your environments properly
Are you using Dataverse, Excel, or SharePoint as your data source? Do you have separate environments for development, testing, and production? Do you know who has access to what – and why?
An environment setup that hasn’t been carefully planned can lead to serious consequences. Without proper access controls and environment separation, sensitive data could become available to the wrong people – or worse, your production solutions might crash because someone made changes directly in a live system.
Here is an example:
What if the marketing team suddenly gains access to all your HR data like salaries and employment contracts? Or if your financial data is exposed to external consultants and partners? That’s not the ideal start to your digital transformation.
Make sure you have:
- Purpose-built, separate environments
- Access control across users and teams
- Clear restrictions on what Copilot can access
A well-structured environment isn’t just a best practice – it’s a necessity.
4. Think in flows and roles – not just prompts
It’s not about writing the most creative prompt. It’s about designing solutions that solve real business problems with the user at the center.
Here is an example:
Imagine a chatbot for handling product returns on a website or app:
- User types: “My blouse doesn’t fit properly.”
- Chatbot responds: “Please send your order number.”
- The chatbot then automatically creates a return case, generates a return label, updates the user profile, and triggers the necessary processes.
That same flow could be expanded to help customers troubleshoot and find solutions, like in the example below:
- User types: “My blouse doesn’t fit properly.”
- Chatbot responds: “Sorry to hear that! Let’s find a good solution. Please send your order number and select the product in question.”
- User sends order number.
- The chatbot looks up the order in the ERP system and says:
“I see you purchased our wool blouse. Wool can sometimes feel itchy on the skin. Also, it’s important to follow care instructions. Could you describe the issues you're experiencing? We’ll find the best solution for you. If you’d like to return it, just let me know, and I’ll take care of everything behind the scenes.”
Instead of pushing a return, the Copilot helps the customer troubleshoot – maybe they just needed help with care instructions?
5. Get your governance in place – avoid chaos
The most overlooked (and underestimated) area is governance. Who rolls out the solutions? Who maintains them? Who monitors issues and uptime?
You need clear answers to questions like:
- Do we have develop and test environments?
- Do we use deployment pipelines?
- Do we have a governance model that scales with the solution?
- Are we managing our application lifecycle? Who updates the solutions? Do we write release notes? Who informs the business when a new Copilot is live?
- Who is responsible for the production solutions?
Copilot Studio isn’t a “set it up and forget it” platform. New features and capabilities are constantly being added – and without governance, it can quickly become messy and risky to manage. Plus, it makes it harder to ensure data security and compliance.
My recommendation
Bring an experienced partner on board when starting with Copilot Studio. You need someone who not only helps you get started – but stays involved to ensure your solutions are always up to date and aligned with your business needs.
If you take the task seriously from day one, Copilot can become the glue that connects your systems. It gives you the ability to standardize, centralize, and automate your business processes – securely and efficiently.
Ready to get started?
We help companies get control over licenses, data, environments, and governance – and most importantly: we help turn AI and Copilot Studio into real business value.