The Truth About Microsoft 365 Copilot Pricing and Features

Overview

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an exciting new AI-powered assistant technology that promises to transform our work with Office documents. Microsoft 365 Copilot aims to be a game-changer by offering a range of AI-powered capabilities. It will help users in various tasks such as summarizing documents, generating emails, speeding up Excel analysis, and more. Users can even create PowerPoint slides from a report effortlessly. It’s like having your personal AI assistant handle everyday tasks, saving you time and effort.

But what does it cost? Let’s dive into the details of Microsoft 365 Copilot’s pricing and features.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Pricing

Microsoft has announced that Microsoft 365 Copilot will cost USD 30 per user per month. This add-on will be available to customers using Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium plans.

The USD 30 per user, per month pricing for Microsoft 365 Copilot is higher than some of the existing Microsoft 365 plans. For example, the Microsoft 365 E3 plan, which includes Office apps, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and other productivity features, costs USD 36 per user per month. So, adopting Copilot as an add-on will require an additional investment.

Driving Value through Microsoft 365 Copilot

While some consider this price to be on the higher side, it’s essential to understand the value it brings to the table. Microsoft emphasizes the high-value benefits that Copilot brings. Its AI capabilities promise higher quality outcomes, cost savings, and significant time savings. With Copilot’s ability to perform complex tasks like combining information from different Microsoft 365 apps, the investment might be justified for some customers.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is currently in a private preview with up to 600 invited, paying customers. Microsoft is closely monitoring customer feedback to refine the offering further. While a specific release date hasn’t been announced yet, Microsoft aims to make Copilot available broadly.

Preparing for Microsoft 365 Copilot

Before you can use Microsoft 365 Copilot, there are some things you need to have in place. Don’t worry; it’s not too complicated! Here’s what you need to know:

1. Get Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise

To start using Copilot, you should have Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise deployed. These apps include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, and they work together with Copilot to make your work easier. If you’re unsure how to do this, Microsoft has a guide to help you get started.

2. Have an Azure Active Directory Account

To use Copilot, you need an Azure Active Directory account. It’s a bit like a login that lets you access Microsoft services securely. You can visit the Microsoft website for more information if you don’t have one yet.

3. Set Up OneDrive

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that Copilot uses for saving and sharing files. Ensure you have a OneDrive account to get the most out of Copilot. If you don’t have one, sign in or create an account easily.

4. Try the New Outlook for Windows

Copilot works best with the new Outlook for Windows, which is still in preview mode. It’s a better experience with Copilot features, but you can also use Outlook Mobile. To learn more, check out Microsoft’s guide on getting started with the new Outlook for Windows.

5. Use Microsoft Teams

If you want to use Copilot with Microsoft Teams, you must use either the Teams desktop or web app. Both the old and new versions of Teams work, so you can choose what you like. You can get the desktop app or use the web version at teams.microsoft.com.

6. Enable Microsoft Loop

For those using Microsoft Loop, ensure it is enabled for your organization. The Loop is a workspace that helps you collaborate smoothly. Check Microsoft’s guide to get started with Loop.

Permissions & Best Practices

Regarding permissions and content management best practices, Microsoft 365 Copilot leverages your existing permissions and policies to provide you with the most relevant information. It builds upon Microsoft’s strong commitment to data security and privacy in enterprise environments. Have an efficient content management practice in place to ensure smooth functioning; Many organizations face challenges with content oversharing and data governance. Content oversharing happens when content is shared with an audience beyond what is necessary, either intentionally or accidentally. To address this, your organization can take proactive measures to detect and prevent oversharing in the context of content management and security. You can refer to a video and an article that discuss adopting content management best practices in SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.

Regarding security, privacy, and data residency, Microsoft 365 Copilot adheres to foundational principles. It is built upon Microsoft’s comprehensive security, compliance, and privacy approach. The architecture is designed to safeguard the data of tenants, groups, and individuals. Copilot’s AI experiences utilize organizational content within your Microsoft 365 tenant, such as calendars, emails, chats, documents, meetings, and contacts, all within the confines of the Microsoft 365 compliance boundary. Importantly, Copilot does not utilize customer data or user prompts to train its foundation, ensuring an extra layer of privacy and data protection.

Microsoft 365 Copilot combines powerful language models with your organization’s data to make you more productive. Even if you’re not in the Early Access Program (EAP), you can still learn more about Copilot and get ready to use it. Explore permissions, admin controls, security, privacy, compliance, and data residency to get the most out of Copilot.

Conclusion

As Microsoft 365 Copilot gets ready to launch, you’ll want to be prepared for its exciting new features. Follow updates and news about Copilot in the Microsoft 365 admin center’s Message center and the Microsoft 365 roadmap. And don’t forget to join the Microsoft 365 Copilot community for even more engagement.

Prepare for a more efficient and innovative way to work with Microsoft 365 Copilot! The future of AI-driven productivity is just around the corner.

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