Microsoft 365 Copilot promises to revolutionize workplace productivity, but for many organizations, the reality doesn’t match the expectation. A recent Gartner report, “How to Secure and Govern Microsoft 365 Copilot at Scale” (Gartner, Max Goss, Avivah Litan, Dan Wilson, January 2025), highlights a major obstacle: weak information governance.
According to the report, organizations with low information management maturity struggle with M365 Copilot adoption. Among survey respondents, 83% reported difficulty integrating Copilot into daily workflows, while 76% saw engagement decline quickly. Why? Because poor governance creates roadblocks that prevent users from fully leveraging AI-powered capabilities.
The Governance Gap: Why M365 Copilot Adoption Fails
M365 Copilot relies on well-structured, accessible, and secure data to deliver relevant insights and streamline workflows. However, in organizations with weak information governance:
→ Data sprawl increases complexity – When critical files are scattered across multiple repositories with inconsistent access controls, Copilot struggles to retrieve and utilize the right information.
→ Over-permissioning raises security concerns – Users often retain access to sensitive data beyond necessity, creating compliance risks and making organizations hesitant to enable AI-driven automation.
→ Inconsistent policies create friction – Without clear governance models, users face confusion about what data they can use with Copilot, leading to disengagement and slow adoption.
The Solution: Strengthening Governance for AI Success
Organizations need a solid information governance strategy to maximize M365 Copilot’s value. This means:
→ Enforcing structured access controls – Ensuring that users can only access the data they need, when they need it, to maintain security without disrupting workflows.
→ Reducing data sprawl – Implementing lifecycle policies and automated compliance measures to keep data clean, organized, and accessible.
→ Enhancing visibility and reporting – Using real-time tracking and monitoring to provide insights into how data is accessed and used within M365 Copilot.
How eSHARE Helps Organizations Bridge the Gap
Weak governance doesn’t have to be a roadblock. eSHARE helps organizations enhance their Microsoft 365 governance by:
✓ Keeping data within your M365 environment – Ensuring seamless yet secure collaboration without requiring external migrations.
✓ Enabling policy-based access control – Applying dynamic permissions based on user roles, security labels, and compliance requirements.
✓ Simplifying external collaboration – Allowing secure sharing without the need for guest accounts or unmanaged file downloads.
✓ Automating compliance & reporting – Providing real-time auditing, automatic expiration policies, and SIEM integration for security oversight.
Unlocking M365 Copilot’s Full Potential
Organizations can’t afford to let weak governance hinder innovation. By strengthening information governance, businesses can ensure that M365 Copilot delivers on its promise—boosting productivity, streamlining workflows, and enabling secure collaboration at scale.
Ready to improve your governance strategy and maximize your M365 investment? Learn how eSHARE can help.
