Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC GA Update: Empowering Public Sector Innovation

We are excited to announce the general availability of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC, scheduled for October 2024, subject to U.S. government approval. This powerful tool combines large-scale language models (LLMs) with your organization’s data to improve productivity and innovation in the public sector.

Security and Compliance: Top Priority

Security and compliance are at the core of our commitment to our public sector customers. Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC is built on the secure foundation of Microsoft 365 GCC and adheres to all existing privacy, security, and compliance commitments.

• Data Processing and Privacy: Copilot operates within the Microsoft 365 GCC tenant compliance boundary, ensuring that sensitive information is protected and all AI-based processes are performed securely. The system is designed to maintain the highest standards of data protection and is compliant with FedRAMP, CJIS, IRS 1075, and other key regulatory frameworks.
• Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC defaults to Web Grounding OFF, which is required to protect sensitive US government information that must not leave the GCC compliance boundary.
• The Copilot ‘Work tab’ chat is driven by inference from GCC users. Graph data (SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Teams, etc.) are accessible to individuals. If you turn off web grounding, Copilot will not query the web to get live, real-time web content. Documentation for admin controls is available in GA.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC is rolling out in two phases, with core functionality available first and additional features rolling out over the next few months.

Phase 1 (October 2024):

• Copilot Graph-based chat (‘Work tab’): Quickly access relevant department data, policies, or citizen inquiries without extensive search. This AI-powered chat feature leverages your organization’s Microsoft 365 data to provide personalized, relevant information and insights directly within the chat experience.
• M365 App Pilot (Word, Excel, PowerPoint): Built into your favorite productivity apps, these intelligent assistants help you write documents, analyze data, and create presentations faster and more accurately.
• Outlook (mail and calendar): Manage citizen communications and interagency meetings efficiently. Copilot in Outlook streamlines email and calendar management by drafting responses, summarizing email threads, and suggesting optimal meeting times.
• Team Chat/Channel Pilot: Enhance cross-department collaboration. Integrate AI into everyday team interactions to help summarize threads and manage conversations with contextual awareness.
• Intelligent Meeting Summary: Automatically capture key points from important policy discussions or public hearings, capturing important details that facilitate transparent governance. The Intelligent Meeting Recap feature generates a comprehensive summary of the meeting, including key points, action items, and decisions made.

2nd (March 2025):

In the second wave, we are introducing Copilot to additional services to further streamline the workflow.

• Team Meeting Pilot Enrich your meetings by using AI to generate real-time summaries, identify action items, and track follow-up. Use a pilot during the meeting instead of keeping transcripts, and ask the pilot questions about the meeting.
• OneNote It improves note-taking by using AI to generate summaries, organize information, and suggest relevant content, helping you efficiently capture and recall important insights without having to sift through extensive notes.
• brook Automate your video content management by generating AI-powered transcripts, summaries, and highlight reels, making it easier to find and share important information from recorded meetings or training sessions.
• planner Simplify task management by using AI to optimize project schedules, suggest work priorities, and automatically adjust plans based on real-time changes, ensuring projects stay on track with minimal manual input.
• OneDrive for Business Improve file management by using AI to help you quickly find, organize, and share documents, ensuring your team always has access to the most up-to-date information without wasting time on manual searches.
• ring Accelerate collaboration by leveraging AI to collaboratively create and organize dynamic content across teams, streamlining project updates, brainstorming sessions, and real-time feedback into consistent, actionable plans.

These additional tools can deepen the integration of AI within your organization, delivering more advanced task management, content creation, and collaboration capabilities as you continue your journey toward digital transformation.

Transforming Public Sector Workflows

Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC is designed to improve productivity and streamline workflows across a variety of public sector use cases. Here are some potential public sector use cases to consider:

1. Policy Analysis: Quickly synthesize massive amounts of data to inform decision-making. For example, the Department of Health can use Copilot to analyze public health trends and draft evidence-based policy recommendations to respond more effectively to emerging issues.
2. Citizen Services: Improve response time and accuracy to citizen inquiries. Copilot helps you draft personalized responses to common questions about government services, permits, or regulations, ensuring citizens receive timely and accurate information.
3. Resource Allocation: Optimize budget planning and resource allocation. Finance departments can use Copilot in Excel to perform complex budget scenario analysis and generate easy-to-understand reports for stakeholders, making the budget process more efficient and transparent.
4. Project Management: Simplify the management of large-scale government initiatives. Copilot creates project timelines, assigns tasks, and generates progress reports to keep multi-agency efforts on track and ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
5. Education and knowledge sharing: Promote continuous learning within your organization. Use Copilot to create training materials, FAQs, and a knowledge base to keep your staff up to date with the latest procedures and regulations, and foster a culture of continuous professional development.

Support & Resources: Strengthening Your Team

We are committed to providing comprehensive support and training resources to ensure effective adoption of Copilot within the government workforce. Our Public Sector Readiness and Adoption Guide and U.S. Government-specific Copilot scenario content will help you navigate the implementation process.

• Document and Admin Controls: Detailed documentation and administrative controls are provided to help you effectively manage and configure Copilot’s features, allowing you to tailor your deployment to your security policies and operational requirements.
• Training and Resources: To ensure a smooth adoption process, contact your account team and adoption experts to guide you through the resources available to help you prepare, scope, plan, and deploy Copilot for Microsoft 365.
  New resources include:

• Ongoing Support: Our commitment to your success extends beyond your initial deployment. We provide ongoing support through Microsoft account teams, channel partners, Microsoft Support, and FastTrack to ensure your organization has access to the resources and support needed to resolve any issues and maximize the value of Copilot. Our Government Solutions team provides ongoing support and ensures a smooth and successful experience with Copilot.

Looking to the future: Future updates and roadmap

As we approach launch, we are committed to working closely with government partners at all levels. Your feedback and insights are critical to improving Copilot to meet the unique needs of the public sector.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC represents a major leap forward in enabling government agencies to work more efficiently and serve the public more effectively. By automating routine tasks, providing data-driven insights, and enhancing collaboration, Copilot frees up valuable time for government employees to focus on what matters most: improving the lives of citizens.

Imagine how Copilot can transform your agency’s operations. Together, we can harness the power of AI to drive innovation in the public sector, always with a common goal in mind: serving the public good.

Get ready to experience the future of public services with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC. The future of efficient, data-driven governance is upon us.

This blog is supported by Copilot for Microsoft 365, my AI assistant for work.