Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which is used by many small to mid-size organisations includes numerous controls in Defender, Entra and Purview that can help address these risks*. They provide useful safeguards and can help enforce organizational policies around which AI tools staff may use and what information they may upload to AI systems.
See which AI tools staff are using
Defender Cloud Discovery analyses network activity to show which cloud apps employees are accessing. A business can use it to identify AI platforms that haven’t been approved, understand how widely they’re being used, and decide whether to allow, monitor or restrict them. Defender also helps protect devices from threats such as malware and ransomware, phishing and unsafe links or attachments. Microsoft Learn: Cloud Discovery
Control who can sign in and what they can do
Microsoft Entra ID lets organisations set rules for who can sign in and under what conditions. For example, Conditional Access can require stronger sign-in checks or limit access based on the situation. This helps protect accounts that may have access to AI services and company files.
Put limits around sensitive data
Purview Data loss prevention (DLP) policies can look for sensitive data types—such as financial or personal information—and warn users or restrict certain sharing in supported Microsoft 365 locations. Purview’s Data Security Posture Management for AI (DSPM for AI) can provide visibility into AI activity and help identify data risks and provide recommendations and policies to strengthen protection. Microsoft Learn: Purview protections for AI
Give staff clear rules
Together, these tools give SMBs a practical starting point for AI governance: see which AI platforms are being used, protect accounts and devices, and put sensible guardrails around important data. Staff still need clear guidance on approved AI tools and safe use.
Key points
- Use Defender to find unapproved AI apps and decide whether to allow, watch or block them.
- Use Entra to control sign-in for accounts that can reach AI tools and company files.
- Use Purview to limit sensitive data, and tell staff which AI tools they may use.
*Note – some features mentioned in this article may require additional license add-ons depending on your current licensing model.
Need help applying this to your organisation? Talk to Cybervisory.