⚠️ The 7 Most Common Copilot Readiness Gaps (and How to Fix Them)

Frontier AI Consulting
Helping Microsoft 365 organizations adopt Copilot with confidence

Before a Copilot deployment, most leadership teams believe they’re “almost ready.”
After running dozens of readiness assessments, we consistently uncover the same seven blockers.
Here’s what they are, why they matter, and how to address them before you light up Microsoft 365 Copilot.

1️⃣ Unsecured Data Permissions

Copilot honors existing Microsoft Graph permissions, so any overshared file or guest access becomes instantly discoverable.
Fix it: Run access reviews for high-value sites, enforce least privilege, and enable multi-factor authentication and Conditional Access policies to lock down entry points.

2️⃣ Shadow IT Content

Personal OneDrives, unmanaged SharePoint sites, and forgotten Teams channels often contain outdated or risky information.
Fix it: Use Microsoft 365 inventory reports and automated classification to surface unsanctioned repositories, then migrate or retire them before Copilot indexing begins.

3️⃣ Missing Sensitivity Labels

Without sensitivity labels, Copilot can’t distinguish confidential board decks from marketing collateral.
Fix it: Deploy Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels tied to encryption, DLP, and access policies. Make labeling mandatory in key workloads like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

4️⃣ Lack of Teams/SharePoint Governance

Workspace sprawl drives redundant files, duplicate conversations, and inconsistent metadata.
Fix it: Apply lifecycle policies, naming conventions, and provisioning approvals so every new Team or site has a sponsor, purpose, and retention plan.

5️⃣ No Change Management Plan

Even the best technical rollout stalls if employees don’t know why or how to use Copilot.
Fix it: Build a communications roadmap, executive sponsorship plan, and success metrics that showcase quick wins while reinforcing ethical AI usage.

6️⃣ Untrained Staff

Teams that haven’t practiced prompting, governance guardrails, or fallback processes won’t adopt Copilot at scale.
Fix it: Deliver role-based enablement, publish prompt libraries, and launch champion programs that pair power users with hesitant departments.

7️⃣ No Measurement Loop

Without telemetry, you can’t prove ROI—or catch unintended consequences.
Fix it: Monitor usage analytics, track business KPIs like proposal turnaround time, and review compliance signals quarterly to adjust policies, training, and access.

Ready to Close the Gaps?

Addressing these seven gaps creates a Copilot launch that’s secure, measurable, and trusted across the organization.
Need a full walkthrough of what “ready” looks like? Download our checklist for a step-by-step plan.

👉 Get the AI Readiness Checklist
👉 Talk with a Copilot readiness expert