https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/01/microsoft_consumer_copilot_corporate/ # # Sign in / up The Register | HPE # # # Topics Security Security All SecurityCyber-crimePatchesResearchCSO (X) Off-Prem Off-Prem All Off-PremEdge + IoTChannelPaaS + IaaSSaaS (X) On-Prem On-Prem All On-PremSystemsStorageNetworksHPCPersonal TechCxOPublic Sector (X) Software Software All SoftwareAI + MLApplicationsDatabasesDevOpsOSesVirtualization (X) Offbeat Offbeat All OffbeatDebatesColumnistsScienceGeek's GuideBOFHLegalBootnotesSite NewsAbout Us (X) Special Features Special Features All Special Features Cloud Infrastructure Month Datacenter Networking Nexus The State of Storage European Supercomputing AI Infrastructure Month Spotlight on RSAC AI Software Development Week Disaster Recovery Week Nvidia GTC Ransomware in Focus The Future of the Datacenter Cybersecurity Month VMware Explore Vendor Voice Vendor Voice Vendor Voice All Vendor Voice Money Movement Hub The BigQuery Difference AWS Global Partner Security Initiative Amazon Web Services (AWS) New Horizon in Cloud Computing (X) Resources Resources Whitepapers Webinars & Events Newsletters [aiml] AI + ML 6 comment bubble on white Microsoft declares bring your Copilot to work day, usurping IT authority 6 comment bubble on white Use your home subscription with your work Microsoft 365 account icon Thomas Claburn Wed 1 Oct 2025 // 20:29 UTC # Your job may not support BYOD, but how about BYOC? Microsoft has declared that people can bring their personal Microsoft 365 subscriptions to work to access various Copilot features at companies that fail to provide an AI fix. Redmond has done so unilaterally, effectively endorsing "shadow IT" - the practice of bringing unapproved software and devices into the workplace. Earlier this year, Microsoft said it had adopted a new approach to shadow IT. "While earlier eras of our IT history focused on trying to prevent shadow IT, we are now concentrating on managing it," the biz said in a blog post. By "managing," Microsoft also means "enabling." [aiml] Samer Baroudi, senior product marketing manager at Microsoft, insists this is for your own good. [aiml] [aiml] "This offers a safer alternative to other bring-your-own-AI scenarios, and empowers users with Copilot in their daily jobs while keeping IT firmly in control and all enterprise data protections intact," Baroudi explained in a blog post. Makers of competing AI products might disagree. [aiml] Microsoft says that employees can sign into Microsoft 365 apps using both personal and work accounts and now can use Copilot features from their personal plan (Personal, Family, or Premium) for business documents - even if their work account lacks a Copilot license. * Raspberry Pi prices hiked as AI gobbles all the memory * AI has had zero effect on jobs so far, says Yale study * Air Force admits SharePoint privacy issue as reports trickle out of possible breach * Hundreds of orgs urge Microsoft: don't kill off free Windows 10 updates IT admins miffed at having their authority usurped by a diktat from Redmond can console themselves with the knowledge that Copilot's level of access "is strictly governed by the user's work account permissions, ensuring enterprise data remains protected." The user's Entra (work) identity governs file permissions and access controls. Also, "IT retains full control and oversight" - apart from the bit about allowing this to happen in the first place. Admins have the ability to disallow personal Copilot usage on work documents using cloud policy controls. And they can audit personal Copilot interactions and can apply enterprise identity, permission, and compliance policies. Government tenants (GCC/DoD) for some reason don't support this capability, the one that Baroudi insists "does not create new data exposure risks." [aiml] Meanwhile, employees who decide to fire up their personal Copilot accounts within the workplace should be mindful that their prompts and responses will be captured by their employer. As to why Microsoft would bother, Baroudi provides a hint in the FAQs detailing the bring-your-own-Copilot-to-work initiative that accompanies his post. Can use of Copilot from personal Microsoft 365 subscriptions help drive AI adoption? Yes. It allows users to experience AI productivity benefits while IT retains control. Of course, when Microsoft next cites enterprise adoption statistics for its AI products, it will be worth asking whether the company is counting personal usage of Copilot. 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Microsoft has work to do Jared Spataro, boss of modern work and biz apps division, says 'hard to make the ROI argument for it' AI + ML17 Sep 2025 | 42 Microsoft moves to the uncanny valley with creepy Copilot avatars that stare at you and say your name Yep, we're sure that will win folks over AI + ML30 Sep 2025 | 78 AI upstart aims to do what mere mortals can't: Make sense of Microsoft licensing Interview Thankfully, Onyx's model also knows when to defer to a human for advice AI + ML30 Sep 2025 | 12 How fixed wireless access can bridge the digital divide wherever you are Wireless reaches the parts fiber can't Sponsored feature [aiml] To digital natives, Microsoft's IT stack makes Google's look like a model of sanity Comment A millennial does battle with Redmond's enterprise tools and comes away reeling SaaS29 Sep 2025 | 70 The Notepad that knew too much: Humble text editor gets unnecessary AI infusion Copilot+ PC users can run the AI models locally. Others may need a subscription. 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