Written on 6 November 2026. Pricing and versions: official pages read that day, to be checked before you decide.
My starting point
I tested Copilot on a compatible PC.
What it does well
- Work inside the apps: Microsoft’s page mentions Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.
- Draw on the organization’s data: results rely on what the user is allowed to see.
- A free way in: Copilot Chat is offered at no extra cost with eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions, by signing in with a work account.
Where I stay wary
- It exposes bad permissions. If a SharePoint folder is open to everyone by mistake, Copilot will find it for everyone. Clean up sharing before deployment.
- The cost adds up on top of the Microsoft 365 licence, and some advanced features are billed by usage on top.
- Like the others, it can be wrong: a meeting or document summary needs proofreading.
I have not seen Copilot surface a badly shared document, and I have not deployed it at any client: my feedback stops at a personal trial.
IT use cases
| Need | What I ask it | What I check |
|---|---|---|
| Summarize a long thread in Outlook | The decisions and the dates | |
| Documentation | Format a procedure in Word | That nothing was made up |
| Spreadsheets | An Excel formula from a description | The result on a sample |
| Security | No blind trust: it does not replace a permissions audit | Sharing, with the administration tools |
Privacy and GDPR
- Microsoft’s page presents Copilot Business with enterprise-grade data protection and governance: read the terms and the tenant documentation before deployment.
- Audit permissions (SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, shared mailboxes) before turning the licence on: see Securing Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
- Tell the people concerned what is processed and by whom; consult your data protection contact about an impact assessment if the scope is wide.
Pricing and versions (Microsoft’s French page read on 6 November 2026, prices excluding VAT per user)
| Plan | Annual payment | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard + Copilot Business | €20.36 per month | €24.43 per month |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium + Copilot Business | €27.73 per month | €33.28 per month |
| Copilot Business (on top of a subscription) | €18.20 per month (€15.60 for the first year for Business subscribers, offer from 1 July to 31 December 2026) | €21.84 per month |
Individual and family plans are not detailed on that page: Copilot is tied there to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions. Check the page before you decide.
How I use it
I would not pay for the licence, neither for myself nor for a client: I find it too limited.
What to do
- Start with permissions, not licences: a half-day sharing audit avoids nasty surprises.
- Test Copilot Chat with a small group, with no extra licence.
- Only pay for the licence for people who really use it.
- Document the usage rule for the team.
Sources
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: pricing (official page, France), read on 6 November 2026
- CNIL: artificial intelligence (French)
