Security Copilot Agents: AI-powered defense that adapts, automates, and outsmarts threats!
With increasing cyber threats, security teams require intelligent agents that adapt and operate throughout the security stack, not just automation. Key statistics from our Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024 which highlights this concerning trend of Cybersecurity threats:
- Over 600 million cyberattacks per day targeting Microsoft customers
- 2.75x increase in ransomware attacks year-over-year
- 400% surge in tech scams since 2022
- Growing collaboration between cybercriminals and nation-state actors
In my previous blogs, I explored how AI agents are transforming security operations in Microsoft Defender XDR, Intune, and Entra:
Today, I’ll discuss how Security Copilot, Copilot for Azure in Azure, Defender for Cloud, and Security Copilot Agents in Microsoft Purview use AI to transform security, compliance, and efficiency across the Microsoft ecosystem.
From Microsoft LearnWhat Are Security Copilot Agents?
Security Copilot Agents are modular, AI-driven assistants embedded in Microsoft’s security platforms. They automate, high-volume repetitive tasks, deliver actionable insights, and streamline incident responses. By leveraging large language models (LLMs), Microsoft’s global threat intelligence, and your organization’s data, these agents empower security teams to work smarter and faster. Microsoft Security Copilot agents overview
Agents are available in both standalone and embedded experiences and can be discovered and configured directly within product portals like Defender, Sentinel, Entra, Intune, and Purview.
Why Security Copilot Agents Matter
Security Copilot Agents represent a paradigm shift in cyber defense:
- Automation at Scale: They handle high-volume repetitive tasks, freeing up human expertise for strategic initiatives.
- Adaptive Intelligence: Agents learn from feedback, adapt to workflows, and operate securely within Microsoft’s Zero Trust framework.
- Operational Efficiency: By reducing manual workloads, agents accelerate response, prioritize risks, and strengthen security posture. Microsoft Security Copilot Frequently Asked Questions
Security Copilot Agents in Azure and Defender for Cloud
From Microsoft LearnAzure and Defender for Cloud now feature embedded Security Copilot and Copilot for Azure that help security professionals analyze, summarize, remediate, and delegate recommendations using natural language prompts. This integration streamlines security management by:
- Risk Exploration: Agents help admins identify misconfigured resources and focus on those posing critical risks, using natural language queries.
- Accelerated Remediation: Agents generate remediation scripts and automate pull requests, enabling rapid fixes for vulnerabilities.
- Noise Reduction: By filtering through alerts and recommendations, agents help teams focus on the most impactful remediations.
- Unified Experience: Security Copilot and Copilot for Azure work together to provide context, explain recommendations, and guide implementation steps, all within the Defender for Cloud portal. Microsoft Security Copilot in Defender for Cloud
From Microsoft Learn
Security Copilot Agents in Microsoft Purview
Microsoft Purview leverages Security Copilot agents to automate and scale Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Insider Risk Management workflows. Here are more details:
- Alert Triage Agent (DLP): Evaluates alerts based on sensitivity, exfiltration, and policy risk, sorting them into actionable categories.
- Alert Triage Agent (Insider Risk): Assesses user, file, and activity risk, prioritizing alerts for investigation.
- Managed Alert Queue: Agents sift out high-risk activities from lower-risk noise, improving response time and team efficiency.
- Comprehensive Explanations: Agents provide clear logic behind alert categorization, supporting transparency and compliance.
Deployment: Enabling Security Copilot can be done in:
- Azure portal https://portal.azure.com
- Security Copilot portal https://securitycopilot.microsoft.com.
Security Copilot requires per-seat licenses for human users, while all agent operations are billed by Security Compute Units (SCUs) on a pay-as-you-go basis. Agents do not need separate per-seat licenses; their costs depend solely on SCU consumption, and they typically run under a service or managed identity in the Copilot environment. Security Copilot Agent Responsible AI FAQ
Security Copilot Agents: Unified Across the Microsoft Security Ecosystem
From Microsoft LearnSecurity Copilot Agents automate intelligence and security orchestration across Microsoft’s ecosystem, including Defender, Sentinel, Entra, Intune, Azure, Purview, Threat Intelligence, and Office. Their unified design enables consistent protection, swift responses, and scalable automation for security teams. Operating across multiple platforms, these agents provide comprehensive coverage and efficient threat response.
- End-to-End Visibility: Agents correlate signals across domains, providing context, rich insights and automating common workflows.
- Custom Agent Creation: Teams can build custom agents using no-code tools, tailoring automation to their unique environments.
- Marketplace Integration: The new Security Store allows organizations to browse, deploy, and manage agents alongside conventional security tools, streamlining procurement and governance.
Intune AI Agents: Device and Endpoint Management
Intune AI Agents automate device compliance and endpoint security. They monitor configuration drift, remediate vulnerabilities, and enforce security baselines across managed devices. By correlating device signals with threat intelligence, these agents proactively identify risks and recommend mitigation actions, reducing manual workload and accelerating incident response.
Defender for Cloud AI Agents: Threat Detection and Response
Defender for Cloud AI Agents continuously analyze cloud workloads, network traffic, and user behavior to detect threats and suspicious activities. They automate alert triage, escalate high-risk events, and coordinate remediation actions across hybrid environments. Integration with other Copilot Agents ensures unified protection and rapid containment of cloud-based threats.
Conditional Access Optimization Agent: Policy Automation
The Conditional Access Optimization Agent evaluates authentication patterns, risk signals, and user activity to recommend and enforce adaptive access policies. It automates policy updates based on real-time threat intelligence, ensuring that only authorized users access sensitive resources while minimizing friction for legitimate users.
Azure AI Agents: Cloud Security and Automation
Azure AI Agents provide automated monitoring, configuration validation, and vulnerability management across cloud resources. They integrate with Defender for Cloud and Sentinel, enabling cross-platform correlation of security events and orchestration of incident response workflows. These agents help maintain compliance, optimize resource usage, and enforce best practices.
Purview AI Agents: Compliance and Data Protection
Purview AI Agents automate data classification, information protection, and compliance management for AI-powered applications and Copilot experiences. They enforce retention policies, flag sensitive data handling, and ensure regulatory compliance across organizational data assets. Their integration supports transparent security controls and audit-ready reporting.
Phishing Triage Defender for Office AI Agents: Email Threat Automation
Defender for Office AI Agents specialize in identifying, categorizing, and responding to phishing attempts. They analyze email metadata, attachments, and user interactions to detect malicious campaigns, automate alerting, and initiate containment actions. By streamlining phishing triage, these agents reduce investigation times and enhance protection against targeted attacks.
Threat Intelligence Briefing Agent: Contextual Security Insights
The Threat Intelligence Briefing Agent aggregates global threat intelligence, correlates it with local signals, and delivers actionable briefings to security teams. It highlights emerging risks, prioritizes vulnerabilities, and recommends remediation based on organizational context. This agent empowers teams with timely, relevant insights to anticipate and counter evolving threats.
Marketplace Integration and Custom Agent Creation
Organizations can leverage the Security Store to discover, deploy, and manage agents tailored to their specific needs. No-code tools facilitate custom agent creation, enabling rapid automation of unique workflows and seamless integration with existing security infrastructure.
Getting Started
To deploy Security Copilot Agents across the enterprise, make sure to
- Check Licensing: Ensure you have the required subscriptions and SCUs provisioned.
- Enable Agents: Use product portals to activate agents and configure settings.
- Integrate Across Products: Link agents for enhanced threat detection, compliance, and automated response.
- Monitor and Optimize: Use dashboards and reports to track effectiveness and refine policies.
About the Author: Hi! Jacques “Jack” here, Microsoft Technical Trainer. As a technical trainer, I’ve seen firsthand how Security Copilot Agents accelerate secure modernization and empower teams to stay ahead of threats. Whether you’re optimizing identity protection, automating phishing triage, or streamlining endpoint remediation, these agents are your AI, powered allies in building a resilient security posture.
#MicrosoftLearn #SkilledByMTT #MTTBloggingGroup
Microsoft