Microsoft 365 Copilot is now available in GCC-High
Update December 2, 2025: This post has been revised to clarify the availability timeline for Copilot Search in the Microsoft 365 Copilot App. It will be rolling out as part of Wave 2, in the first half of 2026. We’re excited to announce that Microsoft 365 Copilot is now available for customers in GCC-High, bringing powerful work-ready AI capabilities to organizations with the highest security and compliance requirements. This announcement builds on previous launches in the GCC and DoD cloud environments over the last year. Trusted AI, built for confidence Microsoft 365 Copilot combines the capabilities of large language models with Work IQ—the intelligence layer that helps Copilot understand you, your job, and your company—and weaves this understanding into familiar Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook to help you work smarter and faster. With Microsoft 365 Copilot, agencies can streamline citizen services by drafting responses and summarizing case files in minutes. They can empower staff to manage budgets effectively by analyzing spending trends and generating compliance-ready reports, all within the Microsoft 365 apps where they already work today. Copilot for GCC-High is built to meet the strict regulatory frameworks many agencies and adjacent organizations operate under, adhering to FedRAMP High, DFARS, ITAR, CMMC, and other critical compliance requirements. Key protections include: Data Residency and Isolation: All data remains within U.S.-based data centers managed by screened U.S. personnel, ensuring compliance with government mandates. Encryption and Access Controls: Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, with Microsoft Entra ID enforcing role-based access. Responsible AI by Design: Copilot incorporates Microsoft’s Responsible AI principles, including safeguards against prompt injection and misuse. To ensure sensitive government data does not leave the GCC-High compliance boundary, Microsoft 365 Copilot is delivered to GCC-High with web grounding OFF by default. Shifting this setting to ON where appropriate will improve the quality of Copilot responses. For more details, visit Data, Privacy, and Security for Microsoft 365 Copilot. Capabilities in GCC-High today – and beyond Microsoft 365 Copilot customers in GCC-High will gain access to a powerful suite of features immediately, with more to come in Wave 2. As of today, the following capabilities are available or have begun rolling out in Microsoft 365 Copilot for GCC-High: Copilot in Microsoft 365 Apps: Integrated AI experiences in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, enabling users to draft, analyze, and collaborate securely within familiar productivity tools. These capabilities are designed to meet the strict compliance and data residency requirements of GCC-High, with all data stored in U.S.-based data centers and managed by screened U.S. personnel. Premium features in Copilot Chat: Copilot Chat with web grounding (default OFF) and the ability to reason over uploaded files is included with eligible Microsoft 365 plans (rolling out now). Adding a Microsoft 365 Copilot license unlocks full work data reasoning with Work IQ, deeper integration with Microsoft 365 apps, and extensive customization options[1] for secure integration with external data sources and custom workflows, with administrative controls to ensure security and compliance. Learn more about the relationship between Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat. Compliance-Ready AI and Security Controls: Copilot for GCC-High is built to meet strict regulatory frameworks, including FedRAMP High, DFARS, ITAR, and CMMC. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, with role-based access enforced by Microsoft Entra ID. Microsoft Purview and Enterprise Data Protection (EDP) are natively integrated for security, governance, and policy enforcement. Copilot Control System: Provides IT management controls, license management, and compliance monitoring. Administrators can configure and monitor Copilot usage to ensure alignment with organizational policies. Controls are conveniently centralized within the Microsoft 365 admin center. Notebooks and Pages in the Microsoft 365 Copilot App: Use Notebooks and Pages for collaborative work within the dedicated app. Wave 2 features are expected to ship to GCC-High in the first half of 2026. These include: GPT-5: Delivers faster, more accurate, and context-aware responses for advanced analysis and problem solving, while maintaining strict compliance within GCC-High boundaries. Image Generation: Enables users to create custom visuals from text prompts directly in chat and Microsoft 365 apps, with built-in compliance controls for secure usage and sharing. Code Interpreter: Allows secure Python code execution for data analysis, visualization, and automation, supporting advanced analytics and repetitive task automation. Researcher Agent: Provides deep research capabilities, synthesizing insights from organizational content and the web (where permitted), with source-cited, well-organized reports. Analyst Agent: Acts as a virtual data scientist, analyzing structured and unstructured data, visualizing trends, and supporting strategic decision-making. Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors: Enable integration with third-party and line-of-business data sources, enabling secure, compliant workflows that extend Copilot’s reach beyond Microsoft 365. Copilot Search in the Microsoft 365 Copilot App: Harness Copilot Search for intelligent and context-aware information retrieval within the dedicated app. All of these features will be tailored to meet the strict security, compliance, and data residency requirements of GCC-High. For the latest roadmap and availability updates, refer to the official Microsoft 365 Roadmap and Microsoft 365 Copilot Service Description. Next steps For federal agencies in GCC-High who purchase through the GSA, significant discounts are currently available under the OneGov agreement announced in September, including the opportunity to use Microsoft 365 Copilot at no additional cost for up to 12 months with Microsoft 365 G5. Additional resources are listed below. Reach out to your account team or partner to learn more, request a demo, or get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot in GCC-High today. Resources Documentation and Admin Controls: Microsoft 365 Copilot overview Copilot Control System Overview Microsoft 365 Copilot Service Description Data, Privacy, and Security for Microsoft 365 Copilot Microsoft Purview data security and compliance protections for generative AI apps Apply principles of Zero Trust to Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption Resources for Public Sector Customers: Copilot Readiness and Adoption Guide for Public Sector Customers Copilot Government Scenarios [1] Not all customization options are currently available in GCC-High. For up-to-date feature availability information refer to the Microsoft 365 Copilot Service Description.
Top 5 Copilot Prompts Every MCT Should Know 🎓
As trainers, we spend a lot of time preparing content, engaging learners, and managing communication. Copilot + AI can change the game—if you know how to use it smartly. Here are my top 5 prompts and tips: ✅ 1. “Create a training outline for [topic] with objectives and key takeaways.” AI Insight: Copilot uses context to build structured outlines. Add details like audience level (beginner/advanced) for better results. ✅ 2. “Give me 5 scenario-based questions for a workshop on [topic].” Tip: Scenario-based prompts make AI generate practical, real-world examples—great for hands-on learning. ✅ 3. “Turn this document into a 3-slide PowerPoint summary for learners.” AI Insight: Copilot can condense complex content without losing key points. Always review for accuracy before sharing. ✅ 4. “Write an email inviting participants to a session on [topic], highlighting benefits.” Tip: Add tone instructions like ‘professional but friendly’ to make your email sound natural. ✅ 5. “Suggest 3 creative icebreakers for a virtual training on [topic].” AI Insight: Copilot can pull ideas from diverse sources—combine them with your personal touch for maximum engagement. 💡 Pro Tip: The more context you give (audience type, duration, tone), the smarter Copilot gets. Think of it as prompt engineering for trainers. 👉 Your turn: What’s your favorite Copilot prompt for training? Share in comments!Hands-On Session: Teach Module in Copilot (available for all educators)
Join us on Wednesday, December 10th, 2025 @ 8am Pacific Time for an in-depth professional development webinar on the new AI-powered "Teach" module in Microsoft 365 that is fully rolled out and available to all educators. This will be a 45 minute hands-on webinar where the Product team will walk through the new updates in detail and you can follow- along at home with your own M365 account! Sign up for the session at this link. And don’t worry – we’ll be recording these and posting on our Microsoft Education YouTube channel so you’ll always to able to watch later or share with others! Here is our training agenda for the webinar 👇 How to use the new AI-powered "Teach" module in M365. Includes: ✅ Lesson plans ✅ Copilot Quizzes ✅ Standards integration ✅ Learning Activities ✅ Differentiate reading materials ✅ Teams EDU integration and Classwork ✅ First look at OneNote EDU and Teach Module integration We look forward to having you attend the event! Mike Tholfsen Group Product Manager Microsoft Education
LIVE from ESPC 2025 - Microsoft 365 & AI Conference | Mondays at Microsoft (Episode 63)
Join Karuana Gatimu and Heather Cook, LIVE from ESPC 2025 - Microsoft 365 & AI Conference in Dublin as they take you through the latest in AI news, Microsoft 365 product updates, and community news & events. 🎥 Episode 63 of "Mondays at Microsoft" goes live on Monday, December 1st at 8:00 AM PT! #MondaysAtMicrosoft #ESPC2025 #MicrosoftEventsDon’t miss out: Copilot Studio advanced customization webinar on December 8
Our dynamic four-part webinar series, Agentic AI + Copilot Partner Skilling Accelerator, empowers you to harness the Microsoft AI ecosystem to unlock new revenue streams and enhance customer success. Across the four sessions, Microsoft partners can expect to learn how to apply AI tools across no-code, low-code, and pro-code scenarios to build intelligent chat and workflow solutions, extend and customize capabilities, and create advanced, custom AI functionality. Don't miss out on the third session in the series, where you'll dive into advanced customization with Copilot Studio to create sophisticated agents. The live virtual event is scheduled for December 8, 2025. Sign up to sharpen your AI skills. Register today to reserve your spot.📣 Getting Started with AI and MS Copilot — Português
Olá, 👋 📢 Quer explorar IA e Microsoft Copilot de forma prática para o aprendizado? Participe da sessão “Introdução à IA com o uso do MS Copilot”, pensada especialmente para docentes que estão começando a usar o Copilot. Vamos aprender os fundamentos da IA generativa, como criar boas instruções e aplicar essas ferramentas na sala de aula. 📌 Sessão com exemplos práticos, materiais para utilizar e um espaço ideal para praticar e tirar dúvidas. No horário indicado, favor realizar acesso ao link: Teams meeting.📣 Getting Started with AI and MS Copilot — French
Bonjour, 👋 J’espère que vous allez bien ! 📢 Vous souhaitez explorer l’IA et Microsoft Copilot de manière pratique pour l’apprentissage ? Participez à la session « Introduction à l’IA avec l’utilisation de MS Copilot », conçue spécialement pour les enseignants qui commencent à utiliser Copilot. Nous apprendrons les bases de l’IA générative, comment créer de bonnes instructions et comment appliquer ces outils en classe. 📌 Une session avec des exemples pratiques, des supports à utiliser et un espace idéal pour s’exercer et poser vos questions. À l’heure indiquée, veuillez accéder au lien : Réunion Teams. Merci ! 👉 Participez à la session en direct : [Lien de la réunion]📣 Getting Started with AI and MS Copilot — Português
Olá, 👋 Espero que estejam bem! 📢 Quer explorar IA e Microsoft Copilot de forma prática para o aprendizado? Participe da sessão “Introdução à IA com o uso do MS Copilot”, pensada especialmente para docentes que estão começando a usar o Copilot. Vamos aprender os fundamentos da IA generativa, como criar boas instruções e aplicar essas ferramentas na sala de aula. 📌 Sessão com exemplos práticos, materiais para utilizar e um espaço ideal para praticar e tirar dúvidas. No horário indicado, favor realizar acesso ao link: Teams meeting.
