Ignite Your Creativity at the Microsoft 365 Copilot Prompt a thon in Malvern
Get ready to spark ideas, explore new possibilities, and unlock the power of great prompting. The Malvern Prompt‑a‑thon on February 24 is your chance to dive in, get hands‑on with Copilot, and see how a single well‑crafted prompt can transform the way you work. Let the creativity begin.Get Ready, Atlanta! The First Government Prompt-a-thon is coming to YOU!
Get ready to spark ideas, sharpen your prompting skills, and see what’s possible when creativity meets Copilot. The Atlanta Prompt‑a‑thon on January 27 is where innovation takes center stage—fast‑paced, hands‑on, and built for those who want to turn smart prompts into real impact. If you're curious how far great prompting can take you, this is your moment to dive in.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.Microsoft Ignite session: AI for the Public Sector with Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC available Nov 19
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the public sector stands at the forefront of innovation, driven by the transformative power of AI. Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC (Government Community Cloud) is set to revolutionize how public sector organizations operate, offering new capabilities that will enhance human capabilities, streamline workflows, and support compliance with stringent security standards. AI for the Public Sector with Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC - OD803 Our Ignite On Demand session delves into the myriad ways Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC can empower your public sector organizations, from automating routine tasks to providing actionable insights that drive mission-critical decisions. We invite you to watch this session and discover how you can harness the power of AI to elevate your organization's capabilities. Microsoft Ignite | November 18-22, 2024 | ignite.microsoft.com The '101 on Microsoft Ignite 2024' What: Microsoft Ignite to learn more | Full Session scheduler Where: Hybrid | Chicago, IL (sold out) and Global Digital (online; free to register) When: November 18-22, 2024 Primary X handle & official hashtag: #MSIgnite (join in) AND follow @MicrosoftTeams, @SharePoint, @OneDrive, and @Events_MSFT The Ignite presentation highlights several key areas where Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC can make a significant impact for public sector strategists. We explore the role of AI in the public sector, emphasizing how AI can alleviate the burden of digital debt by automating repetitive tasks and optimizing workflows. The session also showcases the features of Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC such as Microsoft 365 Copilot Business Chat and AI-driven insights in applications embedded in apps you use everyday Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and Outlook. Additionally, the presentation underscores the importance of responsible AI practices and data privacy, detailing Microsoft's commitment to security and compliance within the GCC environment. To start building your AI skills today and prepare your organization for the future, we encourage you to explore the following resources: Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC Blog: aka.ms/M365CopilotGCCBlog Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC High/DOD Blog: aka.ms/MS365CopilotGCCHighBlog Microsoft 365 Copilot – Readiness and Adoption Guide for Public Sector Roadmap ID # 415097 - Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC general availability -- the product referenced in this blog. Service description will be updated prior to general availability here Roadmap ID # 464984 - Microsoft Copilot general availability for GCC -- more information will be shared on this product closer to launch. Current information for WW/Ent environment on differences between these two products can be referenced here. Additionally, you can learn more about the roadmap for government AI adoption and specific Copilot scenarios for the US government. By leveraging these resources, you can ensure your organization is well-equipped to navigate the AI-driven future and deliver exceptional public services. The Roadmap for Government AI Adoption US Gov specific Copilot Scenarios content Other Microsoft 365 Copilot resources (environment agnostic): 3 short explainer videos: Microsoft 365 Copilot data security and privacy commitments Microsoft 365 - How Microsoft 365 Delivers Trustworthy AI (2024-01) Data, Privacy, and Security for Microsoft 365 Copilot Secure by default with Microsoft Purview and protect against oversharing Microsoft Purview data security and compliance protections for Microsoft Copilot Apply principles of Zero Trust to Microsoft 365 Copilot Learn about retention for Microsoft 365 Copilot This blog was written with support from Microsoft 365 Copilot, my AI assistant for work.
