Time to Lock Down Microsoft 365 Copilot Self-Service Purchasing?

• Microsoft 365 Copilot self-service purchasing will be enabled for all enterprise users starting in late March 2025.
• Admins should act now to lock down purchasing options to avoid compliance risks and cleanup efforts.

Microsoft 365 Copilot self-service purchasing is being enabled for some enterprise users starting in late Mar. 2025. Admins worried about the potential impact should act now to lock down purchasing options and avoid a compliance risk and cleanup effort. Microsoft is continuing to push Microsoft 365 Copilot in front of more users and have it deployed within their organizations, potentially without IT approval. The biggest risk is that well-intentioned users will purchase and use Microsoft 365 Copilot in environments that are not prepared for the advanced search and discovery capabilities of Copilot.

What’s Happening?

Starting in late Mar. 2025 (and completing in May 2025), users with a Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, Office 365 E1 or E3, or EMS E3 or E5 subscription in all tenants worldwide will have the option to request a Microsoft 365 Copilot license from their admins or purchase it themselves with their own credit cards.