Microsoft is bringing its flagship AI offerings, Copilot Pro and Copilot for Security, to users worldwide, ushering in a new era of productivity and security powered by advanced generative AI capabilities (according to Microsoft).

In two separate blog posts, the tech giant revealed that as of April 1st, 2024, its Copilot for Security solution will be generally available across the world, allowing security teams and IT professionals globally to harness the power of AI to fortify their digital defenses.

This industry-first generative AI security product promises to help organizations “catch what others miss, move faster, and strengthen team expertise.”

Simultaneously, Microsoft (MSFT) is expanding access to Copilot Pro, its premium AI assistant subscription for individuals, across 222 countries and regions. The $20-per-month offering, previously available in only a handful of markets, will now be available globally with a free one-month trial for those who install the Copilot mobile app.

“… we’re committed to giving everyone the opportunity to supercharge their creativity and productivity”, Microsoft wrote in a blog post published earlier this week.

“We want all power users, creators, and anyone else to take their Copilot experience to the next level.”, the statement reads.

Copilot Pro: AI-Powered Productivity for All

copilot pro comes to optimize office work

Designed for creative and highly productive individuals primarily who are looking to make the most out of today’s advanced AI tools, Copilot Pro grants priority access to cutting-edge large language models (LLMs), advanced image generation and editing tools, and the ability to build custom AI assistants tailored to specific tasks and interests.

Essentially, Copilot Pro is all of the most popular kinds of AI tools rolled into one, making it an enticing choices for power-users and enthusiasts of all kinds.

A key highlight is the integration of Copilot Pro into Microsoft’s free web-based Office apps like Word and Excel, eliminating the need for a separate Microsoft 365 subscription. This integration will also extend to mobile apps over the coming months.

The company highlighted its mission “to empower every person on the planet to achieve more” by providing broader access to Copilot Pro’s advanced features and AI capabilities across all kinds of devices.

Copilot for Microsoft 365: Bringing AI to Organizations

Launched in January this year, Copilot Pro caters to individual users primarily. However, Microsoft is also expanding the availability of Copilot for Microsoft 365, its AI solution tailored for enterprises and organizations of all sizes, including frontline worker plans.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 integrates AI capabilities into familiar Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more, enabling users to leverage the power of AI within their existing workflows. The solution taps into an organization’s data universe while adhering to Microsoft’s stringent security, privacy, and compliance standards.

“40% of the Fortune 100 have used Copilot for Microsoft 365 via our Early Access Program”, the blog post revealed, citing widespread adoption among corporate giants like Visa, Honda, and Pfizer.

Copilot for Security: 97% of Early Adopters Say They Want to Keep Using It

At the heart of Microsoft’s security offensive lies Copilot for Security, a groundbreaking generative AI solution designed to bolster the capabilities of security and IT teams worldwide. This tool could be the best way to build out a strong security solution with only a small team of professionals, bolstered by Copilot for Security.

Harnessing the insights gleaned from processing a staggering 78 trillion security signals daily, Copilot for Security promises to deliver tailored threat intelligence and guidance, empowering organizations to “protect at the speed and scale of AI.”

The solution’s effectiveness is backed by compelling studies. One recent randomized controlled trial revealed that experienced security analysts were 22% faster and 7% more accurate across tasks when assisted by Copilot. Notably, a whopping 97% of participants expressed a desire to continue using the AI-powered tool.

Also read: AI at Your Fingertips – Microsoft Revitalizes New PC Keyboards with Dedicated Copilot AI Key

“When we put Copilot in the hands of security teams, we can break down barriers to entry and advancement, and improve the work experience for everyone. Copilot enables security for all”, the Redmond-based tech company proclaimed.

To ensure broad accessibility, Microsoft is introducing a flexible pay-as-you-go licensing model for Copilot for Security, allowing organizations to scale usage and costs according to their needs and budgets.

The solution will be available worldwide on April 1st, 2024 with multilingual support for eight languages and a user interface spanning 25 languages, catering to audiences across North and South America, Europe, and Asia.

Copilot for Security Adds New Capabilities Including Third-Party Integrations and Dashboards

As part of the general availability launch, Copilot for Security is receiving several improvements, including:

  • Custom promptbooks to create and save natural language prompts for security workflows.
  • Knowledgebase integrations to integrate Copilot with business logic and guides (preview).
  • Multi-language support for prompts and responses in eight languages.
  • Third-party integrations and services from global partners.
  • Integration with Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management.
  • Insights from Microsoft Entra audit and diagnostic logs.
  • Usage reporting dashboards for optimization.

These capabilities will be accessible through both a standalone Copilot for Security portal and embedded experiences within existing Microsoft security products like Defender, Entra, Purview, and Intune.

Recognizing the potential risks associated with generative AI, Microsoft is empowering organizations to discover, protect, and govern their AI applications, including Copilot and third-party solutions.

Also read: Microsoft to Teach 2 Million Indians AI Skills: Here’s Why

New threat detections for Copilot for Microsoft 365 within Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, combined with data security and compliance controls in Microsoft Purview, aim to fortify the security of Copilot and enable secure, responsible usage across all types of data.

“As more generative AI services are introduced for all business functions, it is crucial to recognize that as this technology brings new opportunities, it also introduces new challenges and risks”, Microsoft acknowledged. “We want to make it easier for everyone to confidently and securely adopt AI.”

Expanded Security Portfolio Including Multiple New Tools

Complementing the AI-powered offerings, Microsoft is expanding its comprehensive security portfolio with new solutions and features:

  • Microsoft Security Exposure Management provides a unified view of an organization’s exposure to threats, recommending priority initiatives to improve security posture.
  • Adaptive Protection, a feature of Microsoft Purview, now integrates with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access to safeguard against insider risks.
  • Microsoft Communication Compliance offers sentiment indicators and insights to enrich Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management policies across various channels, including Copilot.
  • The Microsoft Intune Suite introduces three new solutions: Intune Enterprise Application Management, Microsoft Cloud PKI, and Intune Advanced Analytics.

“In the age of AI, it’s more important than ever to have a unified solution that eliminates the gaps in protection that are created by siloed tools”, Microsoft emphasized, underscoring the importance of an end-to-end security approach.

As the technology world braces for the AI revolution, Microsoft’s global rollout of Copilot Pro and Copilot for Security represents a significant milestone in democratizing AI capabilities across productivity and security domains.

With these advancements, the company aims to empower individuals and organizations across the globe to confidently navigate the age of AI while fortifying their defenses against emerging threats.