News from Microsoft Ignite 2024
Microsoft Ignite 2024 starts today in Chicago. As part of Microsoft’s partner programs, Synozur was invited to an early preview of these announcements that we can share now.
For AI and content management, Microsoft’s making four important announcements this week:
Out-of-the-box Copilot Agents in Microsoft 365
Copilot Agents in SharePoint
Microsoft 365 Archive file level archiving
SharePoint Advanced Management – now included with Copilot license
Let’s look at each of these:
Copilot for Microsoft 365
Microsoft is announcing five new out-of-the-box AI agents available in Microsoft 365:
Agents in SharePoint - Generally availability (GA) starts this month
Employee self-service agent - In private preview now
Facilitator - Public preview now
Interpreter - Public preview early 2025
Project manager - GA starts this month
Agents are available to anyone with a Copilot license. They’ll also be available to unlicensed users on a pay-as-you-go (“PayGo”) basis. PayGo pricing will be revealed at GA. The same model will be available for agents built using Copilot Studio. Users with a Copilot license can run Copilot Studio agents with no additional charge, and unlicensed users can run agents with PayGo billing.
Additionally, Microsoft will allow any organization with at least 50 Copilot seats to run up to 10,000 messages through agents each month at no charge. This promotion will run at least through June 30, 2025.
These agents are intriguing, especially those for employee self-service, and project management. We'll have more details as soon as Microsoft reveals them later this week.
Agents in SharePoint
Microsoft also announced general availability of Copilot Agents in SharePoint, further transforming content experiences in Microsoft 365. Rollout commences this week and should be finalized by the end of 2024.
What are these Agents? Think of them as your personalized subject matter experts, living directly within your SharePoint sites. They're designed to provide quick, efficient access to information and insights, empowering teams to work smarter and make better decisions.
Pre-built and Customizable Agents: Every SharePoint site will automatically have a pre-built Agent ready to assist its members. Alternatively, users can effortlessly create their own customized Agents in just one click. This customization includes renaming, branding, and modifying behavior, starter prompts, and associated SharePoint files.
File-based Management: Agents are treated as files with an .agent file extension. This means they're stored within your document library, just like any other file, and can be moved, renamed, copied, or deleted with ease.
Effortless Sharing: Sharing your Agents is simple, thanks to the familiar Share and Copy Link functionality. Plus, you can even @mention them in team chats and meeting chats.
Enhanced Security: Agents in SharePoint strictly adhere to existing SharePoint permissions and security settings, ensuring your data is protected at all times.
Copilot Agents in SharePoint are available with the Microsoft 365 Copilot license. If you need a more flexible approach, a PayGo option will be available via Copilot Studio starting in January 2025. Additionally, capacity packs are also in the pipeline as a potential consumption model.
Copilot and SharePoint Advanced Management
Content quality is a key factor in Copilot readiness and success. Originally developed as part of Microsoft Syntex, SharePoint Advanced Management (“SAM”) provides powerful governance to remediated overshared content, obsolete sites and inactive owners.
To enable better Copilot readiness, SAM will now be made available at no additional charge to organizations that are using Copilot. For example, if you have 1,000 users - 1,000 licensed for E3/E5 and 80 licensed for Copilot, you will get all of SAM's value for all 1,000 users in the organization. Documentation will not be updated until Microsoft starts the rollout.
Microsoft 365 Backup and Microsoft 365 Archive
Microsoft 365 Backup and Microsoft 365 Archive ensure that your organization's data is always secure and easily recoverable, safeguarding your valuable information against threats and ensuring business continuity.
Microsoft has announced the following enhancements to its foundational storage and management platforms:
New programs to recognize ISV partner solutions built with the same APIs and unprecedented access speeds as Microsoft 365 Backup
Enhanced version controls to identify and eliminate low value interim file versions.
File-level archiving for Microsoft 365 Archive will ship in 2025.
Additional Resources
For even more information, we suggest the following links and resources from Ignite:
Online Session: Reimagine content management with agents in SharePoint
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the key announcements from Microsoft at Ignite 2024?
Microsoft announced game-changing innovations in content management and data security, including 5 new ready-to-run Copilot Agents in SharePoint and advancements in Microsoft 365 Backup and Archive.
What are the new Copilot Agents?
At Ignite 2024, Microsoft announced Copilot Agents for SharePoint, employee self-service agent, facilitator, interpreter, and project manager agents.
What are Agents in SharePoint?
Agents in SharePoint act as personalized subject matter experts within SharePoint sites, offering quick and efficient access to information and insights.
What are the key features of Agents in SharePoint?
Key features include pre-built and customizable agents, file-based management, effortless sharing, enhanced security, and advanced governance.
How can users access Agents in SharePoint?
Users can access Agents in SharePoint through the M365 Copilot license. There is also a pay-as-you-go option available via Copilot Studio starting in January 2025.
What is the special promotion for Agents in SharePoint? A: Starting December 1st, organizations with at least 50 Copilot licenses will unlock Agents in SharePoint for all users within their organization, even those without a Copilot license. This offer grants these unlicensed users 10,000 pooled queries per month through June 30, 2025.
What changes are coming for SharePoint Advnaced Management licensing?
SharePoint Advanced Management will be available to any organization with Copilot license, and will no longer require separate additional licensing for all users.
What advancements have been made in Microsoft 365 Backup and Archive?
Updates include a new partner program for Microsoft 365 Backup ISVs, enhanced file version controls, and file level archiving (coming in 2025.)