Latest Updates from Microsoft 365 Cloud Solutions
This month’s Microsoft 365 update brings us more impactful changes including powerful new Copilot capabilities, enhanced collaboration features in Teams, stronger governance tools in SharePoint and security updates that organisations cannot afford to miss.
In this article, you’ll get a clear, accessible breakdown of the updates that matter most: from AI agents that can now execute multi‑step tasks in Excel, to automated site governance in SharePoint, to new compliance safeguards that tighten your organisation’s security posture.
Whether you’re focused on productivity, security, governance, user experience, or future‑proofing your digital workplace, these highlights will give you practical, actionable insights you can apply right away.
Microsoft Copilot
New Copilot Connectors
Description: Microsoft has significantly expanded the Copilot connector ecosystem to unify data across external systems, enabling Copilot to access content stored in platforms such as GitHub, Dropbox, Freshservice.
This aligns with Microsoft’s vision to extend Copilot beyond Microsoft 365, enabling enterprise‑scale knowledge retrieval.
Preview Date: General Availability
Rollout Date: General Available now
Why it Matters:
- Organisations can now consolidate fragmented content sources into Copilot.
- This improves accuracy in summarisation, decision‑making, and search.
- Before enabling connectors, organisations should review security implications and set governance boundaries.
Copilot Readiness Package (Admin Centre)
Description: Microsoft is introducing a built‑in readiness assessment within the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre. This tool analyses tenant configuration, permissions, data security, and licensing prerequisites to highlight gaps preventing optimal Copilot usage.
It offers tailored recommendations aligned with Microsoft’s best‑practice guidance, reducing the manual effort required to validate Copilot readiness.
Preview Date: Late February 2026
Rollout Date: Rolling out from late March 2026
Why it Matters:
- Organisations can now validate their Copilot governance posture without third‑party assessments.
- This accelerates rollout planning and ensures alignment with Microsoft’s recommended controls.
Copilot Studio – “Draft with Copilot”
Description: Draft with Copilot auto‑generates structured prompts for Power Platform agents and automation flows. Builders can provide high‑level intent, example inputs, or desired outcomes, and Copilot will construct a multi‑step draft prompt. This is particularly useful for organisations beginning to scale their internal automation or building reusable agent logic.
Preview Date: January 2026
Rollout Date: Available now
Why it Matters:
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Microsoft Teams
Express Voice Enrollment (Default ON)
Description: Teams will soon prompt users to set up voice profiles to improve accuracy in transcription, meeting recaps, and personalised AI experiences. Voice identification supports more accurate speaker attribution- particularly valuable for large or hybrid meetings. Microsoft has confirmed adherence to GDPR and opt‑out options.
Preview Date: Late February 2026
Rollout Date: Early December 2025
Why it Matters:
- Organisations should update AI and privacy guidance, and pre‑warn users when the prompt appears.
Enter‑to‑Send Control
Description: Microsoft is adding a highly requested usability feature: the ability to choose whether Enter sends a message or adds a line break. This aligns Teams with other collaboration tools and reduces accidental message sending- particularly during longer posts, instructions, or approvals.
Preview Date: Early March 2026
Rollout Date: Mid-March 2026
Why it Matters:
- Improves messaging UX and reduces disruptions caused by premature message sending.
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Microsoft Viva
AI‑Powered Moderation in Viva Engage
Description: This update introduces an AI‑driven moderation layer to detect and block posts related to harmful themes such as bullying or harassment. Community owners can enable thematic blocks, and Viva Engage will warn users before blocking content.
Microsoft has not yet fully disclosed the underlying AI models for detection, but early previews show a proactive moderation experience.
Preview Date: Early February 2026
Rollout Date: Late March 2026
Why it Matters:
- Reduces workload for community managers and enhances organisational wellbeing.
- Organisations should test moderation themes to avoid overly aggressive filtering.
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Microsoft SharePoint
Retirement of Featured Links
Preview Date: The Featured Links section on the SharePoint start page is being deprecated due to low usage. During the rollout period site owners may find links disappearing, potentially disrupting navigation patterns.
Microsoft recommends adopting Viva Connections dashboards for curated links and internal navigation.
Preview Date: Early March 2026
Rollout Date: March - June 2026
Why it matters:
- Organisations should audit existing SharePoint homepages, notify site owners, and plan replacements in advance.
Content Security Policies (CSP) Enforcement
Description: SharePoint Online is strengthening CSP rules to block scripts from untrusted domains within SPFx solutions. Organisations with legacy customisations, particularly externally hosted scripts. may see component failures.
Microsoft allows a 90‑day delay through PowerShell to give admins time to review logs and add trusted domains.
Preview Date: February 2026
Rollout Date: 1 March 2026
Why it Matters:
- Organisations should run Microsoft’s recommended PowerShell scripts to identify affected SPFx solutions and prevent service interruptions.
Mandatory MFA for Microsoft 365 Admin Centre
Description: To reduce vulnerabilities at administrative entry points, Microsoft will enforce MFA across all admin accounts. Service accounts or automated processes interacting with the Admin Centre must support secure authentication (e.g., via FIDO2 keys).
This update is part of Microsoft’s Zero Trust security model.
Preview Date: February 2026
Rollout Date: End of February 2026
Why it Matters:
- Ensures only verified, MFA‑secured administrators can access critical portals. Organisations must update service accounts and enforce MFA across admin groups.
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With major advances in Copilot intelligence, strengthened security controls, smarter collaboration features in Teams, and governance‑focused improvements across SharePoint and Purview, this edition highlights the updates that will genuinely reshape how organisations work.
From AI agents that can now perform multi‑step tasks in Excel, to new governance tools that help you secure and streamline your environment, this month’s changes are all about elevating productivity while reducing operational risk.
Whether you're responsible for IT strategy, security, or day‑to‑day operations, these updates provide clear opportunities to accelerate digital maturity and make the most of your investment in Microsoft Product Suite.
We look forward to working with you
Many organisations are underutilising their Microsoft licenses and are therefore wasting valuable income. If you need help utilising these latest developments or want to discuss your Microsoft licenses more widely, get in touch with us.
Kind regards,
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Mhairi Nisbet
Customer Success Manager
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