Artificial intelligence is evolving at speed, and with it comes the need to rethink how organisations stay secure while unlocking new levels of productivity. During Microsoft AI Power Days: Protect Your Business with AI‑Ready Solutions, industry leaders explored exactly this tension: how to innovate safely, build AI‑ready foundations and empower teams responsibly.
In this blog, I’ll summarise the session, draw on insights directly from the speakers and highlight why this matters for Cisilion clients who are preparing for the next phase of secure AI adoption.
The challenge: innovating safely
Across the event, Microsoft speakers reinforced one message. AI only creates value when it is built on a secure, well governed foundation.
Naoko Enomoto, Microsoft Asia AI Workforce GTM Lead, captured this clearly:
“It’s a real balancing act – working smarter but also staying secure.”
She continued,
“It’s not just about using AI – it’s about using it securely.”
These points align with Microsoft’s findings on tool sprawl and unsanctioned AI use. Organisations juggling disconnected systems and unmanaged AI adoption face increasing risk.
Foundations of secure AI adoption
Secure AI adoption begins with strong security, clear governance and responsible use.
The speakers emphasised that successful AI programmes are built on consistent standards and shared ownership across leadership and technical teams.
AI increases both opportunity and risk.
As systems automate more decisions and handle sensitive information, organisations must strengthen their security posture across identity, devices, applications and data. This includes unified access control, continuous monitoring and proactive threat detection.
Naoko emphasised the importance of getting this right from the start with a secure baseline that organisations can confidently build on:
“This is all about reaching a new level of security, but doing it on the strong foundation of security.”
This principle underpins Microsoft 365, which is designed to reduce fragmentation by bringing identity, protection and productivity tools into one environment.
Technology only delivers value when people know how to use it effectively.
AI changes roles, processes and expectations, so employees need guidance on what good practice looks like. This includes understanding when to use AI, how to evaluate outputs and how to handle data responsibly.
Naoko highlighted this human element:
“It starts with empowering individuals, giving people the tools they need to be productive on their own. Equip your teams with knowledge and skills on how to use AI responsibly and effectively.”
AI has far reaching impact across security, data, operations and business outcomes.
Strong governance ensures that AI is introduced consistently, aligns with organisational goals and supports long term compliance.
This includes:
- Clear ownership across leadership and IT
- Policies that define permitted use
- Data handling standards
- Processes for reviewing, approving and monitoring AI adoption
- Governance that adapts as regulations evolve
“When you combine skills, standards and shared ownership, you can create the foundation for responsible innovation and that is what drives long term success.”
AI powered productivity: the Microsoft 365 advantage
From here the focus shifted from foundations to impact.
The event illustrated how Microsoft 365 helps teams work smarter while keeping risk in check.
The advantage is not a single feature. It is the combination of secure identity, rich collaboration and embedded AI that reduces complexity and unlocks capacity.
Microsoft 365 unifies identity through Entra, streamlines collaboration in Teams and Outlook, protects content in SharePoint and OneDrive, and introduces AI through Copilot and agents. Instead of stitching together point products, you build on one consistent platform that your people already use.
Mayank Sharma, Microsoft Asia Senior Secure AI Productivity GTM Manager, summarised the approach succinctly:
Microsoft 365 brings security, management AI and productivity into one platform so IT can maintain a secure, up to date environment with minimal disruption. That is the practical route to scale.
What this looks like in real work
- Seamless access with single sign on and conditional access from Entra
- Faster collaboration in Teams and Outlook with protected file sharing in OneDrive and SharePoint
- Everyday AI in Microsoft 365 apps and Copilot chat that helps draft, summarise and analyse
- Automated workflows using pre built and custom agents for repetitive tasks
Security in a hybrid world: insights from Emmanuele Silanesu
Emmanuele Silanesu, Microsoft Asia Security GTM Lead, provided some of the most compelling insights of the session.
“Data is the number one asset. When you think about sensitive information or intellectual property or customer data, this is the most critical asset of any organisation.”
“Attackers are using automation on a daily basis. It’s not smash and grab like it used to be…We have a number of tools that can help with real time detection. If something abnormal is happening, we can disrupt that attack.”
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“Today’s environment is hybrid. One of the most critical things for organisations is consistency.”
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“Regulations are changing on a daily basis. So we need to put in place the right governance frameworks that help them scale and adapt.”
“Simplification is the most critical thing when it comes to strategies of today…You want to minimise, as much as possible, those individual connection points because those are also failure points.”
Why this matters for Cisilion clients
What the speakers shared mirrors what we see across our client base.
Leaders want to embrace AI without increasing risk. IT wants to simplify, standardise and gain consistency. Teams want practical guidance that helps them work faster with confidence.
Cisilion helps clients:
- Strengthen identity, device and data security across Microsoft 365
- Modernise collaboration with protected sharing and lifecycle controls
- Adopt Copilot through structured enablement and scenario selection
- Build governance that is collaborative and adaptable
- Reduce tool sprawl to lower risk and cost
- Align licensing with AI ambitions so investment creates value, not waste
A key moment to review your Microsoft licensing
With Microsoft sharpening its focus on secure, AI ready experiences in Microsoft 365, this is the right time to review your licensing position.
The right plan can unlock Copilot, streamline security features and reduce overlap. The wrong plan can leave gaps or add cost without benefit.
Cisilion offers a complimentary Microsoft Licensing Workshop.
In this session we will review current entitlements and usage, identify optimisation opportunities, outline the licensing paths that support Copilot, and provide practical recommendations aligned to your goals.
Ready to build an AI ready foundation
If you want to strengthen security, uplift productivity and prepare for responsible AI at scale, our team can help you move quickly and safely. Register for the workshop now.