ChatGPT for Work: Shared Projects, Connectors, and Enterprise Security

OpenAI has pushed ChatGPT further into the workplace this week with a trio of work‑focused updates — shared projects, an expanded slate of connectors to pull data from popular apps, and tightened security and compliance controls — moves aimed at making the assistant a persistent, team-aware workspace tool rather than a one-off chat helper.

Background and overview​

OpenAI’s recent announcements formalize a pattern we've seen all year: gradually moving ChatGPT from a personal assistant into an enterprise platform that can access, synthesize, and act on live workplace data. The company now lets teams create shared projects that retain context over time, connect ChatGPT to a broad set of third‑party apps (Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, GitHub, Dropbox, Box, and more), and layer in admin controls like role‑based access, IP allowlisting, and updated compliance attestations. These changes were described in OpenAI’s product posts and release notes and summarized by media coverage.
Taken together, the updates underscore two priorities: (1) make ChatGPT the place employees go to get work done without context switching, and (2) remove the enterprise blockers — security, governance, and data protection — that have slowed corporate adoption. That strategy is obvious in the product detail: shared, persistent context + broad connectors + admin controls = AI that can be embedded into everyday team workflows while (ideally) keeping control in IT’s hands.

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What “shared projects” actually does​

How it works​

Shared projects turn Projects — ChatGPT’s filing/organizational feature — into a multi‑user workspace where context (files, instructions, and memory scoped to the project) persists across chats and contributors. A project owner can invite teammates by email or link, grant chat or edit access, and add documents and instructions that ChatGPT will use to inform future responses. The result is a shared knowledge container that the assistant can reference whenever someone asks about that topic.

Practical uses​

• Team briefs and meeting prep: keep agendas, notes, and supporting docs in one project so the assistant can produce consistent summaries and action items.
• Client workspaces: retain contact details, contract drafts, and email threads inside a client project to reduce repetitive context‑setting.
• Content or brand hubs: centralize style guides and past copy to ensure ChatGPT’s outputs match a company voice.

OpenAI positions shared projects as suited to “client management, content creation, reporting, and research,” and notes that memory is project‑only (not global), which is intended to limit scope and exposure.

Availability and rollout​

Shared projects are rolling out initially to Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans with staged availability for other tiers. The release notes and product pages show the feature becoming available in late‑September 2025; OpenAI’s documentation spells out admin controls and permission options for workspace owners.

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Connectors: turning ChatGPT into a workspace hub​

Expanded connector roster​

OpenAI has added or expanded connectors for major productivity services so ChatGPT can query and synthesize user data from those sources directly inside the chat. The most notable additions include:

• Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Contacts
• Microsoft Outlook (email and calendar), Microsoft Teams, SharePoint
• GitHub
• Dropbox, Box
• OneDrive, Notion, HubSpot, Canva, Linear (varies by plan)

OpenAI documentation lists which connectors are available for Chat search (fast lookups) and Deep research (broader, multi‑source analysis), with availability varying by plan (Pro, Business, Enterprise, Edu).

How connectors behave​

• When a connector is enabled and authorized, ChatGPT can read and reference the connected data during a chat and include that context in its replies.
• For some workflows (e.g., drafting an email) the assistant will propose actions but require explicit user confirmation before performing any send or calendar change — a deliberate safeguard against accidental actions.
• OpenAI says the assistant can now choose the right connector automatically based on the prompt, which speeds workflows but increases the importance of precise access controls.

Per‑plan differences and region restrictions​

Connector functionality is tiered. Team, Enterprise, and Edu workspaces have the broadest access; Pro and Plus plans get selected capabilities. Notably, some connector features remain restricted in the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and Switzerland, reflecting ongoing regulatory and contractual limitations. This regional nuance is important for global IT teams planning rollouts.

Why this matters for Windows users and admins​

For organizations rooted in Microsoft 365 and Windows infrastructure, native connectivity to Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook — combined with GitHub support — means ChatGPT can be fitted into existing processes (ticket triage, meeting summarization, document search, and code reviews) within familiar apps. That lowers friction for adoption but raises questions about permission mapping between Microsoft identity controls and OpenAI’s connector permissions.

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Security, compliance, and admin controls: what’s new​

Certifications and compliance posture​

OpenAI now lists multiple ISO certifications — ISO/IEC 27001, 27017, 27018, and 27701 — and its SOC 2 coverage has been expanded to address Security, Confidentiality, Availability, and Privacy criteria. OpenAI’s trust and security pages also reaffirm the company’s principle that business data (Enterprise, Business, Edu) is not used to train models by default. These attestations are central to persuading security‑conscious buyers to deploy ChatGPT at scale.

New admin features​

• Role‑based access control (RBAC): Workspace admins can now more granularly control who can enable connectors and access specific features.
• IP allowlisting: Enterprise and Edu workspaces can enforce IP allowlists so ChatGPT will only accept requests from approved IP addresses — any request from an unapproved IP is blocked, even with valid user credentials. This is enforced for ChatGPT endpoints and Compliance API traffic where applicable.

Auditability, logging, and data handling​

OpenAI emphasizes encryption in transit and at rest and points to SOC 2 reports and third‑party penetration testing as part of its security program. The company also provides workspace‑level admin consoles and compliance APIs intended to help auditors and IT teams extract logs and demonstrate controls. However, organizations should verify what logs are available, retention windows, and whether event-level traces (who accessed what and when) meet internal compliance requirements.

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Cross‑checking the public reporting​

The product changes were covered broadly by technology press, which largely echoes OpenAI’s messaging: connectors make ChatGPT a centralized place to pull work context from many apps, shared projects persist team context, and the compliance upgrades are meant to reassure enterprise buyers. Major outlets flagged the same practical caveats — expanded attack surface and the need for careful governance. Those independent reports align closely with OpenAI’s own release notes and help center documentation.

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Strengths: where these updates really help​

• Reduced context switching: Teams can get meeting briefs, email summaries, and project overviews inside one chat window — a real productivity gain when the connectors and permissions are set up correctly.
• Persistent, shared context: Projects with scoped memory cut down the repetitive "here's the background" step that often makes AI assistants less useful in ongoing team work.
• Enterprise controls: ISO and SOC2 attestations, RBAC, and IP allowlisting make it feasible for security teams to pilot ChatGPT without wholesale risk exposure. These are necessary building blocks for broader adoption.
• Extensibility with existing tools: Native connectors to Microsoft services, GitHub, and cloud storage mean organizations can layer ChatGPT into existing workflows rather than rebuilding processes around a new tool.

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Risks and limitations IT teams must weigh​

• Expanded attack surface: Giving any external vendor authorized access to email, calendars, documents, and source code increases risk. Misconfigurations, insufficient RBAC, or overly broad connectors could expose sensitive IP or PII.
• Permission mapping complexity: Ensuring least privilege across Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and OpenAI’s connector model is nontrivial; mismatches create blind spots where data may be exposed.
• Regulatory and regional limits: Some connector features are restricted in the EEA/UK/Switzerland. International teams must validate availability and legal compliance in each jurisdiction.
• Auditability gaps: While OpenAI publishes SOC 2 and ISO attestations, organizations must confirm whether the logs and retention policies available from the vendor meet their own audit and eDiscovery requirements.
• Vendor lock and data residency: Relying on one provider for integrated AI plus connectors can centralize risk; organizations should negotiate contractual data residency and deletion guarantees, and assess multi‑vendor strategies when appropriate.

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Practical checklist for Windows admins and IT leaders​

• Inventory sensitive workflows that will touch ChatGPT (contracts, HR files, code repos, PII).
• Map those workflows to connector capabilities and per‑plan restrictions. Confirm whether the needed connectors are available in your region and plan.
• Start with a tight pilot: limit connectors, use project‑scoped memory, and keep the pilot small while monitoring logs and usage.
• Configure RBAC: restrict who can enable connectors and who can invite shared‑project members.
• Enable IP allowlisting for Enterprise and Edu workspaces if your organization has fixed trust boundaries.
• Negotiate contractual protections: Data Processing Agreements, deletion guarantees, BAA if you need HIPAA support, and explicit terms that business data will not be used for model training unless you opt in.
• Validate audit logs and retention windows against compliance teams; insist on exportable, queryable logs for eDiscovery and incident response.
• Train end users: explain confirmation requirements (ChatGPT won’t act without explicit approval), safe prompt practices, and when to escalate to IT or legal.
• Keep a rollback plan: document how to disconnect connectors and revoke workspace permissions quickly in case of a suspected breach.

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Governance: key policies to write now​

• Connector approval policy: Define who may authorize connectors and list allowed services.
• Project classification: Require tagging/shared project classification for sensitivity (Public, Internal, Confidential, Regulated).
• Data retention & deletion policy: Set retention windows for project content and require periodic reviews.
• Incident response runbook: Include steps for disabling a connector, revoking tokens, and requesting vendor logs.

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Competitive and market context​

OpenAI’s moves are part of a broader push across the industry to become the "middleware" for workplace AI. Microsoft is embedding similar capabilities into Copilot across Microsoft 365 and GitHub, while other players (Anthropic, Google, Amazon) are racing to offer connectors and enterprise trust controls. The market play is clear: win platform control by offering both advanced models and the integration plumbing that enterprises need. For Windows‑centric IT teams, Microsoft’s tight integration with Active Directory and Microsoft 365 remains an important counterbalance to OpenAI’s cross‑platform ambition, but OpenAI’s connectors and certifications make it a viable choice for many organizations.

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Final analysis: when to move fast and when to move cautiously​

These updates make ChatGPT materially more useful in day‑to‑day work by reducing friction and centralizing context. For organizations that have already modernized identity and data governance, the new features present an opportunity to accelerate productivity gains — especially for knowledge work that spans email, calendars, documents, and code.
However, the flipside is that the assistant now reaches into some of the most sensitive corporate systems. The right approach is measured: run tightly constrained pilots, verify logs and contractual protections, and harden admin controls (RBAC, IP allowlisting, connector whitelists) before broad rollout. Security and legal teams should be at the table from day one; in many cases, they will determine which connectors are acceptable for production use and which must be restricted to sandbox environments.

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Bottom line for WindowsForum readers​

• OpenAI’s shared projects, connector expansion, and compliance updates materially narrow the gap between conversational AI and practical workplace tools.
• The features are powerful for productivity but expand the attack surface; governance and careful rollout are essential.
• For Windows‑heavy shops, the ability to connect to Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, and GitHub is an enabler — but it must be paired with strict RBAC, IP allowlisting, and contractual assurances before scaling.

These announcements signal that ChatGPT is being engineered to sit at the center of everyday workflows; for IT teams the question is no longer if these tools will be used, but how they will be governed, secured, and validated to meet enterprise requirements.

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Source: ZDNET ChatGPT just got several work-friendly updates - what it can do now