Transforming SMEs with Microsoft Copilot and Purview: A Secure AI-Driven Workflow

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses of every size are seeking new ways to sharpen productivity while maintaining iron-clad security across sprawling data estates. This balancing act is especially acute for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that face the dual challenge of limited resources and escalating security threats. Swiss IT solutions specialist baseVISION AG, a long-standing Microsoft partner, offers a compelling case study for how the newest generation of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities—centered around Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft Purview—can transform organizational workflows while simultaneously raising the bar for data governance and protection.

Embracing AI Responsibly: The baseVISION Philosophy​

For baseVISION AG, the move towards an AI-powered workplace was never simply about adopting the latest trend. According to company leadership, the decision to invest deeply in Microsoft’s AI tools was grounded in both a clear operational need and a robust culture of trust. “We trust Microsoft implicitly,” remarks Thomas Kurth, CEO of baseVISION, underscoring a philosophy that weaves together digital ambition and careful risk management.
This trust in Microsoft’s infrastructure and compliance frameworks is particularly salient for an SME. While many assume that sophisticated AI deployments are primarily the preserve of global giants, baseVISION’s experience illustrates how SMEs can also unlock substantial gains when AI is rolled out judiciously.

Microsoft 365 E5: Foundation for Security, Compliance and Advanced AI​

baseVISION’s technology estate is anchored on Microsoft 365 E5—a top-tier bundle that integrates advanced security and compliance features with the latest productivity and communication tools. This encompassing platform serves as both launchpad and safety net for the company’s AI journey.
What sets the E5 suite apart for organizations keen on responsible AI? At its core, Microsoft 365 E5 includes Defender for Office 365, Identity Protection, Conditional Access, Advanced Data Governance, and comprehensive eDiscovery. This means that every deployment of Copilot, Purview, or other AI-driven instrument runs atop a robust lattice of data loss prevention (DLP), endpoint protection, and regulatory compliance measures .
According to baseVISION’s internal policy, “Anyone who works with AI or wants to do so is given Microsoft Copilot to keep things efficient. We make the fee-based version available specifically to those employees who work actively with it. Only then can we combine productivity with data protection,” explains Kurth.

Deploying Copilot: Not Just for the Few​

Unlike many early adopters, baseVISION has chosen not to gate AI access to an isolated cadre of technical staff. Instead, nearly 80% of the company’s employees are already equipped with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, with a clear policy to expand or contract access based on evolving business needs. This dynamic approach ensures that the benefits of AI—speed, contextual awareness, knowledge synthesis—are distributed widely across the organization rather than concentrated in silos.
This is a notable contrast to piecemeal or experimental deployments observed at other SMEs, where cost or change management concerns often lead to restricted access. By integrating Copilot as a core productivity tool, baseVISION maximizes its investment in Microsoft 365 licensing while also tapping into a growing library of Copilot-optimized experiences across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.

Microsoft Purview: Guardrails for Data-Driven Innovation​

Perhaps the most distinctive pillar of baseVISION’s AI strategy is its rigorous use of Microsoft Purview, particularly the Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) for AI. This cloud-based set of services allows baseVISION to analyze in real-time which AI tools are being accessed and whether sensitive corporate data is entering third-party or shadow AI systems.
The corporate policy is clear: Only Microsoft solutions are sanctioned for AI-related work. This is not simply a matter of preference but a deliberate, proactive control to minimize the risk of data leaks through unauthorized SaaS apps—a persistent blind spot in many digital workplaces.
Purview enables IT administrators to monitor, audit, and if necessary, block data flows that might otherwise expose confidential IP, personal data, or contractually regulated information. In this way, productivity gains from AI are not purchased at the expense of compliance or operational risk.

Security Copilot: AI as a Defensive Force Multiplier​

baseVISION’s innovation ethos doesn’t end with user-facing assistants. In the private preview phase, the company became one of the earliest adopters of Security Copilot—Microsoft’s cutting-edge security AI, which brings generative AI to threat detection, incident response, and security analytics.
Security Copilot is designed to amplify the capabilities of an organization’s security teams, providing NLP-powered summarizations, guided response steps, and intelligent correlation of alerts across vast telemetry feeds . For a security-focused SME like baseVISION, these features offer a marked advantage in identifying, triaging, and remediating threats before they escalate.
While Security Copilot remains in limited private preview as of this writing, initial indications suggest it is further demystifying complex threats and improving analyst efficiency through contextualized insights—something that will only become more valuable as both threats and toolsets proliferate.

Custom AI: Azure OpenAI Services Power Tailored Chatbots​

Beyond packaged solutions, baseVISION leverages Microsoft Azure OpenAI Services to build fit-for-purpose chatbots—such as ones designed to auto-generate answers for Requests for Information (RFIs). This bespoke use of Azure’s natural language processing (NLP) models speaks to a growing trend where companies are not simply consuming AI off the shelf, but tailoring large language models to suit precise sectoral or business-process needs .
Such deployments exemplify the broader Copilot vision: AI as a flexible, extensible “copilot” rather than a rigid, one-size-fits-all pilot. For baseVISION, blending off-the-peg productivity tools with custom AI compositions ensures both scalability and strategic fit.

The Human Factor: Embracing Change, Driving Adoption​

The story of technological change is almost always, at heart, a story of people. At baseVISION, early adoption and rapid implementation were both enabled by an IT-savvy workforce that is deeply motivated to experiment with new technologies. Far from seeing security and AI as opposing forces, employees see them as “two sides of the same coin,” echoing the classic yin-yang metaphor.
This alignment is critical because even the best technical controls or AI frameworks are rendered largely ineffective by poor user uptake or inconsistent policy enforcement. baseVISION’s experience underscores the power of fostering a culture where both innovation and disciplined security practices are held in high regard.

ROI and Efficiencies: Quantifying the Value of AI and Data Protection​

While qualitative gains—such as improved knowledge sharing, faster response times, and happier employees—are significant, any major investment in paid Copilot seats and security tooling demands a quantifiable return. According to various industry assessments, organizations leveraging Microsoft 365 Copilot report productivity gains of up to 30% for certain repetitive or research-driven tasks. These results are echoed by the rapid onboarding and sustained usage rates at baseVISION .
Moreover, the integration between Copilot and Purview means that compliance engineers are spending less time firefighting and more time proactively improving policy coverage. Crucially, as more AI features are brought online, the synergy between productivity and security is self-reinforcing: Policies set in Purview can trigger automated reviews or restrictions the moment Copilot or other AI agents encounter sensitive data.

Critical Evaluation: Notable Strengths and Underlying Risks​

Strengths​

• Holistic Integration: By adopting the full Microsoft stack (E5, Copilot, Purview), baseVISION circumvents many common interoperability headaches.
• Clear Data Protection Boundaries: Enforcing Microsoft-only AI usage and monitoring with Purview sharply reduces the attack surface.
• Rapid Adoption Cycle: High employee engagement and internal capabilities allow for swift, effective deployment of emerging AI features.

Caveats and Risks​

• Vendor Lock-In: The strong exclusive reliance on Microsoft’s ecosystem raises classic questions about vendor lock-in. While the immediate benefit is tighter integration and security, long-term flexibility may be impacted if organizational needs change or if more innovative AI solutions emerge from competitors.
• Data Privacy Management: While Microsoft’s cloud security track record is robust, absolute security cannot be guaranteed. SMEs with clients in highly regulated industries must remain vigilant in assessing Purview and Copilot’s compliance mappings, ideally through independent audits.
• Scaling Custom AI Use: While Azure OpenAI Services allow for rapid prototyping of chatbots and custom NLP workflows, bespoke solutions require ongoing maintenance and thoughtful governance to prevent data drift or model bias.

Best Practices Takeaways for SMEs​

baseVISION’s methodical rollout of AI and data governance offers several lessons for other organizations:

• Start with Policy, Then Tools: Define acceptable AI use and data protection policies first. Only then layer in technical enforcement using Purview or equivalent platforms.
• Targeted Rollouts Trump Blanket Approaches: Focus paid Copilot access on users and teams with clear, demonstrable need. This maximizes ROI while easing change management.
• Combine Out-of-the-Box and Custom AI: Don’t restrict yourself to ready-made assistants—consider where custom bot or workflow enhancement makes sense using Azure’s AI capabilities.
• Prioritize a ‘Culture of Experimentation’: Even careful controls are undermined by staff skepticism. Invest in training and showcase rapid wins to build momentum.
• Review and Evolve Continuously: AI and compliance environments shift rapidly. Regularly revisit policies, usage patterns, and security postures to avoid drift.

The Future: AI as Routine—But Vigilance Remains Key​

baseVISION’s journey demonstrates that advanced AI integration is not just feasible but also highly beneficial for SMEs, provided the correct guardrails are in place. However, the speed at which AI capabilities evolve demands both adaptable policy frameworks and continued vigilance. For baseVISION, the next phase will likely involve deeper automation (such as generative AI-powered workflows across all departments), ongoing review of external SaaS risk, and integration of new Microsoft Copilot features as they emerge.
As the gap between technology providers continues to narrow, SMEs must remain sharply attuned to both the technical underpinnings and ethical ramifications of entrusting sensitive workflows to AI. In this respect, baseVISION AG stands as a strong example: By coupling leading-edge productivity tools with stringent security and compliance, the company demonstrates how thoughtful adoption of Microsoft Copilot and Purview can redefine what’s possible for modern SMEs. The lesson is clear—AI and security are not opposites, but partners in building the future of efficient, protected work.

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Source: Microsoft baseVISION AG optimizes the use of AI with Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft Purview | Microsoft Customer Stories