10 Tips to Help Small Businesses Get Ready for the Unexpected

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the business world by storm, pushing organisations of all sizes to adopt new tools that boost efficiency and sharpen their competitive edge. Among these tools, Microsoft 365 Copilot rises to the top, offering powerful productivity support through its seamless integration with the familiar Office 365 environment. In the push to adopt new technologies and boost productivity, many businesses buy licenses for every employee without much consideration. That enthusiasm often leads to “shelfware”, AI tools and software that go unused while the company continues to pay for them. Given the high cost of these solutions, it’s essential to invest in a way that actually delivers a return on investment. Because you can’t improve what you don’t measure, a Microsoft 365 Copilot audit is essential for assessing and quantifying your adoption rates. A thorough review shows who is truly benefiting from and actively using the technology. It also guides smarter licensing decisions that reduce costs and improve overall efficiency. The Reality of AI Licensing Waste Implementing automated access revocation for contractors is not just about better security; it's a critical component of financial risk management and regulatory compliance. The biggest risk in contractor management is relying on human memory to manually delete accounts and revoke permissions after a project ends. Forgotten accounts with lingering access, often referred to as “dormant” or “ghost” accounts, are a prime target for cyber-attackers. If an attacker compromises a dormant account, they can operate inside your network without detection, as no one is monitoring an "inactive" user. For example, many security reports cite the Target data breach in 2013 as a stark illustration. Attackers gained initial entry into Target's network by compromising the credentials of a third-party HVAC contractor that had legitimate, yet overly permissive, access to the network for billing purposes. If Target had enforced the principle of least privilege, limiting the vendor's access only to the necessary billing system, the lateral movement that compromised millions of customer records could have been contained or prevented entirely. By leveraging Microsoft Entra Conditional Access to set a sign-in frequency and instantly revoke access when a contractor is removed from the security group, you eliminate the chance of lingering permissions. This automation ensures that you are consistently applying the principle of least privilege, significantly reducing your attack surface and demonstrating due diligence for auditors under regulations like GDPR or HIPAA. It turns a high-risk, manual task into a reliable, self-managing syAt first, buying licenses in bulk may seem like a convenient strategy since it simplifies the procurement process for your IT department. However, this collective approach often ignores actual user behaviour, since not every role needs the advanced features offered by Copilot. AI licensing waste occurs when tools sit unused on employee dashboards. For example, a receptionist may have no need for advanced data-analysis capabilities, while a field technician might never open the desktop application at all. Paying for unused licenses drains your budget, so identifying and closing these gaps is essential to protecting your bottom line. The savings can then be redirected to higher-value initiatives where they’ll make the greatest impact. Analysing User Activity Reports Fortunately, Microsoft includes built-in tools that make it easy to view your AI usage data. The Microsoft 365 admin centre is the best place to start. From there, you can generate reports that track active usage over specific time periods and give you a clear view of engagement. From this dashboard, you can track various metrics such as enabled users, active users, adoption rates, trends, and so on. This makes it easy to identify employees who have never used AI features, or those whose limited usage may not justify the licensing cost. This kind of software usage tracking allows you to make data-driven decisions and distinguish between power users and those who ignore the tool. This clarity not only allows for making efficient license purchases, but also sets the stage for having conversations with department heads to determine why certain teams do not engage with AI tools. Strategies for IT Budget Optimisation Once you identify the waste, the next step is taking action. Start by reclaiming licenses from inactive users and reallocating them to employees who actually need them. This simple shift, making sure licenses go to those who use them, can significantly reduce your subscription costs. Establish a formal request process for Copilot licenses. This ensures employees must justify their need for the tool, granting access only to those who truly require it and adding accountability to your spending. IT budget optimisation isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that requires continuous refinement. Regularly reviewing these metrics, whether monthly or quarterly, helps keep your software spending efficient and under control. Boosting Adoption Through Training Low AI tool usage isn’t always about lack of interest. Sometimes, employees simply don’t need the tool, while other times they avoid it because they don’t know how to use it, insufficient training can lead to frustration and poor adoption. This means that cutting licenses alone isn’t enough; investing in user training is equally important. The most effective approach is to survey staff and assess their comfort level with Copilot. For employees who find it confusing, provide self-paced tutorials or conduct training workshops that demonstrate practical use cases relevant to their daily tasks. When employees see clear value and convenience, they are much more likely to adopt the tool. Consider the following steps to improve adoption: Host lunch-and-learn sessions to demonstrate key features Share success stories from power users within the company Create a library of quick tip videos for common tasks Appoint “Copilot Champions” in each department to help others Investing in training often transforms low usage into high value, turning what was once a wasted expense into a productivity-enhancing asset. Establishing a Governance Policy Another way to minimise Copilot license waste involves setting rules for how your company handles AI tools. A governance policy effectively brings order to your software management by outlining who qualifies for a license and setting expectations for usage and review cycles. The policy should also define criteria based on job roles and responsibilities. For instance, content creators and data analysts get automatic access, while other roles might require manager approval, thus preventing the “free-for-all” mentality that leads to waste. The policy should be clearly communicated to all employees to ensure transparency regarding how decisions are being made. This way, a culture of responsibility regarding company resources is established. Preparing for Renewal Season The worst time to check your Copilot AI usage is the day before renewal. Instead, schedule audits at least 90 days in advance to allow ample time to adjust your contract and license counts. This also gives you leverage during negotiations with vendors. By presenting data showing your actual needs, you put yourself in a strong position to right-size your contract and avoid getting locked into another year of paying for shelfware. Smart Management Matters Managing modern software costs demands both vigilance and data, particularly as most vendors move to subscription-based models for AI and software tools. With recurring expenses, letting subscriptions run unchecked is no longer an option. Regular Microsoft 365 Copilot audits safeguard your budget and ensure efficiency by aligning technology purchases with actual usage. Take control of your licensing strategy today. Look at the numbers, ask the hard questions, and ensure every dollar you spend contributes to your business’ growth. Smart management leads to a leaner and more productive organisation. Are you ready to get a handle on your AI tool spending? Reach out to our team for help with comprehensive Microsoft 365 Copilot audits, and eliminate waste from your IT budget. 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Your business runs on a SaaS (software-as-a-service) application stack, and you learn about a new SaaS tool that promises to boost productivity and streamline one of your most tedious processes. The temptation is to sign up for the service, click “install,” and figure out the rest later. This approach sounds convenient, but it also exposes you to significant risk. Each new integration acts as a bridge between different systems, or between your data and third-party systems. This bridging raises data security and privacy concerns, meaning you need to learn how to vet new SaaS integrations with the seriousness they require. Protecting Your Business from Third-Party Risk A weak link can lead to compliance failures or, even worse, catastrophic data breaches. Adopting a rigorous, repeatable vetting process transforms potential liability into secure guarantees. If you’re not convinced, just look at the T-Mobile data breach of 2023 . While the initial vector was a zero-day vulnerability in their environment, a key challenge in the fallout was the sheer number of third-party vendors and systems T-Mobile relied upon. In highly interconnected systems, a vulnerability in one area can be exploited to gain access to other systems, including those managed by third parties. The incident highlighted how a sprawling digital ecosystem multiplies the attack surface. By contrast, a structured vetting process, which maps the tool’s data flow, enforces the principle of least privilege , and ensures vendors provide a SOC 2 Type II report, drastically minimises this attack surface. A proactive vetting strategy ensures you are not just securing your systems, but you are also fulfilling your legal and regulatory obligations, thereby safeguarding your company’s reputation and financial health. 5 Steps for Vetting Your SaaS Integrations To prevent these weak links, let’s look at some smart and systematic SaaS vendor/product evaluation processes that protect your business from third-party risk. 1. Scrutinise the SaaS Vendor’s Security Posture After being enticed by the SaaS product features, it is important to investigate the people behind the service. A nice interface means nothing without having a solid security foundation. Your first steps should be examining the vendor’s certifications and, in particular, asking them about the SOC 2 Type II report . This is an independent audit report that verifies the effectiveness of a retail SaaS vendor’s controls over the confidentiality, integrity, availability, security, and privacy of their systems. Additionally, do a background check on the founders, the vendor’s breach history, how long they have been around, and their transparency policies. A reputable company will be open about its security practices and will also reveal how it handles vulnerability or breach disclosures. This initial background check is the most important step in your vetting since it separates serious vendors from risky ones. 2. Chart the Tool’s Data Access and Flow You need to understand exactly what data the SaaS integration will touch, and you can achieve this by asking a simple, direct question: What access permissions does this app require? Be wary of any tool that requests global “read and write” access to your entire environment. Use the principle of least privilege: grant applications only the access necessary to complete their tasks, and nothing more. Have your IT team chart the information flow in a diagram to track where your data goes, where it is stored, and how it is transmitted. You must know its journey from start to finish. A reputable vendor will encrypt data both at rest and in transit and provide transparency on where your data is stored, including the geographical location. This exercise in third-party risk management reveals the full scope of the SaaS integration’s reach into your systems. 3. Examine Their Compliance and Legal Agreements If your company must comply with regulations such as GDPR , then your vendors must also be compliant. Carefully review their terms of service and privacy policies for language that specifies their role as a data processor versus a data controller, and confirm that they will sign a Data Processing Addendum (DPA) if required. Pay particular attention to where your vendor stores your data at rest, i.e., the location of their data centres, since your data may be subject to data sovereignty regulations that you are unaware of. Ensure that your vendor does not store your data in countries or regions with lax privacy laws. While reviewing legal fine print may seem tedious, it is critical, as it determines liability and responsibility if something goes wrong. 4. Analyse the SaaS Integration’s Authentication Techniques How the service connects with your system is also a key factor. Choose integrations that use modern and secure authentication protocols such as OAuth 2.0 , which allow services to connect without directly sharing usernames and passwords. The provider should also offer administrator dashboards that enable IT teams to grant or revoke access instantly. Avoid services that require you to share login credentials, and instead prioritise strong, standards-based authentication. 5. Plan for the End of the Partnership Every technology integration follows a lifecycle and will eventually be deprecated, upgraded, or replaced. Before installing, know how to uninstall it cleanly by asking questions such as: What is the data export process after the contract ends? Will the data be available in a standard format for future use? How does the vendor ensure permanent deletion of all your information from their servers? A responsible vendor will have clear, well-documented offboarding procedures. This forward-thinking strategy prevents data orphanage, ensuring you retain control over your data long after the partnership ends. Planning for the exit demonstrates strategic IT management and a mature vendor assessment process. Build a Fortified Digital Ecosystem Modern businesses run on complex systems comprising webs of interconnected services where data moves from in-house systems, through the Internet, and into third-party systems and servers for processing, and vice versa. Since you cannot operate in isolation, vetting is essential to avoid connecting blindly. Your best bet for safe integration and minimising the attack surface is to develop a rigorous, repeatable process for vetting SaaS integrations. The five tips above provide a solid baseline, transforming potential liability into secure guarantees.  Protect your business and gain confidence in every SaaS integration, contact us today to secure your technology stack.