Guide to Managing Plugins in Copilot Cowork

Microsoft Copilot Cowork is enhanced with plugins that allow for expanded skills and connections, making the platform more versatile for users. As an IT administrator, you have full control over which plugins are accessible within your organization, how these are implemented, and the user permissions. This guide provides key insights into managing plugins effectively.

Understanding Cowork Plugins

Cowork plugins are packages available through the Microsoft 365 App Store. They can introduce:

• Skills: These are prompt-based workflows that allow Cowork to develop expertise in specific domains, such as finance or human resources.
• Connectors: These link external data sources and services for seamless integration during user interactions.

Utilizing the same package format as Teams apps and Office add-ins, plugins are managed through the existing administrative tools for Microsoft 365.

Requirements for Managing Plugins

To effectively manage Cowork plugins in your organization, you’ll need the following:

• Admin Center Access: Ensure you have access to the Microsoft 365 admin center with the appropriate permissions as a tenant administrator or a Copilot administrator.
• Licenses: Users need assigned Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses to utilize Cowork plugins.

How to Deploy Plugins

You can deploy plugins across your organization or selectively to certain users or groups. Follow these steps:

1. Log into the Microsoft 365 admin center.
2. Select the Agents option, then choose either All agents or Tools to locate Cowork plugins.
3. Find the desired plugin through searching or browsing.
4. Click on the plugin to view its details.
5. Choose whether to install for All users or Specific users/groups, then click Next to complete the installation.

Once a plugin is installed, it is automatically available for use in Cowork conversations without user intervention.

Managing Plugin Availability

Post-deployment, admins can adjust how users access and interact with plugins:

• Plugins deployed by an admin will be marked with Managed by your organization. Users cannot remove these but can toggle their use on the Sources & Skills panel.
• If you wish to restrict access, plugins can be blocked entirely or made available to specific users or groups only.

Monitoring Shared Plugins

Users can share plugins they upload in Cowork, but this requires admin oversight:

• Requests to publish a shared plugin to the entire organization must be approved by a tenant administrator.
• Blocking a shared plugin renders it inaccessible to all users.

User Interaction with Plugins

To ensure a smooth user experience, it's essential to understand how plugins appear to them:

• Admin-deployed plugins are automatically visible in the Added Plugins section.
• Users can enable or disable these plugins based on their preferences.
• Disabling does not remove the plugin, but hides its skills for new conversations.

Connector Authentication Management

Some plugins require user authentication to link to external services. Each user must complete authentication individually upon first use. Later, Cowork will remember their authorization unless revoked by them or through admin actions.

Utilizing Dynamics 365 Connectors

If plugins integrate with Dynamics 365 services, users will have to select their specific environment upon connection. This setup is essential for proper functioning between Cowork and Dynamics 365 applications.

Monitoring Usage and Compliance

Microsoft Purview audit logs can track interactions with Copilot and its plugins. Admins can access these logs to monitor plugin activities and ensure compliance with internal governance policies.

Testing and Validation

As a plugin author, you can test your packages before distribution. Directly upload packages to Cowork for personal testing before broader deployment. This process ensures that all functionalities work correctly before reaching a wider audience.

In conclusion, understanding the management of plugins in Microsoft Copilot Cowork is crucial for administrators who aim to enhance user experiences and ensure the effective functionality of the software within their organizations.