Flight School: Mastering Copilot for IT Pros–On demand

My 10 hour virtual training is now available on demand from:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/l/mccpitpro

Turn Microsoft Copilot from “nice to have” into a practical, revenue‑driving capability. Flight School: Mastering Copilot for IT Pros is an immersive, live online program designed for IT professionals and MSPs, delivered over a focused cohort so you get hands‑on practice, real examples, and repeatable patterns you can apply the same day. It runs as a multi‑day virtual training specifically crafted for IT Pros and Managed Service Providers, with a strong emphasis on practical usage and adoption in Microsoft 365 environments.

What sets this course apart: every session is built around real Microsoft 365 tenant scenarios—security, governance, AI agent workflows, and user adoption—so you leave with a simple, repeatable framework, not just theory.

Who this course is for

IT administrators, solution architects, and consultants rolling out Copilot across Microsoft 365 tenants.
MSP owners and engineers building Copilot-powered offerings for SMB customers.
Technology leaders responsible for security, compliance, and change management in Microsoft 365.

What you’ll learn (outcomes)

By the end of Flight School you will be able to:

Explain the practical AI stack for Microsoft 365—data → security → search → identity/licensing → Copilot/agents—and use it to make sound, risk‑aware implementation decisions.
Harden your tenant for AI by aligning service‑level and item‑level security, data labelling, and DLP so Copilot respects access boundaries.
Use Copilot Chat effectively (history, memory, attaching files from OneDrive/SharePoint) and apply prompt books and prompt engineering techniques that non‑technical users can follow.
Leverage advanced Copilot agents (Researcher, Analyst), Notebooks, Admin Copilot, and SharePoint/Channel agents to automate research, reporting, and routine admin work.
Design an adoption plan for SMB tenants: licensing choices, enablement, tips for Teams/Outlook/SharePoint usage, and how to package Copilot services in an MSP offering.

Course format & inclusions

Instructor‑led online cohort (multi‑day) with focused, practical sessions.
Session recordings and downloadable resources so you never miss a step.
Hands‑on demonstrations using Microsoft 365 tenants, showing exactly how to configure, test, and measure results.
Recommended setup: a Microsoft 365 Copilot–enabled tenant is ideal to follow along with internal data scenarios (emails, files, Teams, SharePoint).

Program snapshot (sample sessions)

Session 1 – The AI Stack for Microsoft 365
Foundations of the AI stack, security posture, governance, search, licensing, identity, and how Copilot fits.
Session 2 – Copilot Chat, Memory & Prompt Books
Practical workflows, attaching tenant data, creating re‑usable prompt books, and using Loop for collaborative artefacts.
Session 3 – Security, Compliance & Internal Data
Item‑level protection, data labelling, DLP, safe access to internal content, and when to choose paid Copilot capabilities.
Session 4 – Notebooks & Agents
Researcher and Analyst agents, Admin Copilot, SharePoint and Channel agents in Teams, and automation patterns you can adopt immediately.

Cohorts are delivered as a structured multi‑day virtual training for IT Professionals and MSPs—clear, practical, and built for real‑world use.

Why learn with CIAOPS

Flight School sessions are delivered by Robert Crane, a long‑time Microsoft 365 educator and the principal behind CIAOPS, who routinely leads live community sessions and training across Microsoft 365 and Copilot.

Some feedback received so far from attendees:

I’ve just completed a five‑day Copilot course, and I can honestly say it has been a game‑changer for the way I work. Over the week, Rob shared an incredible range of practical tools, tips, and resources that will not only help me boost productivity but also streamline my daily tasks with best‑practice approaches.
What impressed me most was how immediately applicable everything was. I’m already seeing how these new skills will dramatically reduce the amount of time I spend sitting in front of a computer entering data—freeing me up to focus on higher‑value work. The sessions were clear, insightful, and genuinely empowering.
A huge thank you to Rob for delivering such a valuable and engaging program. I’d highly recommend this course to anyone looking to work smarter, not harder.

Rob’s training is well worth the investment not only from a $ perspective, but from the time invested. Over the course of 5 days I’ve been able to glean a huge amount of things that I “thought I knew” and use them better. Can’t wait to review the recordings to see what else I can do. Thanks Rob.

New publication–Copilot Deployment Playbook for MSPs

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/l/mspdeplotpb

Copilot Deployment Playbook for SMB Clients – MSP Guide

Introducing the Deployment Playbook for SMB Clients – your ultimate guide to successfully rolling out Microsoft 365 Copilot for small and medium-sized businesses. This comprehensive playbook is designed specifically for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT professionals, offering a step-by-step approach to ensure a seamless and effective deployment.

Why You Need This Playbook:

Expert Guidance: Navigate the complexities of deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot with ease. Our playbook provides detailed instructions on licensing, technical setup, data preparation, user onboarding, and post-pilot evaluation
Maximize ROI: Learn how to demonstrate tangible value with a small-scale Copilot deployment, ensuring your clients see the benefits and are ready for a broader rollout
Security and Compliance: Ensure that Copilot respects existing Microsoft 365 policies and data access controls, protecting sensitive information while delivering value
User Training and Support: Equip your clients with the knowledge and tools they need to make the most of Copilot, from pilot user training to measuring success

Key Features:

Licensing Procurement & Setup: Ensure your clients have the correct licenses and understand the costs and commitments involved
Tenant Configuration: Enable and configure all required tenant settings so that Copilot can function correctly and securely within the client’s Microsoft 365 environment
Grounding Data Preparation: Load and organize the client’s content and knowledge to ensure meaningful, organization-specific answers from Copilot
Pilot Group Selection & Onboarding: Choose a small, representative group of users to participate in the pilot, assign them the Copilot licenses, and ensure they have everything needed to start using Copilot
Pilot Execution: Monitor, support, and iterate during the pilot run to ensure engagement and gather insights on how Copilot is being used
Evaluation & Reporting: Conclude the pilot with a comprehensive evaluation of results and prepare a pilot report that summarizes usage, user feedback, and the value achieved

Benefits:

Increase Efficiency: Help your clients streamline their workflows and improve productivity with Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Enhance Customer Engagement: Provide your clients with the tools they need to better manage customer interactions and improve their digital presence.
Stay Ahead of the Curve: Position yourself as a forward-thinking MSP by offering cutting-edge AI solutions to your clients.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to elevate your services and deliver exceptional value to your clients. Purchase the Deployment Playbook for SMB Clients today and take the first step towards a successful Microsoft 365 Copilot deployment.

See all the titles available at – https://directorcia.gumroad.com/

Microsoft 365 Copilot for Small Business: Licensing Explained

In this video, we’ll walking you through exactly how your small or mid-sized business can navigate the new world of Microsoft 365 Copilot licensing. If you’ve been wondering how to bring generative AI into your daily workflow without overspending, I’ve got you covered.

We’ll start by breaking down the two main entry points: the free Copilot Chat and the full Microsoft 365 Copilot paid add-on. I’ll show you how Copilot Chat acts as a secure, enterprise-grade assistant that can brainstorm and summarise documents right from your web app or Teams.

If you’re ready for deeper integration, we’ll dive into what you get for the $30 USD per user monthly fee, including how it works directly inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You’ll see how the paid version leverages your internal emails, files, and meetings to provide contextual help that the free version simply can’t match.

We’ll also cover:

• How to assign licenses to specific “power users” to save costs.

• The advanced features in Excel like natural language querying and Python analysis.

• How Teams users can get real-time meeting summaries and action items.

• Important security and permission protocols that ensure your sensitive data stays protected.

• Step-by-step advice on how to pilot and scale these tools within your organisation.

Whether you are just starting to experiment or are ready for a full rollout, this guide will help you ensure a smooth and secure AI transformation for your business.

New publication available

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/l/copilotequiv

Mapping “ChatGPT Capabilities” to Microsoft 365 Copilot Equivalents

Unlock the Power of AI Productivity: Mapping ChatGPT Capabilities to Microsoft 365 Copilot

Are you a small business owner or professional eager to harness the full potential of AI in your daily workflow? This essential guide demystifies the differences and synergies between ChatGPT and Microsoft 365 Copilot, showing you how to achieve every productivity hack with enterprise-ready tools you already own.

What’s Inside:

Feature-by-Feature Comparisons: Discover how ChatGPT’s most popular features—custom instructions, persistent memory, voice and vision modes, data analysis, and more—map directly to Microsoft 365 Copilot’s built-in capabilities across Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.
Practical Guidance: Step-by-step instructions make it easy for non-technical users to enable and master Copilot, with troubleshooting tips and real-world examples.
Security & Privacy Insights: Learn why Copilot’s integration with your Microsoft 365 environment offers superior data protection and compliance for business users.
Comprehensive Tables & Visuals: Instantly see which Copilot features match your favorite ChatGPT tricks, with clear notes on licensing, differences, and best practices.
Extend & Automate: Explore how plugins, connectors, and Power Platform automations let you customize Copilot for your unique business needs—no coding required.

Why Buy This Guide?

Save Time: Stop searching for answers—find out exactly how to use Copilot to draft documents, analyze data, manage emails, schedule meetings, and more.
Boost Productivity: Leverage AI to automate routine tasks, generate insights, and collaborate smarter—directly within the Microsoft 365 apps you use every day.
Stay Secure: Make informed decisions about AI adoption with clear explanations of privacy, licensing, and compliance.
Future-Proof Your Workflow: Get ahead of the curve with up-to-date information on Copilot’s evolving features, plugin ecosystem, and integration roadmap.

Whether you’re new to AI or a seasoned tech enthusiast, this publication is your roadmap to mastering Microsoft 365 Copilot and transforming the way you work.

See all the titles available at – https://directorcia.gumroad.com/

CIAOPS AI Dojo 008

What’s the session about?

This month we will be focusing on new Copilot features and updates as well as optimising AI for Small Business.

Who should attend?

This session is perfect for:

IT administrators and support staff
Business owners
People looking to get more done with Microsoft 365
Anyone looking to automate their daily grind

Save the Date

Date: Friday the 30th of January 2026

Time: 9:30 AM Sydney AU time

Location: Online (link will be provided upon registration)

Cost: $80 per attendee (free for Dojo subscribers)

Introduction to Copilot Notebooks

Unlock the power of AI-driven productivity with Microsoft 365 Copilot Notebooks!
Are you ready to transform the way you organize, analyze, and create? This comprehensive beginner’s guide reveals how Copilot Notebooks—Microsoft’s revolutionary AI-enhanced workspace—can become your personal project brain, helping you work smarter, not harder.

Why This Guide Is a Must-Have for Every Microsoft 365 User

Supercharge Your Workflow:
Learn how to gather content from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDFs, emails, and more into a single, organized notebook. No more hunting for scattered files—Copilot Notebooks centralize everything you need for any project.
AI-Powered Insights at Your Fingertips:
Discover how to ask Copilot questions about your collected materials and receive instant, context-aware answers. Whether you need a summary, trend analysis, or a draft report, Copilot delivers tailored results based on your actual content—not generic web searches.
Automate Tedious Tasks:
Say goodbye to manual note-taking and repetitive documentation. Let Copilot turn meeting notes into action lists, summarize long email threads, or draft proposals in seconds, freeing you to focus on what matters most.
Boost Collaboration and Creativity:
Share notebooks with colleagues, co-author in real time, and leverage AI to keep everyone aligned. Copilot Notebooks are designed for seamless teamwork and creative brainstorming.
Stay Ahead with Audio Overviews:
Unique to Copilot Notebooks, generate AI-narrated audio summaries of your projects—perfect for reviewing information on the go or multitasking.
Step-by-Step, Beginner-Friendly:
This guide walks you through setup, best practices, and real-world use cases (data analysis, task automation, documentation), making it easy for anyone to get started—no technical expertise required.

Empower yourself to work faster, smarter, and more creatively.

Get your copy of the “Microsoft 365 Copilot Notebooks: Beginner’s Guide” today and unlock a new era of productivity!

I would always appreciate you supporting my work by purchasing a copy (nominate your own price) here:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/l/bgcn

and don’t forget all my other publications can be found here:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/

Unlock New Revenue with AI: The Ultimate Playbook for MSPs Serving SMBs

Transform your MSP business and your clients’ success with “AI as a Revenue Stream for SMB-Focused MSPs: A Step-by-Step Playbook.”
My comprehensive guide reveals how Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can harness the power of AI—especially Microsoft 365 Copilot—to create profitable, recurring revenue streams while delivering real, measurable value to small and mid-sized business clients.

What’s Inside:

Proven Strategies: Learn how to build in-house AI expertise, develop marketable service offerings, and position your MSP as the go-to AI advisor for SMBs.
Actionable Playbooks: Step-by-step instructions for AI readiness assessments, Copilot pilot deployments, custom AI solution development, and ongoing managed AI services.
Real-World Examples: Discover practical use cases, pricing models, and packaging ideas that have driven success for forward-thinking MSPs.
Marketing & Sales Tactics: Get tips on educating your market, overcoming AI skepticism, and using demos and case studies to close deals.
ROI-Focused Guidance: Master value-based pricing, SaaS-style subscriptions, and how to clearly demonstrate the business impact of AI for your clients.

Why This Guide?

Written by industry experts with deep Microsoft 365 and AI experience.
Packed with checklists, templates, and ready-to-use service packages.
Designed for immediate action—whether you’re just starting with AI or looking to scale your offerings.

Perfect for:

MSPs and IT consultants serving small and mid-sized businesses.
Business owners seeking to future-proof their services and boost client retention.
Anyone looking to monetize AI and Microsoft Copilot in the real world.

Don’t let your MSP get left behind.
Download “AI as a Revenue Stream for SMB-Focused MSPs” and start building your next growth engine today!

As a Boxing Day sale, I’m offering this publication for free in exchange for your joining my email list. To get your copy just provide your details here:

https://forms.office.com/r/T4ZSWhquJ8

and will be emailed out to you. This offer is valid until 1/1/2026.

I would always appreciate you supporting my work by purchasing a copy (nominate your own price) here:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/l/airevenue

and don’t forget all my other publications can be found here:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/

All the best for the holidays.

Need to Know podcast–Episode 357

Welcome to another podcast episode where I aim to bring you up to date with the latest in the Microsoft Cloud as well as share my knowledge and insights. In this episode I dig into how you need to focus and avoid distractions as well as building your knowledge with products and automations you already have.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-357-less-is-more/

Subscribe via iTunes at:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/ciaops-need-to-know-podcasts/id406891445?mt=2

or Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7ejj00cOuw8977GnnE2lPb

Don’t forget to give the show a rating as well as send me any feedback or suggestions you may have for the show.

Resources

Explore the tools, communities, and content mentioned in this episode:

CIAOPS Need to Know Podcast: https://ciaops.podbean.com/
CIAOPS Blog: https://blog.ciaops.com/
CIAOPS Labs: https://blog.ciaopslabs.com/
CIAOPS Brief: https://blog.ciaops.com/tag/cia-brief/
Join the Teams Shared Channel: https://blog.ciaops.com/2022/07/29/join-my-teams-shared-channel/
CIAOPS Merch Store: https://my-store-c5d877-2.creator-spring.com/
Become a Patron: https://www.ciaopspatron.com/
Direct Support: https://ko-fi.com/ciaops
Get Your M365 Questions Answered: https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/06/11/get-your-m365-questions-answered-via-email-2/
Test Your Microsoft 365 Speed: https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/07/21/test-your-microsoft-365-speed-in-seconds-for-free/
CIAOPS Email list – https://bit.ly/cia-email

Announcements

Flight School: Mastering Copilot for IT Pros
A new training resource for IT professionals to maximize Copilot capabilities.
https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/11/14/flight-school-mastering-copilot-for-it-pros/