Microsoft Ignite is always a spectacle, showcasing the latest technology with plenty of buzz to match. This year, as expected, Copilot and associated AI technologies were front and centre. But alongside the AI excitement, two equally critical topics emerged as key priorities for 2025: security and data governance.
This was an important moment for two reasons:
Firstly, data governance is finally stepping into the spotlight after years of being eclipsed by the more immediate demands of security (a natural outcome of increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats). Secondly, data governance is proving to be the missing piece needed to guide organisations through the turbulent waters of the AI era and onto safer, more productive ground.
The rise of data governance
This year has been a textbook demonstration of Gartner’s Hype Cycle for AI. The explosion of AI developments has led to widespread experimentation, a proliferation of pilot projects, and no shortage of media frenzy – classic symptoms of what Gartner terms the “Peak of Inflated Expectations.”
However, while many organisations have been enthusiastically rolling out Copilot licences and embracing the AI-powered future, their risk and compliance teams have uncovered new vulnerabilities AI can expose. These challenges are rapidly propelling us downward into the “Trough of Disillusionment.”
So, how do we climb out of this trough and onto Gartner’s “Slope of Enlightenment”?
The answer lies in robust data governance that will set users free to release the power of AI by finding the thousands of use cases that exist to accelerate user productivity. With the right strategy, organisations can turn AI ambitions into practical, secure solutions – and that’s where Microsoft Purview comes in.
Microsoft Purview: Your AI-ready governance ally
…Purview is probably the product for this conference. Because in the age of AI, data governance takes on an even more critical, central, important role.
– Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, at Microsoft Ignite 2024
For organisations invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, Purview is a gamechanger. It offers a unified platform for managing, protecting, and governing data across environments – whether on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid setups.
However, as with any robust governance strategy, implementing Purview isn’t without its challenges.
Here are some common hurdles organisations face:
- People, Processes, and Technology: Data governance isn’t just a tech challenge – it affects everyone in the organisation. Balancing these elements can feel overwhelming.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Gaining early buy-in across business units can be tough but is essential for long-term success.
- Prioritising the Roadmap: Many organisations struggle to pinpoint where to start, let alone how to achieve meaningful wins early in the process.
- Building a Business Case: Demonstrating ROI is tricky when the primary benefit is risk reduction – an outcome that’s notoriously hard to quantify.
How Cloud Essentials can help
If you’re grappling with these challenges, you’re not alone. At Cloud Essentials, we combine legal and risk expertise with Microsoft-certified technical skills to help organisations overcome governance roadblocks. From engaging stakeholders, to driving decision-making, to breaking projects into manageable milestones, we’ll ensure your Purview deployment delivers tangible results that support your AI goals.
Where to start
If you’re ready to explore how data governance can future-proof your AI ambitions, get in touch.
Meanwhile, catch up on the highlights of Microsoft Ignite 2024, or watch the 90-second overview of the keynote address. The developments in AI and Copilot are undoubtedly exciting. But remember: real progress requires strategic, well-governed foundations.
Data governance isn’t just a necessity for the AI age – it’s the key to unlocking its true potential.
