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Which Microsoft Copilot Fits Your Needs? Decision Tree & Comparison
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‎4_Which_Copilot_toChoose.md‎

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# Microsoft Copilot Product & Platform Decision Guide — Overview
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> How to choose between **Microsoft 365 Copilot**, **Copilot Studio**, and **Azure AI Foundry (Azure AI Studio)** for your scenario.
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Costa Rica
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[![GitHub](https://badgen.net/badge/icon/github?icon=github&label)](https://github.com)
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[![GitHub](https://img.shields.io/badge/--181717?logo=github&logoColor=ffffff)](https://github.com/)
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[brown9804](https://github.com/brown9804)
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Last updated: 2025-07-16
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----------
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<details>
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<summary><b>List of References</b> (Click to expand)</summary>
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* **AI strategy & decision tree** — *Cloud Adoption Framework*\
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<https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>
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* **Which Copilot is right for your org** — *Microsoft 365 Copilot*\
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<https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/which-copilot-for-your-organization>
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* **Choose the right agent solution** — *Copilot Studio vs SDKs vs Azure AI*\
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<https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution>
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* **Copilot Studio overview**\
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<https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot-studio/fundamentals-what-is-copilot-studio>
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* **Declarative agents tool comparison**\
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<https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/declarative-agent-tool-comparison>
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* **Extensibility planning guide (agents for M365 Copilot)**\
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<https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/planning-guide>
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* **Training path: Build a foundation to build AI agents & extend M365 Copilot**\
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<https://learn.microsoft.com/training/paths/build-foundation-extend-microsoft-365-copilot/>
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</details>
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<details>
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<summary><b>Table of Content</b> (Click to expand)</summary>
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</details>
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> [!IMPORTANT]
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> This is a practical **selection guide** synthesized from Microsoft Learn. For official canonical guidance (which evolves), always verify the linked docs: **AI Strategy decision tree** and **Which Copilot is right for you**.\
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> Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/which-copilot-for-your-organization>
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***
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## Where to start?
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1. **Clarify the goal**: productivity in M365 apps, a custom line-of-business agent, or a full-blown AI app/platform?
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2. **Match to service model**: **SaaS (Copilots)** for speed, **PaaS (Azure AI)** for control, **IaaS** for maximum customization.\
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Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution>
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## Quick decision tree (text + mermaid)
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* If you need **in‑app AI in Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Teams with enterprise protections** → choose **Microsoft 365 Copilot**.\
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/which-copilot-for-your-organization>
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* If you need a **custom business agent** (low-code), **multi‑channel** (Teams/web), automation with **Power Platform**, and quick time‑to‑value → choose **Copilot Studio**.\
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Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot-studio/fundamentals-what-is-copilot-studio>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution>
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* If you need a **developer platform** for **RAG**, multi‑agent patterns, **model choice**, evaluations, and deep integration → choose **Azure AI Foundry (Azure AI Studio)**.\
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>
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* If you simply want a **web-grounded personal assistant** (not for sensitive work data) → **Microsoft Copilot (consumer)**.\
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/which-copilot-for-your-organization>
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## At-a-glance: Product picker
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| Scenario | Choose | Why this fits | Key notes |
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| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| Employees want AI in **Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook/Teams** with enterprise-grade protections | **Microsoft 365 Copilot** | Natively integrated experiences; work & web chat; governed by M365 controls | Requires org licensing; respects Microsoft Graph permissions. Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/which-copilot-for-your-organization> |
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| Build a **custom agent** quickly, connect business data, **automate** flows, publish to **Teams or web** | **Copilot Studio** | Low-code authoring, topics, knowledge sources, **agent flows**, Power Automate | Great for fusion teams; supports channels via Azure Bot Service. Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot-studio/fundamentals-what-is-copilot-studio>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution> |
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| Develop a **RAG** app or **multi-agent** solution with fine control over models, evals, safety, and infra | **Azure AI Foundry (Azure AI Studio)** | Unified SDK/APIs, integrates Azure OpenAI & Cognitive Services, deep ops control | Best for pro-code; aligns with PaaS patterns in CAF. Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy> |
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| Extend M365 Copilot with **task-specific agents** using declarative tools | **Agents for M365 Copilot** (via Copilot Studio & SDKs) | Purpose-built extensions that run inside M365 Copilot orchestrator | See tool comparison & planning guide. Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/declarative-agent-tool-comparison>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/planning-guide> |
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| Personal, **non-sensitive** queries with image creation | **Microsoft Copilot (consumer)** | Free web-grounded assistant | Don’t use for confidential work content. Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/which-copilot-for-your-organization> |
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## Copilot Studio vs Azure AI Foundry (Azure AI Studio)
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| Dimension | **Copilot Studio** | **Azure AI Foundry (Azure AI Studio)** |
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| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| **Audience** | Fusion teams, citizen developers | Pro-code developers |
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| **Approach** | **Low-code SaaS** agent builder with topics, knowledge, **agent flows**, plugins | **PaaS** development platform with unified SDKs/APIs, RAG, multi-agent, evals |
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| **Typical use** | Helpdesk bots, HR/IT FAQ, approvals, guided flows, Teams agents | Custom RAG apps, multi-agent orchestration, domain copilots with bespoke logic |
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| **Data & connectors** | Prebuilt/custom plugins, Power Platform connectors; Azure AI Search supported as knowledge | Bring your own data stores; Azure AI Search, vector DBs; full orchestration control |
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| **Channels** | Publish to **Teams**, web, channels via Azure Bot Service | You host and expose services; integrate into custom apps, Teams, M365 via SDKs |
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| **Governance** | Power Platform governance, DLP, environment controls | Azure governance (RBAC, VNets, Private Link), CI/CD, responsible AI reviews |
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| **When to pick** | Rapid time-to-value; low-code; align with Power Platform ops | Need model choice, fine-grained data/infra control, complex pipelines & testing |
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Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot-studio/fundamentals-what-is-copilot-studio>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>
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## Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot with agents
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* **Declarative agents & tools**: Compare Copilot Studio, Agents SDK, Semantic Kernel, and more to pick the right extensibility path.\
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Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/declarative-agent-tool-comparison>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/planning-guide>
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* **Agent design**: Define instructions, actions, knowledge, and channels; leverage **agent flows** for automation; publish to Teams/web.\
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot-studio/fundamentals-what-is-copilot-studio>
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* **Developers’ route**: Use the **Microsoft 365 Agents SDK** to build agents deployable across channels (M365 Copilot, Teams, web) with your preferred AI services.\
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution>
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## Implementation considerations (security, data, networking)
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* **Service model fit**: SaaS (Copilots) → fastest; PaaS (Azure AI Foundry) → control & customization; IaaS → maximum flexibility.\
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>
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* **Data readiness & access**: For M365 Copilot, review data exposure via Microsoft Graph permissions and labels; for Azure AI, plan grounding data stores and search.\
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Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/which-copilot-for-your-organization>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>
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* **Networking & isolation**: Azure PaaS workloads can use Private Link/VNet integration; consider egress controls and content filtering for AI endpoints.\
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>
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* **Governance & lifecycle**: Use Power Platform environments/DLP (Copilot Studio) or Azure policies/DevOps pipelines (Azure AI Foundry).\
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Sources: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot-studio/fundamentals-what-is-copilot-studio>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategy>
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## FAQ
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### Q1. Is Copilot Studio only for chat?
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> It builds `agents` (beyond simple chat) that can call flows, connect to data, and act across channels (Teams/web).
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot-studio/fundamentals-what-is-copilot-studio>
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### Q2. When do I prefer Azure AI Foundry?
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> When you need `RAG/multi-agent`, model choice, evaluations, and deep integration/testing under your DevOps and networking controls.
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Source: <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/agents-sdk/choose-agent-solution>
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### Q3. Can I extend Microsoft 365 Copilot with my own domain agent?
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> Yes—use `agents` (declarative) and related SDKs; see the tool comparison and planning guidance.
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Sources: <https://learn.microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/declarative-agent-tool-comparison>, <https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/planning-guide>
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