AI rollouts are everywhere—but why do so many fail before they even get off the ground? 🤔 In this episode of SharePoint Focus, Brendan Ritchie, Mia Tait (First Focus M365 Practice Lead), and Alyssa Blackburn (AvePoint) unpack why most AI proof of concepts don’t deliver results and how SharePoint can help set your business up for success.From government Copilot pilots that missed the mark, to the hidden risks of "confetti licenses," and the critical role of clean, well-governed data—this conversation covers the real-world lessons you need to avoid wasted investment.

We’ll explore:

✅ Why defining clear outcomes is non-negotiable

✅ The importance of data governance and ROT (Redundant, Obsolete, Trivial) cleanup

✅ Training, adoption, and why ease of use matters more than hype

✅ Measuring AI ROI with real-world examples

✅ How to roll out Copilot and AI in stages for lasting success

Whether you’re testing Microsoft Copilot, looking at AI pilots, or trying to avoid wasted spend, this episode will give you the insights to make your AI strategy stick.

In Episode 3 of SharePoint Focus, we’re tackling one of the trickiest balancing acts in Microsoft 365: enabling smooth collaboration without creating security risks.🔹 In Episode 1, we discussed the Privacy Act and why data government in SharePoint matters.🔹 In Episode 2, we looked at preparing your SharePoint environment for AI and reducing storage costs.🔹 Now in Episode 3, we’re getting practical — with real-world tips for sharing and collaboration, plus a look at how poor sharing habits can quickly turn into serious security breaches.👩‍💻 Joined by Alyssa Blackburn (AvePoint) and Mia Tate (First Focus, M365 Practice Lead), we explore:- The fine line between secure and open sharing in SharePoint and Teams- Practical tenant-wide and site-level settings to protect your business- The dangers of oversharing links and folders (and why “request access” drives everyone mad)- Real audit insights: what businesses get wrong again and again- How user education, smart policies, and tools like Guard & Policies + Insights make a difference- Why the new Privacy Act means staff training on data security isn’t optional anymoreThis episode will help you set up SharePoint sharing that is secure, but still collaborative.0:00 – Intro0:40 – Collaboration vs Security: Finding the Balance2:00 – Tenant-Wide Settings & Governance Basics5:30 – The Delicate Balance: Don’t Over-Lock or Over-Open8:00 – Why Individual Permissions Are a Nightmare10:20 – Link Sharing vs Folder Sharing Explained13:40 – Using Guard & Policies + Insights for Better Oversight15:00 – How Poor Sharing Habits Lead to Security Breaches19:00 – Real-World Oversharing Mistakes & AI Risks (Samsung Case)23:30 – Training, the Privacy Act & Why Ongoing Education Matters26:40 – Wrap-Up & Episode 4 Teaser

If you caught Episode 1 of our SharePoint series, you’ll remember we explored why changes to the Privacy Act — along with a rapidly approaching AI-powered future — have put SharePoint data governance back in the spotlight. We also touched on the growing link between good governance and AI readiness for Microsoft 365.In Episode 2, M365 pros Alyssa Blackburn and Mita Tait shift the focus from 'why' to 'how'. This time, it’s about rolling up your sleeves and getting SharePoint (and the rest of your Microsoft 365 environment) in shape for AI tools — while also tackling one of the biggest hidden budget drains in modern business: cloud storage costs.00:00 – Introduction: Privacy Act, AI Readiness & Storage Costs01:06 – Why Data Readiness Matters Before AI02:25 – Step One: Consolidating & Mapping Your Data04:08 – Tools We Use: AvePoint, Opus & Microsoft Purview06:00 – Moving from ‘Set & Forget’ to Ongoing Governance08:28 – Shared Accountability & User Involvement in Permissions10:00 – Reviewing & Filtering Data for Retention Decisions12:25 – Managing File Types, Archives & Duplicates14:05 – Why the Overwhelm Is Normal (and How to Tackle It)16:22 – The Rising Cost of Storage in M365 & SharePoint20:07 – The 680TB Version Control Shock Story23:38 – Real-World Savings: $1.3M in Year One25:48 – Proactive vs Reactive Data ManagementPlease follow us on LinkedIn! We’d love to be part of your professional network, and it helps us stay closer and share insights that matter to leaders like you: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-focus-it/