Episode 415 – Diving Into Ignite 2025 for IT Pros and AI Agent Management

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Nov 20, 2025

Ben and Scott explore exciting developments from Ignite 2025, focusing on AI agents and security. They unveil the expansion of Security Copilot, now accessible to Microsoft 365 E5 customers with new agents and partner integrations. The discussion also highlights Microsoft Agent 365, designed to tackle agent sprawl and enhance governance. With capabilities like real-time monitoring and security control, this tool aims to streamline agent management, making IT operations more efficient. Tune in for insights on the future of IT governance and AI!

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ANECDOTE

Ignite Emphasizes Storytelling Over Big Launches

Ben describes Ignite shifting from big product launches to storytelling and compositional demos of features released over months.
He frames this Ignite as focused on AI plus security and guidance for IT pros rather than massive single-product drops.

INSIGHT

Security Copilot Expands To E5

Microsoft announced 12 new Security Copilot agents across Defender, Entra, Intune, and Purview to extend AI-driven security workflows.
Security Copilot will roll out to all Microsoft 365 E5 customers starting in the Frontier program over coming months.

ADVICE

Join Frontier To Pilot Agents Early

Sign at least one person up for the Frontier program to get early Security Copilot access and learn the agent features.
Use the preview window to assess resource needs and operational fit before broad rollouts.

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Welcome to Episode 415 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. Ben and Scott discuss the major announcements from Microsoft Ignite 2025, focusing on the dominant themes of AI agents and security. The conversation centers on three key areas: Security Copilot updates, Agent 365 for governance, and the broader security and management implications for IT professionals.

Key Discussion Topics

Security Copilot Expansion to E5 Customers
- 12 new Security Copilot agents coming to Defender, Entra, Intune, and Purview
- 30+ partner agents being added to the ecosystem
- Major announcement: Security Copilot will now be available to all Microsoft 365 E5 customers
- Rollout begins with Frontier program (Microsoft’s insider ring for Copilot)
- Expanding in coming months to all E5 customers
- Security Copilot spans four pillars:
  - Security Operations (Defender + Sentinel)
  - Data Security (Purview)
  - Identity & Access (Entra)
  - Endpoint Management (Intune)
Microsoft Agent 365 – The Control Plane for Agents
- Addresses the critical problem of agent sprawl and governance
- Think of it as “Entra ID for AI agents”
- Core capabilities:
  - Registry: Complete inventory of all agents (registered, unregistered, and shadow agents
  - Access Control: Conditional access policies and risk-based policies for agents
  - Monitoring: Real-time visibility into agent behavior, performance, and organizational impact
  - Security Integration: Defender protection, Purview data governance
- Key governance features:
  - Approve pending agent requests
  - Identify ownerless agents
  - Apply DLP policies to agents
  - Conditional access for agents
  - Secure score for agents
  - Available now through Frontier program in Microsoft 365 admin center
Overarching Themes
- Agent security is the new frontier: All major product announcements (Purview, Entra, Defender) are focused on agent governance
- 100 trillion daily signals inform Microsoft’s threat intelligence
- Ignite’s evolution: Less about big product launches, more about storytelling and connecting features released throughout the year
- IT Pro focus: Understanding, managing, and securing AI agents is becoming a core competency
Key Observations
- Ignite 2025 is heavily focused on AI and security – limited announcements for traditional products like SharePoint, Teams, or Loop
- The shift reflects Microsoft’s rapid release cadence in the cloud era
- Agent sprawl is real and Microsoft is proactively addressing governance needs
- IT professionals need to embrace this change: “The only way out is through”

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