How to Use Fabric Data in Microsoft Copilot for Enhanced Productivity
Microsoft Copilot with Fabric data makes work easier. You can use simple language to ask questions or make reports. You do not need special computer skills to do this. This helps everyone use the tool.
You save time because reports are made for you.
You can look at data by yourself to make better choices.
AI gives you ideas to find trends and patterns fast.
This helps both business and technical users. Business users can make and change reports without coding. Technical users can do boring tasks faster and handle data better.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft Copilot lets you use easy words to work with Fabric data. This makes reports and data jobs faster and easier for everyone.
You can use Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps and Fabric tools. You can build data pipelines, make reports, and find insights. You do not need to know how to code.
To set up Copilot, you need the right licenses and permissions. You must also turn it on in the admin portal. This helps everything work well and stay safe.
Copilot saves you time by doing simple tasks for you. It finds trends and helps teams work better with Power BI and Teams.
Always check Copilot’s results to make sure they are right. Keep your data safe by managing permissions and following security rules.
Microsoft Copilot and Fabric Overview
Key Features
You can use Microsoft Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. This tool does more than just help you write. You can ask it to make pictures, write code, or look up new information online. Copilot can also make long documents and web pages shorter, so you can understand lots of data fast.
Tip: You can pick how Copilot answers. Choose balanced, accurate, or creative mode for what you need.
Microsoft Copilot is special because it keeps your data safe. Only people who are allowed can see private information. This is good for businesses that want strong security and privacy.
Microsoft Fabric puts all your data in one place. You can use Power Apps to make your own apps without much coding. Power Automate lets you set up tasks that run by themselves, so you do not have to do everything. Fabric also gives you smart analytics and AI ideas, so you can spot trends and make better choices.
Here is a table with some main parts of Microsoft Fabric:
How They Integrate
You can use Microsoft Copilot right inside Fabric to help you work. For example, in Data Factory, Copilot helps you write code for changing data by just typing what you want in simple words. You can also ask Copilot to explain mistakes or make hard data pipelines easier to understand, which saves time and helps you make fewer errors.
In the Data Warehouse, Copilot uses your tables and columns to help you write SQL queries. You do not need to know everything—just say what you want, and Copilot writes the code. You can chat with Copilot, use quick buttons, or get code tips in the editor.
Copilot works in other parts of Fabric, like Data Science and Power BI. It helps you make machine learning models, build reports, and set up tasks to run by themselves. This means you can go from data to answers faster, all in a safe and easy-to-use place.
Setup and Configuration
Prerequisites
Before you begin, check if you have the right licenses and permissions. You need both Microsoft Fabric and Power BI service licenses. You also need at least one capacity subscription. Power BI has Free, Pro, and Premium Per User licenses. For big teams, Premium or F64 capacity is best. This setup lets you use more features and share things easily.
You must have a paid Microsoft Fabric capacity SKU (F64 or higher) or Power BI Premium capacity (P1 or higher). Trial versions do not give you all features. Administrators need to turn on Copilot in the Fabric tenant settings. Users should have contributor-level access or higher in the workspace. If your data is not in the US or France, turn on cross-geo data processing in tenant settings. You also need Python 3.7 or higher and Microsoft ODBC Driver 17 or higher for some tasks.
Tip: Make sure your network lets Microsoft 365 and Copilot services connect well.
Enabling Microsoft Copilot in Fabric
To turn on Microsoft Copilot, log in to the Microsoft Fabric app homepage. Click the gear icon and go to the Admin portal. In Tenant settings, look for "Users can use Copilot and other features powered by Azure OpenAI." This setting is on by default, but you can limit it to certain security groups. Assign workspaces and give users the right permissions. Try Copilot by opening Dataflow Gen2 in your workspace and using Copilot commands to make reports or AI models.
Note: Tenant administrators can let capacity administrators control Copilot settings for more control.
Connecting Fabric Data Agents
To connect Fabric data agents, install Node.js and make sure GraphQL API is on in your workspace. Set up Azure App Registration with the right permissions. Turn on GraphQL introspection in your workspace. Download and set up the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. Add your Fabric connection details in a .env file. Start the MCP server and connect your client, like VSCode, to the MCP endpoint. Test the connection by having the AI client check the GraphQL schema.
You can add AI instructions and example questions to help the agent answer better. Remember, Fabric data agents are flexible but have some limits. They do not support unstructured data or non-English languages. Always check your permissions and workspace settings if you have problems.
Using Microsoft Copilot with Fabric Data
Natural Language Data Transformation
You can use Microsoft Copilot to change data by using simple words. You do not need to know how to code or use special commands. Just tell Copilot what you want, and it will do the work for you. For example, you can say, “Create a new column for profit by subtracting cost from revenue,” or “Remove duplicates from this table.” Copilot understands what you ask and writes the code for you.
Microsoft Copilot in Fabric Data Factory reads your words and turns them into steps for changing data.
You can describe the pipeline you want, and Copilot will build it.
Copilot can explain hard queries and help you fix problems in your pipeline.
Both beginners and experts can use this to save time and avoid mistakes.
Many companies use Copilot to finish their work faster. For example, Eaton used Copilot to make 1,000 standard operating procedures in just 10 minutes each, instead of one hour. Access Holdings Plc cut coding time from 8 hours to 2 hours. Canadian Tire Corporation saved up to an hour a day for over 3,000 workers by using AI to work with data. These real examples show how Copilot makes changing data faster and easier for everyone.
Tip: Try commands like “Normalize the sales column” or “Show a histogram of the income column” to see how Copilot helps you.
Generating Insights and Reports
You can ask Microsoft Copilot to find patterns, make reports, and answer questions about your data. Copilot uses AI to look at your data and give you clear answers. You can ask things like, “What are the top-selling products this month?” or “Show me trends in customer feedback.” Copilot will make charts, write summaries, and even explain the results for you.
Here is a table showing what Copilot can do in different parts of Microsoft Fabric:
You can use Copilot to clean data, find trends, and even guess future results. For example, a company worked with Launch Consulting to use Microsoft Fabric for bringing together data from many places. They used Copilot to build machine learning models and Power BI reports. This helped them see risks in projects and make better choices right away.
Note: Copilot’s AI often finds patterns and mistakes that people might miss. This makes your reports more correct than old ways.
Power BI and Teams Integration
You can use Microsoft Copilot in Power BI to make dashboards and reports with just your words. Copilot understands your questions and builds visuals, writes summaries, and suggests the best ways to show your data. You can ask, “Show sales by region,” or “Summarize this report,” and Copilot will create the right charts and explanations.
Copilot in Power BI helps with many tasks:
It suggests visuals and builds dashboards.
It explains data in simple words, so everyone can understand.
You can also use Copilot with Fabric data agents in Power BI. This lets you ask questions across different data sources without switching tools. Copilot finds the right data agent, sends your question, and brings back the answer—all inside Power BI.
When you use Microsoft Copilot in Teams, you can share insights and reports with your team right away. Copilot helps you automate tasks, work together, and talk about data as a group. This makes teamwork faster and helps everyone stay on the same page.
Tip: Try asking Copilot in Power BI, “What are the top three trends in this data?” or in Teams, “Summarize this week’s sales report for the group.”
Security and Best Practices
Data Access and Permissions
You must control who can see your data. Microsoft Entra ID checks who you are. Only the right people get access. Data is kept safe with encryption when stored or sent. Role-based access control (RBAC) lets you give each person only what they need. You can make someone a contributor or a viewer. This way, users do not get too much access.
Use Microsoft Purview roles like Compliance Administrator to manage security.
Turn on audit logging to see who uses data and when.
Set up conditional access to need strong passwords and multifactor authentication.
Keep development and production workspaces apart to protect important data.
Only let certain people make changes in production.
Tip: Check permissions often and update them when team members change jobs.
Privacy Considerations
You must keep personal and business data safe. The Fabric data agent only sees data you can see. If you do not have permission, you cannot get the data. Data stays in your company’s region unless you let it move. Microsoft runs the AI service, so your data does not train the model or go to others. Copilot does not save your questions or answers for checking. Only you see your results unless you share them.
Check Copilot results for mistakes before sharing.
Make sure tenant settings fit your privacy needs.
Use tools like eDiscovery and Insider Risk Management to watch for risky data use.
Limitations and Recommendations
Copilot may give different answers to the same question. It can make mistakes or miss things. Do not use it for very important tasks without checking the results. Always check and make sure outputs are right before making choices.
Teach users how to write good prompts and check answers.
Hide sensitive fields or mark them private to keep data safe.
Watch how much Copilot is used to avoid problems.
Use Copilot for learning, exploring data, and easy tasks.
Get ready for changes as Copilot and Fabric add new features.
Note: Always have a person check Copilot’s work.
You can get more done when you use Fabric data with Copilot. Many groups notice good things like asking questions in plain language, getting quick answers, and seeing live data. Try out different tools to see what helps your team the most.
Check the Microsoft Fabric Updates Blog to learn about new features.
Look at your security settings often and teach your team safe ways to work.
Keep trying new tools and updates so you use your data well.
FAQ
How do you start using Copilot with Fabric data?
You log in to Microsoft Fabric, check your permissions, and enable Copilot in the Admin portal. You can then use Copilot in supported workspaces to ask questions or create reports.
Can you use Copilot if you do not know how to code?
Yes, you can. Copilot understands plain language. You just type what you want, and Copilot writes the code or builds the report for you.
What should you do if Copilot gives a wrong answer?
You should check the results before using them. If you see a mistake, try asking your question in a different way or review your data for errors.
Does Copilot work with all types of data in Fabric?
Copilot works best with structured data, like tables. It does not support unstructured data or non-English languages. Always check if your data type is supported.
How can you keep your data safe when using Copilot?
You should set strong permissions, use role-based access, and review audit logs. Only share data with people who need it. Always follow your company’s security rules.
Tip: Always review Copilot’s answers before sharing them with your team.