Balancing innovation with responsible oversight has become one of the most difficult challenges facing IT leaders today. As organizations roll out AI tools with varying levels of maturity and governance, employees often respond by seeking their own solutions.
The result is a growing wave of Bring‑Your‑Own‑AI (BYOAI) activity that introduces shadow systems, unmonitored data flows, and significant compliance risks.
This session explores how IT can create a governance model that protects the organization without shutting down the curiosity, creativity, and experimentation that make AI valuable in the first place. We will look at how to separate tactical agent building from long‑term strategic initiatives, how to use Agent 365 as a centralized registry and oversight platform, and how to decide whether your organization is ready for automatic deployments or should maintain an opt‑in release model.
We will also examine how security policies at the tenant or system level can work in harmony with HR‑led acceptable‑use expectations to create a culture of responsible adoption rather than fear‑driven restriction.
The discussion includes practical guidance on data readiness, privacy, and safeguarding sensitive information so that AI development can accelerate instead of stall. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to navigate this AI governance dilemma in a way that empowers the workforce while keeping the organization safe.
As a Microsoft Partner, this session will be valuable both for your own organization, as well as your clients. Armed with this knowledge, you will be seen as a smart, responsible AI advocate and not someone who is just furthering the AI hype-cycle.

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Balancing innovation with responsible oversight is one of the toughest challenges facing IT leaders today. As organizations deploy AI tools with varying maturity, employees often turn to their own solutions, creating a rise in Bring‑Your‑Own‑AI (BYOAI), shadow systems, unmonitored data flows, and compliance risks.
This session explores how IT can build a governance model that protects the organization without limiting the curiosity and creativity that make AI valuable. We will look at how to separate tactical agent building from long‑term strategic initiatives, how Agent 365 can serve as a centralized registry for visibility and oversight, and how to choose between automatic deployments and opt‑in release models.
We will also discuss how system‑level security policies can complement HR‑led acceptable‑use guidance to promote responsible adoption rather than restriction. Additional guidance covers data readiness, privacy, and safeguarding sensitive information.
Attendees will leave with practical approaches for navigating this AI governance dilemma in a way that empowers the workforce while keeping the organization safe.
As a Microsoft Partner, this session will be valuable both for your own organization, as well as your clients. Armed with this knowledge, you will be seen as a smart, responsible AI advocate and not someone who is just furthering the AI hype-cycle.