Summary of Guardians of M365 Governance Ep.19
In Episode 19 of the Guardians of M365 Governance monthly webcast, Joy Apple (@joyofsharepoint), Ragnar Heil (@ragnarh) and I were joined by Michael Roth (LinkedIn), Manager of Experience Tech at Avanade, where we explored the often-overlooked complexities of governance within Microsoft Power Platform. Michael emphasized that Power Platform administrators often inherit their roles without formal preparation, facing a fast-changing landscape where new features are released before governance strategies are defined. He argued that while Microsoft promotes the platform as “low-code for everyone,” true governance requires cross-role collaboration, visibility into environments, and thoughtful pre-planning—especially as AI-driven tools like Copilot introduce new risks and confusion.
A major theme of the episode was the persistent myth that governance slows innovation. Michael refuted this through an analogy of traffic rules, explaining that governance—like road signs—actually enables faster, safer movement by creating structure and guardrails. He also champions tools like the Center of Excellence (COE) Starter Kit for providing critical synchronization flows and insights, even as Microsoft quietly shifts functionality toward Managed Environments. However, premium licensing and the blurred lines between M365, Purview, and Power Platform roles pose practical adoption challenges for many organizations.
The discussion closed with tactical advice for organizations starting governance late. Whether implementing DLP policies or introducing guardrails midstream, it’s possible to add structure without halting innovation. Michael encouraged informal knowledge sharing via “brown bag” sessions and peer reviews as a way to uncover shadow IT, reduce technical debt, and spread best practices. Good governance, we all agreed, isn’t about restriction—it’s about visibility, empowerment, and enabling organizations to build confidently and responsibly.
If you missed the live stream, you can watch the recording here:
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