The Business Owner's IT Podcast Ep. 76 - Microsoft Copilot: Pricing, Bundles & Secure Score 2026

Microsoft Copilot pricing is changing in 2026, and for business owners, the opportunity is real. But before adopting AI, there’s one critical question to answer:Is your Microsoft environment secure enough?In this episode of The Business Owner’s IT Podcast, Tony Gerasch and Ryan Carter break down Microsoft Copilot pricing, bundles, and Secure Score, and explain why security must come first when adopting AI.In this episode, we cover:✅ Microsoft Copilot pricing updates for 2026.✅ Limited-time Copilot discounts through March 31.✅ Business Premium + Copilot bundle savings.✅ Annual vs monthly commitment differences.✅ 10-seat minimum requirements for promotional pricing.✅ What Microsoft Secure Score actually measures.✅ Why most businesses start at 30–40% Secure Score.✅ What 0–30%, 30–50%, 50–70%, and 70%+ Secure Scores mean.✅ MFA best practices (Authenticator app vs SMS).✅ Conditional Access, Intune, and Defender security controls.✅ Why cyber insurance providers now ask about Secure Score.✅ How to secure your Microsoft 365 tenant before using AI.If you’re a business owner, IT leader, or Tech Champion evaluating Microsoft Copilot, this episode explains why AI adoption without security increases risk.💡 Tip of the Week: Secure your house first.🔐 Why Secure Score Matters for CopilotMicrosoft Copilot integrates deeply with:✅ Microsoft 365.✅ OneDrive.✅ SharePoint.✅ Exchange.✅ Power Automate.Without proper security baselines, AI tools can expose data and increase liability. Tony and Ryan explain how Secure Score provides a measurable way to understand your real security posture, and why 70%+ should be the goal.

⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Welcome to The Business Owner’s IT Podcast.00:18 – Microsoft Copilot pricing changes explained.00:34 – Business Premium + Copilot bundles overview.00:56 – Why your IT provider may not mention Copilot pricing.01:58 – Annual commitments and upgrade limitations.02:53 – Copilot pricing for 2026 ($21 vs $360).03:54 – Limited-time 25% Copilot discount through March 31.04:24 – Business Premium bundle savings breakdown.04:57 – 10-seat minimum licensing requirements.05:26 – What Microsoft Copilot actually does.05:56 – Why Copilot and Secure Score go together.06:22 – What Microsoft Secure Score measures.07:04 – Secure Score risk levels explained (0–70%+).08:38 – MFA: Authenticator apps vs SMS.09:58 – Diminishing returns above 85% Secure Score.10:32 – How Nerdio helps automate Secure Score improvements.11:32 – Why AI adoption requires strong security baselines.12:15 – Cyber insurance and Secure Score requirements.13:02 – Securing your house first with Business Premium.14:05 – Tip of the Week: Secure your house first.14:38 – Upcoming CMMC and compliance discussions.💻 Since 1997, Unique Computing Solutions has been providing businesses with the IT support and IT solutions they need to streamline communications, boost productivity, and increase profitability. Website: https://uniquecomputingsolutions.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unique-computing-solutionsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/UniqueComputingSolutionsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uniquecomputingsolutionsTwitter: https://twitter.com/qputingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/qputing/Twitter: https://twitter.com/qputingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/qputing/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uniquecomputingsolutionsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ysyf6NcGAXfM2Ai6T5wQdApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-owners-it-podcast/id1768340957