I'm looking for help with a client who has a local Active Directory setup and is using Microsoft 365 Apps for Business. They also have Copilot access, so they're all in on the M365 system. The main issue is that they want to permanently disable AutoSave in Word and PowerPoint completely, so users can't turn it back on. They are fine with keeping AutoSave enabled in Excel, as long as it's syncing with OneDrive.
I understand that AutoSave is linked to OneDrive/SharePoint, and disabling it through the UI isn't a lasting solution. I've been exploring registry settings like DisableAutoSave and UseOnlineContent, and I'm thinking about using Group Policy since they're on local AD.
Has anyone faced a similar situation? Is there a straightforward method to enforce this on multiple machines? Are there potential hiccups with Copilot or OneDrive sync? Would PowerShell be a more effective approach for this deployment?
2 Answers
It sounds like they're trying to enforce strict save protocols for security reasons. But keep in mind, disabling AutoSave can lead to lost work if users forget to save manually. I think the goal here needs clarification for effective implementation. If they want to use AI features only for Excel, that's one thing, but disabling AutoSave in Word and PowerPoint could be counterproductive. What happens if someone needs to recover an unsaved document?
Exactly! AutoSave is a lifesaver to prevent data loss. If they're okay with Excel syncing, I wonder why they wouldn't want the same for Word and PowerPoint.
That sounds risky! AutoSave is great because it prevents users from losing hours of work. If they’re okay with Excel being in the cloud, what's the concern with Word and PowerPoint? Most confidential data might also be in those files. And you mentioned everyone is using CoPilot, right? If they have Exchange Online, CoPilot could also access those emails, so they should be mindful of that in case they are thinking about document safety.
Exactly! If the client has no issues with Excel data in the cloud, it raises questions about their stance on the other applications.
Great points. I’ll definitely bring this up with them.
Right? It's all about balancing usability with security. They might need to rethink their approach.