Most UK businesses run on Microsoft 365, and a lot of their knowledge sits in Outlook, SharePoint and Teams. Claude's Microsoft 365 connector lets Claude find and use that information within each person's own access. Here is what it does, how to set it up and how to keep it safe.1
What the connector does
Once connected, Claude can search SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook email and calendar, and Teams chats, channels and meetings. It is read-only by default: Claude can only send, create or update content if write tools are enabled.1
In practice that means you can ask Claude questions like these, and it will look in the right places:
- Find the latest version of our onboarding policy and summarise what changed.
- What did we agree with the supplier in last week's emails?
- Prepare me for my 2pm meeting from the calendar invite and related emails.
- Summarise the decisions made in the project channel this week.
How access works
The connector uses delegated permissions. Claude acts on behalf of each person and can only reach information that person can already see in Microsoft 365. It does not give anyone access they do not already have.1
Setting it up for your business
- A Claude Team or Enterprise owner enables the Microsoft 365 connector for the organisation.
- A Microsoft Entra Global Administrator grants one-time consent for your tenant.
- Optionally, require assignment in Entra so only chosen people can connect.
- Each person connects their own account from Claude.1
If people cannot connect even though their own sign-in works, check Conditional Access policies and sign-in logs, as Anthropic's help article explains.1
Safeguards we recommend
- Start read-only. Turn on write tools, such as sending email, only for the people and tasks that need them.
- Tidy SharePoint permissions before you connect, so Claude only surfaces what it should.
- Keep the rule that a person checks anything before it is sent or acted on.
- Cover the connector in your AI usage policy, including what must never be shared with Claude.
Claude or Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is built into the Microsoft apps themselves. Claude with the Microsoft 365 connector brings your Microsoft information into Claude, alongside its Projects, Skills and other connectors. Many businesses trial both on real tasks before deciding; our comparison guide covers how.
Sources
Links checked
- 1Claude Help Center. Enable and use the Microsoft 365 connectorsupport.claude.com ↗
- 2Claude Help Center. Use connectors to extend Claude's capabilitiessupport.claude.com ↗
- 3Microsoft. Microsoft 365 Copilotmicrosoft.com ↗
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We roll Claude out across your business: Claude Team or Enterprise setup, workspaces, access, data settings and connectors to your tools. UK and US.
Claude is a trademark of Anthropic, PBC. Plans and features change over time, so check Anthropic's current documentation for the latest details. This guide is general information, not legal advice.