By Steve “The Doctor” Meek | Steve’s Believes | The Fulcrum Group, Inc.
Small-Biz Strategies – The Owner’s Playbook:
Laughing at the Microslop nickname while building a small-business modernization plan that actually works.
Introduction – Why I’m Thinking This Way
I have to admit, when I first heard the nickname “Microslop,” I laughed out loud. As a guy who still laces up to play pickup basketball and “talks trash” the majority of the game as a competitive advantage, it is exactly what I would do. Humor should just keep us humble, but I think Satya Nadella calling for an end to Microslop is just like a player asking me to stop talking trash, it usually makes it worse. But after my chuckle fades, I start seeing patterns in the specifics of the observation. That’s my curse and my superpower, but I want to share why it is important to check the details.
I see owners reacting to quick headlines instead of understanding ecosystems. That’s like shuttering your business after a bad year. The business didn’t fail. The execution did. I was at a John Maxwell presentation and his quote that stuck with me on AI is, “AI will make smart people smarter and stupid people stupider”. I challenge you to keep being one of the smart people.
Either way, every so-called Magnificent Ten tech giant is doing the same AI pitch right now, telling their clients to embrace AI or miss out. Every small application provider is rushing to throw AI in their apps. Microsoft just happens to do it inside tools most DFW businesses already own and users use, the Microsoft 365 tenant.
The Problem or Question – Is Copilot Really “Microslop”?
Here’s the truth. I actually agree with part of the backlash. I’d say Copilot is not a great fit for a solo consultant, for organizations without a meaningful Microsoft 365 footprint or forced adoption. I started cutting my AI teeth on ChatGPT. But, as a Microsoft 365 Administrator, I worked myself into early Copilot Chat usage and I didn’t quite get it (ok, Copilot was really rough in the beginning, not unlike Word and Excel compared to WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3). But AI learns over time and indexes from my data, my prompts, my results, and company information. My early prompts were less on target, but having used it for a year plus now, Copilot really gets me.
Yes Copilot shines when:
- You have shared files
- You collaborate in Teams
- You use Outlook calendars and mail
- You store knowledge in SharePoint and OneDrive
If your data lives in ten random silos, Copilot has nothing to orchestrate. That’s not slop. That’s basic design. That’s why Microsoft has been embracing Modern Work for the past few years, so your data can work together and has valuable relationships in that collaboration.
Microsoft 365 is essentially a cloud-connected ecosystem built on layered services: identity, collaboration, data, intelligence, and security. Identity has become the number one focus of most cybersecurity teams and Microsoft has created a unique platform in identity services that corporations have embraced. When all those layers work together, you also add contextual assistance, workflow automation, and personalized insights as part of the equation. Ever have to prompt AI more than once or a different way because it didn’t understand? Context and/or insight were probably what was missing that you wanted. And, Copilot is actually various Copilots, in Chat, in Office 365 and Copilot Studio.
Steve’s Believes – My Observations
Here’s what I believe today, in real time, not hype time:
- Start where you are, understanding who you are and what you have to start with
- Tools don’t create clarity. Architecture does.
- AI is only as smart as your permissions model.
- If your files are a junk drawer, your AI will be too.
- Modern Work only happens when identity, data, and security share the same bloodstream.
Jim Collins says, “Good is the enemy of great.” Every AI model I have tinkered with is at least good. Most of your business workloads in a well-governed Microsoft 365 ecosystem is great.
Real-World Example – What I See in DFW SMBs
In the last year, I’ve walked into organizations across DFW- Fort Worth, Grapevine, Denton, Southlake, Dallas, and Arlington. The pattern is always the same.
- Users authenticate through Microsoft Entra ID
- Collaboration lives in Teams
- Files sit in SharePoint and OneDrive
- Permissions are inherited instead of designed
Then AI arrives and people wonder if Copilot is a fit. Microsoft 365 is layered architecture, not just apps. It connects identity, services, data, intelligence, and security into one operational fabric. That Copilot connectivity and existing architecture is why contextual assistance and workflow automation are even possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Copilot bad for small businesses?
No. It’s bad for unmanaged environments, a poor fit for people without an existing Office 365 infrastructure and probably not needed for organizations without historical data or a need to collaborate. In fact, I do still prefer ChatGPT to assist with marketing content.
2. Why does Copilot feel smarter in some companies?
Large Language Models (LLMs) have access to tons of data, but sometimes, not the stuff you want. With Office 365, you can hyperfocus your AI around data and apps you use in your business today, making it more reliable. And partially because Microsoft Graph respects permissions, structure, and metadata and connects it all together.
3. What breaks AI usefulness the fastest?
Poor data governance strategies and maintenance. One of the downsides of corporate networks is that we've gathered a lot of data over the years and are very poor at getting rid of old data. If data is fuel for AI, bad data is bad fuel for AI. Additionally, oversharing in SharePoint and zero governance could potentially allow users to access data that you don't want them to by virtue of the tools capabilities. This is why we endorse pilot programs and a structured approach to moving into Copilot for your organization.
4. How do we prepare for AI without overspending?
Part of the challenge with AI is not so much cost but time. If you're trying to clean up your environment, get rid of old data, lock down permissions, it might take you an extended period of time to accomplish that, depending on your environment.
In Copilot for 365, we can temporarily turn off access to SharePoint and OneDrive during your pilot program to allow a start with lesser risk. This gives you access to productivity improvements as well as some analysis across Teams, Exchange Online and files you can manually select. We use the term "technical debt" to explain how if you only focus on keeping the lights on, you aren't doing the maintenance and controls that IT prefers. The normal process starts with identity hygiene, folder structure, and retention policies.
What’s the CIO takeaway?
In small organizations, a senior executive is typically the guiding light for the organization. Leadership doesn't have to be technical in SMBs, but they do need to know how to lead and be change agents. In the same way Copilot reaches across all aspects of the Microsoft tenant, leaders have more insight and access across the entirety of their organization. AI isn't about making things 5-10% faster, AI is more about completely restructuring the parts of your business that have manual processes and being able to scale. Your small-business modernization plan must include identity, access, and information architecture.
What’s the CISO takeaway?
While organizational leaders are usually cybersecurity oriented, we must be cognizant of risks. There are risks in doing things, and there are risks in not doing things. Failure to begin AI initiatives could mean that people create risk by doing their own tools, or that your business becomes marginalized. Starting an AI adoption journey has education and financial needs that could open the door on opportunities and expansion. For technologists, it's about discipline and rigor. Copilot only honors the controls you actually configure.
Call to Action – Keep Learning with Me
If “Microslop” made you laugh, good. Now let’s make your Microsoft environment work like a championship team, not a pickup game at the Y. Microsoft has added some great incentives for SMBs wanting to get started with AI. Let us help you draft your team for the pros.
Connect with me on LinkedIn, or email me through thedoctor@fulcrumgroup.net and let’s talk about streamlining daily operations, choosing the right tools for the business, and keeping the business running during disruptions.
About the Author — Steve “The Doctor” Meek, CISSP
Steve “The Doctor” Meek is a DFW-based IT strategist, cybersecurity leader, podcast host, and co-founder of a 24-year technology legacy in North Texas. A recipient of the 2024 MSP Titan of Industry Award for Community Impact, Steve brings decades of experience helping CEOs, city managers, and healthcare and manufacturing leaders navigate cybersecurity, AI readiness, and operational resilience. As host of Talk To Th3 Doc, he explores leadership and ownership topics to find practical insights for SMB decision-makers.
Founded in Keller, TX, The Fulcrum Group, Inc. delivers relationship-centered DFW Managed IT Services through its flagship SPOT Managed IT Services and SPOT Managed Security Services platforms. Using its proprietary STARPower™ Framework, Fulcrum helps businesses strengthen security, modernize operations, and plan technology with clarity and confidence. With a 100% Texas-based team and a “No IT Jerks” philosophy, Fulcrum has earned repeated national recognition on the MSP 501 and CRN Top 500, serving SMBs, local governments, and mission-driven organizations across North Texas.
