Google Gemini vs Microsoft 365 Copilot: which is safer for work?
On the facts we could verify, Microsoft 365 Copilot carries lower data-exposure risk for default at-work use. Both should still be used on an approved tier for anything sensitive.
| Fact | Google Gemini Low risk · 14 Google · AI assistants | Microsoft 365 Copilot Low risk · 0 Microsoft · Productivity |
|---|---|---|
| Trains on consumer-tier data | Opt-out | No |
| SOC 2 Type II | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA BAA | Yes | Yes |
| EU data residency | Yes | Yes |
| SSO / SAML | Yes | Yes |
| Data retention | Consumer: default up to 18 months (configurable 3-36 months) tied to Gemini Apps Activity, and human-reviewed chats disconnected from the account are kept up to 3 years; Workspace data follows the customer's standard Workspace retention/Vault. | Copilot interaction history stored in the customer's tenant (Substrate/Exchange) and governed by the tenant's Microsoft 365 retention, eDiscovery, and Purview policies; not retained for training. |
Full profiles: Google Gemini · Microsoft 365 Copilot. Facts are sourced from each vendor's own policies; confirm the tier before relying on them.