Add a connection

  • 4 minutes

In the following section, we discuss the process of configuring connections using pre-built graph connectors, including how to set them up in the Microsoft 365 admin center. By the end of this module, you'll have a solid understanding of how to extend Copilot's capabilities by using graph connectors.

Diagram showing how graph connectors can be used to extend your Copilot experience.

Standard Graph connectors

Microsoft provides Stock Connectors (built-in connectors) that allow you to integrate external data sources into the Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 experiences. You can access these connectors via the Connector Catalog. Alternately, you can use the Microsoft 365 admin center to set up a connection using a subset of pre-configured Graph connectors.

Graph Connector Agent and Graph Connectors Service

With the Graph Connector Agent (GCA) and Graph Connectors Service (GCS), you can bring data from different sources, both on-premises and cloud, into the Microsoft Graph. This way, you can search and use your data across various Microsoft 365 apps. The GCA and GCS also take care of the data security and compliance, so you can control who can access the search results.

  • Graph Connector Agent (GCA) - you install GCA on your own premises and it lets you connect to data sources that aren't in the cloud. It checks the data sources for any updates and sends them to the Microsoft Graph. Some of the data sources you can use with GCA are FileShare and MS SQL Server.

  • Graph Connectors Service (GCS) - a service that runs on Azure and it helps you connect to data sources that are in the cloud. It also syncs the data with the Microsoft Graph using some built-in connectors.

Add the connection

Important

To configure a connection, you must have admin account access.

To set up a connection using Microsoft Graph connectors, sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center and navigate to the Data sources tab. From there, you can select Add and choose your data source from the menu of available options. You can choose up to a maximum of 30 Microsoft Graph connections to each tenant.

Name the connection

Once you choose the data source and add one or more connections, you need to specify the attributes:

  • Name (required) - choose a representative and concise name for the connection. Be sure that users can easily identify and understand the connection's intended use.
  • Connection ID (required) - automatically generated based on the name you provide and is used internally by Microsoft Graph to track and manage the connection.
  • Description (optional) - answers the type and characteristics of content within this connection, how users refer to this content source in their workflows.
  • Select check box (required) - you must agree to authorize Microsoft to create in index of third-party data in your tenant by selecting the Notice check box.