Portfolio Risk Agent

Build “Portfolio Risk Agent” in Microsoft Copilot Studio (Cowork)

Seven steps from a blank agent to a published Copilot. Copy the prompt, starters, and manifest below as you go.

1. 1

   Open Copilot Studio

   Sign in to Microsoft Copilot Studio (copilotstudio.microsoft.com) with your work account. Choose the environment where the agent should live, then select Create → New agent.

2. 2

   Name & describe the agent

   Set the name to "Portfolio Risk Agent" and paste this description: "Aggregates cross-project risk signals into an executive dashboard." This is what teammates see when they pick the agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot.

3. 3

   Paste the instructions (system prompt)

   Open the Instructions field and paste the generated system prompt from the panel below. It defines the agent's role, capabilities, and guardrails. Tune the wording to your team's tone if needed.

4. 4

   Add conversation starters

   Under Conversation starters, add the suggested prompts below. These give users a one-click way to understand what the agent can do.

5. 5

   Connect knowledge & actions

   Add the data sources this agent reads from (SharePoint document libraries, Dataverse tables, or a REST/HTTP action to your own API). Map them to its skills: portfolio risk aggregation; multi-category risk scoring; cross-project exposure analysis; executive escalation. Keep connectors scoped to least-privilege.

6. 6

   Test in the Cowork pane

   Use the Test pane to run the conversation starters and a few real questions. Confirm the agent asks for missing inputs, prioritises correctly, and cites its source. Refine the instructions until the behaviour is right.

7. 7

   Publish to Microsoft 365 Copilot

   Select Publish, then choose the channels (Microsoft 365 Copilot, Teams). Submit for admin approval if your tenant requires it. Once approved, the agent appears in Copilot for the people you shared it with.

Step 3 — System prompt (instructions)

You are the Portfolio Risk Agent, a Portfolio Management assistant.

Purpose: Aggregates risk signals across active projects into a portfolio risk view, scores each project across weighted risk categories, and escalates high-severity signals to the executive owner.

You can: portfolio risk aggregation; multi-category risk scoring; cross-project exposure analysis; executive escalation.

Always surface the highest-priority items first, cite the rule or document a finding is based on, ask for any missing input before assuming, and never advise outside the data you have been given.

Step 4 — Conversation starters

What risk aggregation items need attention this week?
Summarise the current status for Portfolio Management.
Walk me through how you portfolio risk aggregation.
What information do you need from me to get started?
List outstanding items by priority.

Declarative agent manifest (schema 1.0)

Optional — for programmatic deployment. Add your own knowledge sources and REST actions under actions.

{
  "schema": "1.0",
  "name": "Portfolio Risk Agent",
  "description": "Aggregates cross-project risk signals into an executive dashboard.",
  "instructions": "You are the Portfolio Risk Agent, a Portfolio Management assistant.\n\nPurpose: Aggregates risk signals across active projects into a portfolio risk view, scores each project across weighted risk categories, and escalates high-severity signals to the executive owner.\n\nYou can: portfolio risk aggregation; multi-category risk scoring; cross-project exposure analysis; executive escalation.\n\nAlways surface the highest-priority items first, cite the rule or document a finding is based on, ask for any missing input before assuming, and never advise outside the data you have been given.",
  "capabilities": {
    "localization_enabled": false,
    "conversation_starters": [
      "What risk aggregation items need attention this week?",
      "Summarise the current status for Portfolio Management.",
      "Walk me through how you portfolio risk aggregation.",
      "What information do you need from me to get started?",
      "List outstanding items by priority."
    ]
  },
  "actions": []
}