Domain 4 of 6 · Chapter 2 of 2

Apply safeguards and troubleshoot

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Included in this chapter:

  • What Copilot reads versus what it shows
  • Who sets Suggestions matching public code
  • How the match check works, and what it cannot see
  • Allow mode: reading code references
  • Surfaces where Block is not a complete block
  • Content filters: what passing them does not prove
  • IP defense and the now-optional public-code filter
  • Troubleshooting starts with how far the failure reaches
  • Service-side causes: incidents and rate limits
  • Network failures: logs, firewalls and proxies
  • Client and sign-in failures
  • Suggestion problems confined to some files or one editor
  • Verifying that a content exclusion works
  • Scenarios: suggestions matching public code, content exclusions and troubleshooting

Input control versus output controls: what each safeguard acts on

QuestionContent exclusion (input control)Suggestions matching public code: Block (output control)Suggestions matching public code: Allow (output control)Content filters (output control)
What it acts onWhich files Copilot may use as context on supported surfacesGenerated suggestions that match or nearly match indexed public codeThe same matching suggestionsGenerated content that is harmful, offensive or insecure
Who sets itRepository administrators and organization or enterprise ownersThe individual subscriber, or the organization or enterprise for managed seatsThe individual subscriber, or the organization or enterprise for managed seatsGitHub runs them on generated suggestions
What the user seesNo inline suggestions in the excluded file; the file is not used as contextThe matching suggestion is not shown on surfaces that support Block modeThe suggestion, plus a code reference with source and any license foundBlocked content is not shown
What it does not doFilter what Copilot generatesCheck private or off-GitHub code, or fully block cloud agent, Copilot CLI and third-party agentsGrant permission to use the matched codeCertify that output is correct or secure

Decision tree

Copilot failing for many users at once? Yes Check GitHub's Status page No Does the message name a rate limit? Yes Wait for the reset, retry, or contact GitHub Support No Do only some files lack suggestions? Yes Content exclusion: check the status icon's diagonal line No Do the Copilot logs show proxy, certificate or timeout errors? Yes Fix proxy auth, allowlist or custom certificates No Update the extension, then sign in again and check the plan
Cheat sheet

Cheat sheet

  • Individual subscribers can allow or block public-code matches
  • Managed-seat users inherit the public-code policy
  • Enterprise policy constrains organization policy
  • The public-code policy is model-independent
  • Matching compares a suggestion with its surrounding code
  • Block mode withholds matches and near matches
  • Private and off-GitHub code is outside the matching index
  • The public-code index can lag repository state
  • Allow mode enables references instead of suppressing matches
  • Inline references check accepted, unchanged suggestions
  • Inline reference logs record source and available license data
  • Chat surfaces link matching-code details with responses
  • Code references support rather than replace license review
  • Current Copilot indemnity is agreement-dependent; public-code filtering is optional
  • Chat match handling depends on the client
  • The cloud agent can match public code despite Block policy
  • Copilot CLI can match public code despite Block policy
  • Third-party agent policy support is annotate-only
  • Content filters target harmful, offensive, and insecure output
  • Safety filters do not certify correctness or security
  • Privacy and public-code controls solve different risks
  • Service incidents are checked on GitHub Status
  • Old Copilot extensions can lose server compatibility
  • The excluded-file status icon identifies the applied restriction
  • Xcode native completions can duplicate Copilot suggestions
  • Extension activation failure can be a plan or token error
  • Loaded IDEs can delay new exclusion rules
  • Each IDE has a documented exclusion refresh method
  • An exclusion test needs a nonexcluded control file
  • A Chat exclusion test isolates the attached file
  • Copilot logs ground connection diagnosis
  • Firewalls must allow the required Copilot hosts
  • Proxy authentication must use a supported method
  • The latest Copilot Chat requires the latest Visual Studio Code
  • Rate-limit errors require waiting, capacity changes, or support
  • Refresh Visual Studio Code authentication before diagnosing policy

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References

  1. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/completions/code-referencing
  2. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/troubleshoot-copilot/troubleshoot-common-issues
  3. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/resources/study-guides/gh-300
  4. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/context/content-exclusion
  5. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/responsible-use/inline-suggestions
  6. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/manage-your-account/manage-policies
  7. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-enterprise/manage-enterprise-policies
  8. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/enterprise/policies
  9. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-organization/manage-policies
  10. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/enterprise-administrators/policy-conflicts
  11. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/completions/code-suggestions
  12. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-allowlist-reference
  13. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/get-code-suggestions/get-ide-code-suggestions
  14. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/get-code-suggestions/find-matching-code
  15. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/responsible-use/chat
  16. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/supported-surfaces-for-policies
  17. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/responsible-use/agents
  18. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry/responsible-ai/openai/customer-copyright-commitment
  19. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/troubleshoot-copilot/troubleshoot-network-errors
  20. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/network-settings
  21. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/troubleshoot-copilot/view-logs
  22. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-enterprise/review-audit-logs
  23. https://code.visualstudio.com/updates
  24. https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/configure-content-exclusion/exclude-content-from-copilot