Text decision tree
Choose between Microsoft 365 agents, Copilot Studio, Foundry Agent Service and hosting your own agent code.
Adapted from Chapter 21 of Decision Trees: Frameworks for Technology Choices. Sources reviewed 2026-11-05.
START
Q1 Mainly Microsoft 365 content for Copilot users?
YES -> Microsoft 365 Copilot agents. Start inside the licensed application boundary. Then END.
NO -> Otherwise continue to the builder question. Then Q2.
Q2 Business team can assemble the agent?
YES -> Copilot Studio. Configure supported topics, flows or goals. Then END.
NO -> Otherwise check the need for pro-code control. Then Q3.
Q3 Pro-code control without owning the runtime?
YES -> Foundry Agent Service. Managed prompt-agent route. Then END.
NO -> Otherwise check whether you need your own orchestration. Then Q4.
Q4 Need your own orchestration code or portability?
YES -> Own orchestration. Continue to the hosting question. Then Q4a.
NO -> Otherwise re-check the Studio and managed prompt-agent choices. Then Q2.
Q4a Want Microsoft to host your agent code?
YES -> Foundry hosted agents. Verify feature and regional maturity. Then END.
NO -> Otherwise evaluate self-hosting on Container Apps, Kubernetes or Functions, as appropriate. Then END.
END: Every hosting path still has to clear retrieval, user permissions, governance, preview-maturity and migration gates from the chapter.
AI-generated chapter illustration
BookWriter-generated chapter 21 illustration
This AI-generated illustration gives a visual overview. It can simplify labels or imply connections that do not preserve every decision. For exact branches, prerequisites and stop conditions, follow the video graph and the text tree above.
Reference links
- September Foundry update — 2026-10-16.
- Microsoft Copilot harness in Foundry Agent Service — 2026-10-28.
- Hosted-agent network egress controls — 2026-09-24.