ISMS Copilot
Capabilities

How to Set Up Custom Instructions

Custom instructions let you set persistent preferences that apply to all your conversations. Instead of repeating the same context every time you chat, define it once and the AI will follow it automatically.

What custom instructions do

Custom instructions are added to the beginning of every conversation. They shape how the AI responds to you — its tone, focus areas, language, output format, and any other guidance you provide.

Unlike workspace project instructions (which apply only within a specific workspace), custom instructions follow you everywhere — general conversations and all workspaces alike.

Setting up custom instructions

  1. Go to Settings

  2. Find the Custom Instructions section

  3. Enter your instructions in the text field

  4. Click Save

Your instructions take effect immediately on all new messages.

Example instructions

Here are practical examples you can adapt:

Language and tone:

  • "Always respond in German"

  • "Use a formal, professional tone suitable for board-level reporting"

  • "Keep responses concise — bullet points over paragraphs"

Compliance focus:

  • "I work primarily with ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II"

  • "Our organization is a 150-person SaaS company in the EU"

  • "When generating policies, always include version number, owner, and review date"

Output preferences:

  • "Include control references (e.g., A.5.1) when discussing ISO 27001"

  • "Structure risk assessments with likelihood, impact, and residual risk columns"

  • "When I ask for a document, default to DOCX format"

Start with 2-3 instructions and add more over time. Too many instructions at once can make responses feel rigid. Focus on the preferences you find yourself repeating most often.

Custom instructions vs. project instructions

Both guide the AI, but they serve different purposes:

  • Custom instructions — personal preferences that apply to all your conversations (language, tone, role, output format)

  • Project instructions — workspace-specific context (client details, framework scope, project phase, organizational context)

They work together. If your custom instructions say "respond in German" and your workspace project instructions describe an ISO 27001 implementation for a healthcare client, the AI will respond in German with healthcare-specific ISO 27001 guidance.

Project instructions take precedence. If your custom instructions and project instructions conflict on a specific point, the workspace project instructions win. This is by design — workspace context should override general preferences when they're more specific.

  • Protect workspace and custom instructions — security best practices for custom instructions

  • How to organize compliance projects with workspaces — using project instructions in workspaces

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