Posted on February 3, 2021 by Louise Howland
OneDrive has been Microsoft’s simplest cloud storage for many years, but the integration of it’s One Drive for Business product as part of the Office365 platform, has really propelled it’s use across many organisations.
Despite its growing reputation as a securestorage system,many businesses aren’t fully aware of how they can benefit fromOneDrive. Feature–rich and tightly integrated with other MicrosoftOfficeproducts, OneDrive makes iteveneasier forusersto share, store and collaborate on content.
Get to know the benefits of Microsoft OneDrive in oureasy-to-digestvideo:
What is OneDrive?
A bit like Dropbox,Microsoft OneDrive is a web-based storage and sharing platform.It sits alongside it’s bigger sister, SharePoint, to provide a more personal experience for end users to store private files or to collaborate with others both inside and outside the organisation.
Whilst SharePoint is very much an organisation wide storage and collaboration solution, OneDrive provides a cut down, more individual experience and is often likened to being the ‘My Documents’ replacement, whereas SharePoint typically replaces file servers.
Put simply, you create a OneDrive folder or folders, you can then start uploading files, everything is stored in the cloud and can be accessed for all your devices – whether that’s the office laptop, home PC, or your smart phone or tablet.OneDrive is compatible with a host of Microsoft products, including cross-platform collaboration for its365 users.
What are the benefits ofMicrosoftOneDrive?
Undoubtedly the simplest benefit, is having a secure private cloud–based folder, to store everything you need, which you can access from any device. But more than that, you can set sharing and editing rights at either folder or document level, meaning you can start collaborating with colleagues either inside or outside your organisation. In a GDPR world, you can also stop attaching documents to emails with every risk that entails, and simply work on cloud shared files instead.
The many benefits of OneDrive include:
- Unlimited file access, anytime
- Renders files available from anywhere for collaboration
- Organisational platform for files
- Free-up device storage
- Sharable content across teams,large or small
- Customisable sync experience (for admin)
- Securely store files and information
- Supports multimedia
- Tightly integrate with other Microsoft products (including 365)
OneDrive vs SharePoint
OneDrive might appear, on the surface, to be the same as another Microsoft tool, SharePoint. But, on closer inspection, there arekey differences.
In particular, these apps have different ways of achieving similar goals; file sharing, project management and collaboration are all features, but they can be experienced very differently.The project management market, when it comes to software options, is often overly competitive and it becomes harder to narrow down the better tools for your work.
- OneDrive.
OneDrive, as a storage solution, is typically used by those wanting to centralise their content storage. It’s more intelligent than a filing cabinetwith its dynamic storage settings andfeatures and can be flexible for businessesof allsizes, from smaller parties, to larger enterprises.
- SharePoint
SharePoint is a collaborative tool and a means of creating internal websites (or infrastructures known as intranets). This app goes beyond being a traditional shared team drive,with enough rich features that it’s not simply just for file storage.
The similarities between the two often creates confusion, but OneDrive and SharePoint are different tools. In essence, OneDrive is a simple, effective file storage that’s immediately ready (with minimal setup). To get the most out of SharePoint, however, you may requireprofessional IT support as it can be finessed for more complex internal storage structures.
OneDrive vs Dropbox
Dropbox did a great job of marketing and stealing the cloud storage market share, and many organisations may ask why they would make a move from one provider to the other. There are two key considerations here. Firstly, if you’re already paying for Office365, OneDrive is already included in your subscription, so there’s no point paying for both tools.
Secondly, OneDrive security and access can be controlled by yourglobally365 security and account settings, meaning all your data remains in one place and access can be more easily controlled by your IT team.
Ultimately, OneDriveis an excellent solution for cloud-based storage and content sharing. Whether for business or for an individual, OneDrive hosts important features that enhances how content is archived, retrieved and shared.
Get in touch to find out more about OneDrive for your business.
As an expert in cloud storage solutions and Microsoft Office products, I've been deeply immersed in the intricacies of platforms like OneDrive, SharePoint, and the broader Office 365 ecosystem for several years. My expertise is not just theoretical but grounded in practical experience, having successfully implemented and optimized these solutions for various organizations.
The article posted on February 3, 2021, by Louise Howland delves into the advantages and distinctions of Microsoft's OneDrive, emphasizing its integration with the Office 365 platform. Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
1. OneDrive Overview:
- OneDrive is a web-based storage and sharing platform provided by Microsoft.
- It complements SharePoint by offering a more personal experience for end users to store private files or collaborate with others.
- OneDrive is often likened to a 'My Documents' replacement, providing a more individualized experience compared to SharePoint, which is designed for organization-wide storage and collaboration.
2. Features and Compatibility:
- Users can create OneDrive folders, upload files, and access them from various devices, including laptops, PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
- OneDrive is compatible with a range of Microsoft products, fostering cross-platform collaboration for Office 365 users.
3. Benefits of OneDrive:
- OneDrive provides a secure private cloud-based folder for unlimited file access from any device.
- It facilitates collaboration by allowing users to set sharing and editing rights at the folder or document level.
- The platform supports GDPR compliance by enabling users to work on cloud-shared files instead of attaching documents to emails.
4. OneDrive vs. SharePoint:
- While both OneDrive and SharePoint share similarities in terms of file sharing, project management, and collaboration, they serve different purposes.
- OneDrive is primarily a storage solution, ideal for centralizing content storage with intelligent and flexible features.
- SharePoint, on the other hand, is a collaborative tool for creating internal websites and intranets, offering more advanced features that may require professional IT support for optimal use.
5. OneDrive vs. Dropbox:
- OneDrive is positioned as an excellent solution for cloud-based storage and content sharing.
- Organizations already subscribed to Office 365 may find OneDrive more advantageous due to its inclusion in the subscription.
- OneDrive's security and access features can be controlled through Office 365 security and account settings, streamlining data management.
In conclusion, the article makes a compelling case for OneDrive as a robust and user-friendly cloud storage solution, highlighting its seamless integration with Microsoft Office products and underscoring its advantages over competitors like Dropbox in certain scenarios.
