If you use SharePoint, chances are that you are familiar with OneDrive. However, it is not uncommon to get mixed up between these two platforms, which can seem very similar. Here is how SharePoint and OneDrive differ, and some of the features offered by the OneDrive platform.
What is SharePoint?
SharePoint is a collaboration platform that allows its users to access many workspaces (called sites). The company and the site owners (administrators) are able to restrict access through permissions. Obviously, this definition of SharePoint only briefly describes the functionality the platform offers. To learn more, read this article.
What is OneDrive for Business?
As mentioned above, SharePoint is a collaboration site where all your documents, files and so on can be shared. However, what if some of your documents need to be kept private for the time being? In order for some documents to remain confidential, you must store them in your OneDrive. OneDrive is your private space in the Microsoft 365 cloud.
5 OneDrive features you can use to improve efficiency
1- The files
This is the central (and most used) part of OneDrive, where you will see all of your stored folders and files, and where you can view them (whether they are private or shared). You can think of this as your personal SharePoint library. OneDrive has roughly the same document management system that you can find in SharePoint.
2- Sharing of documents and files
This is where you can see documents from your OneDrive that you have shared with others inside and outside your organization. Likewise, in shared documents, you have access to documents that have been shared with you by a third party. With the sharing library on your OneDrive, you won’t have to go looking for an email in which your collaborator shared a link or document with you.
3- Shared libraries
The concept of OneDrive is based on document sharing, where you can access the document libraries (if you have permission) from all the SharePoint libraries you have access to. However, you can also browse document libraries in SharePoint.
4- The search bar
The search bar is useful for finding a single document among all your files. This bar allows you to search for a document or file in your personal OneDrive library, as well as in the SharePoint sites to which you have access.
5- The basket
This feature is very useful in case you delete a file or document by mistake. You can restore the file or document by going to the recycle bin; however, you will have 93 days to restore the document in question, after which time it will be permanently deleted. Note that the administrator can decide how long items are available in the recycle bin.
In short …
OneDrive is as much a tool for your personal work as for collaborating with partners. It is particularly useful for classifying and storing documents and files. If you want to know more about the OneDrive solution, contact one of our experts, or take a training course on SharePoint/OneDrive.
