CLOUD DATA STORAGE.

“What is Cloud Storage?” Cloud storage is an Internet-based storage platform with a significant chunk of space offered by Microsoft (or other providers) Think of it as a hard drive to store your files in the cloud.

We have recently moved many of our smaller clients away from onsite servers to use OneDrive Cloud Storage and Azure Active Directory (Active Directory is the service that controls the user accounts and passwords on PCs/laptops). If your server is nearing retirement (or you don’t have a server and are contemplating getting one) and you use it only for file storage/sharing and email (VPOP/Exchange for controlling the email etc) we can move you to the cloud and you won’t require a server.

There are many instances in which we recommend businesses to have an onsite server and many businesses still require a server (for example when you have applications that aren’t cloud based and can’t be moved). However many of our smaller clients have now migrated their email to Office 365 and file storage and logon management to the cloud so no longer require an onsite server.

OneDrive cloud storage comes as part of many Office 365 licenses that also include email/office software, take a look which license you would need here

SharePoint

What is SharePoint?

SharePoint is a tool developed by Microsoft that helps people work together and share information easily. It lets you store and manage documents in one place, so you don’t have to search through different folders or email attachments. You can create websites for teams to collaborate on projects, share calendars, and keep everyone informed. It also allows you to automate repetitive tasks, like getting approvals for documents, to save time. SharePoint keeps things secure by letting you control who can access and edit documents. Overall, it’s a handy tool for making teamwork simpler and organising information in a smart way.

If your organisation has 365 then you likely have SharePoint storage available. SharePoint normally starts out with 1TB of storage that can be shared across your organisation and then 10GB is added for each additional 365 license purchased (such as 365 Business Standard). So if you have 4x Business Standard licenses in your organisation (email and Office applications) you’ll have 1TB + 40GB of storage to share in SharePoint AND 1TB of OneDrive storage each too!

OneDrive Cloud Storage

What is OneDrive?

OneDrive is basically a storage area for files that you can access and synchronise a local copy of to PCs and laptops. There are many different types of Cloud data storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and OneDrive etc). We generally recommend OneDrive as it is included for free with 1TB of space with the Microsoft 365 Business Standard license mentioned here on our website: –

https://coordinate-it.co.uk/office365/

OneDrive is a service provided by Microsoft that lets you store and access your files in the cloud. It’s like having a virtual storage space where you can keep your documents, photos, and videos. Here’s a simple explanation of OneDrive:

Imagine you have a magical folder that lives on the internet. You can put your important files in this folder, and it will keep them safe. The best part is that you can access these files from any device with an internet connection, like your computer, phone, or tablet. So, even if you’re not at home, you can still see your files and share them with others.

If you change a file on one device, like adding new pictures or editing a document, those changes will automatically sync to your other devices. This way, you’ll always have the latest version of your files no matter where you access them from.

You can also share files or folders with other people, like friends, family, or coworkers. You can give them permission to view or edit the files, making it easy to collaborate on projects or share pictures with loved ones.

In summary, OneDrive is like a magical folder in the cloud that keeps your files safe, lets you access them from anywhere, and allows you to easily share them with others.

More Information

File Storage: OneDrive provides users with a personal online storage space where they can store files of different types, such as documents, photos, videos, and more. It offers ample storage capacity, and additional storage can be purchased if needed.
Cloud Syncing: With OneDrive, files and folders stored on your computer or mobile device can be automatically synchronized with the cloud storage. This means that changes made to files on one device will be reflected across all devices connected to the same OneDrive account. It ensures that you have access to your most up-to-date files from anywhere.
Cross-Platform Access: OneDrive is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. This allows users to access their files from different devices, regardless of the operating system they are using. OneDrive also has a web interface, enabling access from any web browser.
File Sharing and Collaboration: OneDrive makes it easy to share files and collaborate with others. Users can generate shareable links for files or folders, granting specific permissions like view-only or editing access. This simplifies collaboration on projects, allowing multiple people to work on the same files simultaneously.
Version History and Recovery: OneDrive keeps a version history of files, allowing users to access and restore previous versions if needed. This feature is useful in case of accidental changes or if you want to revert to an earlier version of a file.
Security and Privacy: OneDrive employs security measures to protect your data. It offers encryption for data in transit and at rest, ensuring that files are transmitted and stored securely. Microsoft also adheres to strict privacy policies and compliance standards to safeguard user information.
Integration with Microsoft Apps: OneDrive integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft applications like Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), allowing for easy creation, editing, and saving of documents directly to OneDrive. This enhances productivity and collaboration within the Microsoft ecosystem.

365 and Azure Active Directory

Azure AD (Azure Active Directory) is a service provided by Microsoft that helps manage user accounts and access to various applications and services. Here’s a simple explanation of Azure AD:

Think of Azure AD as a big virtual directory where you can keep track of who can access different things in your digital world. It’s like having a bouncer at the entrance of a club who checks people’s IDs and decides whether they are allowed in or not.

In the digital world, Azure AD helps you control who can access your apps, websites, and other online services. It keeps a record of all the users and their permissions, like what they can see, do, or access.

When you sign up for a new app or service, instead of creating a separate account with a new username and password, you can use your existing Azure AD account. This means you don’t have to remember multiple usernames and passwords for different things.

Azure AD also makes it easier for organizations to manage their employees’ accounts. If you work for a company, Azure AD allows your employer to give you access to specific apps and resources based on your role or department. It helps keep things organized and secure.

Additionally, Azure AD can be used to enable single sign-on (SSO), which means you only need to sign in once to access multiple apps and services. It saves you from the hassle of entering your credentials every time you switch between different tools.

Overall, Azure AD is like a digital bouncer that helps manage who can access what in your online world, simplifying account management, improving security, and making it easier to use various apps and services without remembering multiple usernames and passwords.

Not all software suppliers have cloud versions of their applications. If you have Sage/Act or other accounting software (for example) running locally on your server you’ll have to go to a cloud version of the application if you want to retire a server.

CLOUD DATA STORAGE.

SharePoint

What is SharePoint?

OneDrive Cloud Storage

What is OneDrive?

365 and Azure Active Directory

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