{"id":6507,"date":"2019-07-15T00:27:20","date_gmt":"2019-07-14T23:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.n-able.com\/?p=6507"},"modified":"2021-04-10T00:29:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-09T23:29:40","slug":"onedrive-vs-sharepoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.n-able.com\/it\/blog\/onedrive-vs-sharepoint","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Difference Between OneDrive and SharePoint"},"content":{"rendered":"

The nature of work is changing. For many companies, remote work is becoming more than an added bonus\u2014it\u2019s becoming a norm.\u00a0According to Gallup, 43% of U.S. employees work remotely<\/a>\u00a0at least part of the time. Employees who collaborate across state lines or alternate between a home office and corporate headquarters need secure,\u00a0reliable access to their files<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Managed services providers (MSPs) are being called on to help their customers navigate this new work culture through file sharing and storage platforms like OneDrive and SharePoint. While the two platforms have striking similarities, there are distinct differences between the two. Understanding the nuances of OneDrive vs. SharePoint will help you boost business efficiencies and enable you to advise your customers on how best to protect their sensitive information.<\/p>\n

What are OneDrive and SharePoint?<\/b><\/h3>\n

SharePoint and OneDrive are file management platforms within the Microsoft suite of services. These two tools have a lot in common\u2014users can leverage either tool to share and store files up to 15GB, co-edit documents simultaneously, and view a document\u2019s version history. Both SharePoint and OneDrive are mobile friendly and allow for local syncing of files across devices. They also integrate into Office 365, making it easy to get work done on the go\u2014any updates and edits you make offline are automatically synced when you rejoin the cloud.<\/p>\n

Are SharePoint and OneDrive the same thing?<\/b><\/h3>\n

While both SharePoint and OneDrive help manage and store files, they are two unique programs with very different use cases.<\/p>\n

OneDrive for Business<\/a>\u2014not to be confused with the similar software, OneDrive for personal or consumer use\u2014is ideal for individual employees. It is best viewed as a tool that employees can leverage for their private first drafts as well as projects that haven\u2019t developed enough to call for cohesive collaboration.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, SharePoint should be thought of as a team site. Once an employee is ready to share a personal draft, they can upload it from OneDrive to SharePoint. Teams can access files in SharePoint based on the admin\u2019s predetermined permission settings. This allows multiple employees to automatically view, comment, and edit any document within the SharePoint system. The platform\u2019s intuitive, clear dashboard keeps groups organized and on track.<\/p>\n

What is the difference between OneDrive and SharePoint in Office 365?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Several unique features help explain why OneDrive is better for individual projects and SharePoint is best suited for teams. Understanding these differences between OneDrive vs. SharePoint is the first step to successful file management.<\/p>\n

In OneDrive, users sign into personal OneDrive accounts and remain in control of the files they create and upload at all times. They designate who can view, edit, and comment on their files based on the permission level they set when sharing a document via a secure link. Without an invitation, no other member of the team can see an individual\u2019s files. This is great for employees working on early-stage assignments that require minimal collaboration, or documents that only need to be shared once or twice over their lifetime.<\/p>\n

SharePoint is a more robust project management platform. Companies build their own branded pages, managed by an admin. Admins can create unique team sites that anyone on the team can access\u2014users don\u2019t have personal interfaces. These branded pages contain intuitive dashboards featuring calendars, project updates, task lists, and notification settings. Files that are uploaded and saved to the SharePoint site inherit the permission level the admin has defined. This allows multiple employees to engage with a document without having to ask for a link granting permission. SharePoint is built with collaboration and communication in mind.<\/p>\n

Beyond the branded, internal team sites, many companies also use SharePoint to build and maintain their company websites. Any document saved within the platform can be published online through SharePoint\u2019s CMS system. Similarly, social media integrations make it easy to share highlights with the public and track engagement levels. There are even detailed analytics that companies may leverage to create custom applications for their employees or clients.<\/p>\n

Can I sync SharePoint with OneDrive?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Sometimes a document or project grows in scope and must be moved from a limited, private OneDrive folder to SharePoint. Microsoft makes SharePoint\u2013OneDrive integration not only possible but relatively straightforward. There are just a few key things to keep in mind before you begin your sync:<\/p>\n