Who remembers saving your files to your local hard drive on your computer or to multiple floppy disks to keep them safe for future use? Sometimes you had to overwrite some of those files to save new ones because of the lack of space?
No more worrying whether you have enough space on your local drive with Microsoft’s OneDrive. Released back in August of 2007, formerly known as SkyDrive, OneDrive is Microsoft’s file hosting and synchronization service which is part of the Microsoft’s suite of Office Online services. With OneDrive you can backup, sync, or share your files stored in the cloud through your Microsoft account or your Cloud Service Provider partner, such as Crestwood.
To get started with OneDrive, you need to set up a Microsoft account. There are plenty of plans for either personal or business use to fit your needs. OneDrive users can get access as part of their Microsoft 365 subscription, which includes Microsoft Office and 1TB of OneDrive storage space. If more space is needed you can always expand. Microsoft offers OneDrive for free, which gives you 5GB of storage space. Other storage options of 50GB, 1TB, or 5TB are available through your subscription service. Contact Crestwood Sales to get your business set up quickly with Microsoft 365 and the cloud.
Where to start:
Once you set up your Microsoft account, if it is not already installed on your device, you will need to download and install the software to your computer. You will be prompted to configure the service based on your needs. Note once your initial account is set up, you can connect any number of other devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops with OneDrive, through the Microsoft Store, Google Play, or Apple App Store letting you keep your files in sync to access them from anywhere at any time.
Why do I need OneDrive?
OneDrive allows you to access your files from anywhere, back up and protect your files on any device, and share and collaborate. Keeping you connected with friends, family, or your colleagues.
How do I protect my Data?
There are a few things you can do to protect your data. This Microsoft video will show you five tips to remember. Also read Five Things You Should Turn On In Your Microsoft 365 Tenant.
Apart from that, OneDrive comes with the OneDrive Personal Vault, a new layer of security to further protect your most sensitive and important files. The Personal Vault is a protected folder within OneDrive that can only be accessed with a second step of identity verification. Personal Vault works on your desktop, in the browser, and on a mobile device. Note, the Personal Vault is only available for home or personal plans and is not available in OneDrive for business or work and school accounts. It is a terrific way to safeguard your personal files, such as passports, driver’s license, or insurance information etc., so you can access them from anywhere.
How to keep your system secure with OneDrive
OneDrive also lets you back up specific locations from your computer to the cloud. You can turn this feature on by locating the cloud icon in the lower right corner of the screen. Then selecting Help & Settings, then select Settings.
Click the Backup tab and then Manage backup.
Another dialog box will ask you what you want to backup. Select the folder(s) you want to automatically back up, then click Start backup.
Backing up specific file locations from your computer to the cloud will keep your files stored on your desktop, in the Documents folder, and photos in your Pictures folder giving you a reliable automatic back up of your most critical files.
Sharing OneDrive Files with Other People
Sharing files became so much easier with OneDrive. All files and folders you store on Microsoft OneDrive are private and secure by default. Here are some ways to share:
- You can share files within Office programs (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint) while you are creating or editing them.
- Copy and Send a Link and set specific settings, to allow or not allow editing, choose when the link expires, set a password and more.
- Enter a recipient’s email address and send a message.
- Share through File Explorer on your desktop by right-clicking on the file or file folder you would like to share. Then selecting the Share button from the drop-down menu.
I hope this blog helps you get a better understanding of what Microsoft OneDrive is and how cloud storage can help keep your files safe and secure. Stay tuned! In my next blog, I will go over how to automatically back up your photos and videos on your phone, scanning documents, sharing and photo enhancement features, of the OneDrive App from your mobile device. For more Microsoft insights visit and subscribe to our blog.
