Do You Need Microsoft OneDrive Reddit?

The debate surrounding whether or not to use Microsoft OneDrive is ongoing, with many users and administrators weighing in on the topic. As someone who has worked extensively with Office products, I've found that OneDrive can be a valuable tool for streamlining file access and collaboration.

One of the key benefits of OneDrive is its ability to provide users with easy access to shared libraries. When you open files from these libraries, they will appear in a list, making it simple to save and open files directly to these libraries. Additionally, the Quick Access feature allows users to access shared libraries from both SharePoint and Teams locations.

However, some users may be concerned about the cost of using OneDrive, particularly if their business does not prioritize user convenience. In my experience, many businesses do not see the value in paying for a solution that can provide such benefits.

Another point of contention is the difference between backups and archives. Some users may view OneDrive as a backup solution, but it's important to understand that this is not its primary function. Instead, OneDrive provides retention policies that allow administrators to track changes and updates to files over time.

In many cases, an archive is sufficient for businesses, providing them with a record of what was changed or received between specific dates. However, when disaster strikes, such as a ransomware attack, the ability to restore files to a previous point in time can be invaluable.

OneDrive's retention policies can provide this level of protection, but it requires administrators to learn and enable these features. Unfortunately, many sys admins I've spoken to are not familiar with how retention policies work or how to restore data from them.

Furthermore, when uploading large amounts of data to OneDrive, such as during a massive restore operation, Microsoft may throttle the upload process, taking days or weeks to complete. This can be frustrating for users who need access to their files quickly.

In conclusion, whether or not you need Microsoft OneDrive ultimately depends on your business's specific needs and priorities. While it may not provide the level of backup protection that some users are looking for, its retention policies can still be a valuable tool for tracking changes and updates to files over time. By understanding the differences between backups and archives, administrators can make an informed decision about whether or not OneDrive is right for their organization.

Do i need microsoft onedrive reddit