What is SharePoint? Your quick guide

Microsoft SharePoint is one of the most widely used office collaboration platforms in the world.

Microsoft SharePoint is one of the most widely used office collaboration platforms in the world. As of 2020, an estimated 200 million people use SharePoint on a regular basis, with offices and remote working teams in virtually every country taking advantage of it. But what is SharePoint, and how can you use it to enhance your workflow? Read on to find out.

What Is SharePoint, Explained

So, SharePoint, what is it? In a nutshell, SharePoint is an online platform that allows you to share files and collaborate with others. It is essentially a cloud-based server where you can store all of your internal resources and files.

From here, anyone who needs to can access them and easily collaborate with you wherever they are in the world. It is a way to track workflows and worker progress across the board, all from a simple and user-friendly interface.

Where Can I Use SharePoint?

Perhaps you’re wondering what is a SharePoint site, or what is CSOM SharePoint? While these might seem confusing, it is a testament to the accessibility of SharePoint. Microsoft has gone through the trouble of adapting SharePoint for virtually every platform and environment possible.

You can use the SharePoint app or the web version that you can access in virtually any browser. What’s more, you can even access expert SharePoint support that will ensure that you are getting the most out of your SharePoint experiences, regardless of your IT environment.

Why Is SharePoint Useful? 

If you’re wondering what is SharePoint used for, the main words you need to remember are collaboration and management. SharePoint allows for the publishing of files and documents into a shared space called OneDrive.

Here, an unlimited number of employees can be given permission to access this space, edit items, and track progress. It allows you to tag files, automate admin processes, and sort files in a logical and easy-to-find manner.

You can use it to automate data disposal according to company policy, as well as enable records disposition in a way that fits your company.



Top SharePoint Features

Still wondering, what else SharePoint is good for? Here are just of few of the features you need to be aware of:

Lists

These can be lists of information, files, images, and more. They are updated in real-time for everyone to see and even allow you to see the use and edit history of a list.

Dashboards

SharePoint dashboards allow workers and managers to track the progress of any project in real-time. You can even share your dashboards with anyone else in your organization who is also on SharePoint.

Alerts

SharePoint alerts will keep you updated whenever a change is made to a file, ensuring that you don’t miss a thing. Alerts can be toggled on or off for all of your projects whenever you feel like it.

Usage reports

These nifty reports show you the history of just about anything on SharePoint. For a file, you can access a report showing who has viewed it, how many times it has been viewed, and all edits and movements made.

The Tools You Need to Grow Your Business 

Now that you know what is SharePoint all about, it’s time to keep learning. If you want to find out more about the latest tech tools that can drive forward growth in your business, we’ve got you covered.

Continue reading our other articles to find out how you can level-up in 2020 and beyond.



The importance and advantages of Microsoft SharePoint to your business

Why is SharePoint so necessary for businesses these days?

SharePoint is a web-based platform that combines with Microsoft Office and is used for collaboration. Those who are familiar with such a platform know that apart from collaboration, it is also a document management tool from American MNC Microsoft.

The tool was launched in 2001, but businesses only harnessed its collaborative functions in 2007. In 2016, Microsoft SharePoint’s final version was released, along with advanced functionalities for administrators, end-users, and IT professionals offering SharePoint consulting services.

So, why is SharePoint so necessary for businesses these days?

SharePoint Adds Context to Your Documents

Usually, when you save documents in a specific folder on your server, these are stored traditionally. You should take advantage of SharePoint since it brings context to your folders in the server. For example, with SharePoint, managed office 365, it will be easier to track the updates and running version histories of all the documents you have. The changes for each of these documents are recorded efficiently. This means you have the information relevant to the context and history of each document saved in a specific folder.

HOffer Consistent and Seamless User Experience

SharePoint integrates very well with such client-side applications as web browsers and email. If all these applications are seamlessly working together, they can provide a great and consistent end-user experience. SharePoint can simplify users’ interactions with business data, processes, and content. The integration is made even better by outstanding and robust functionalities to assist in product adoption.

Comply with Important Regulatory Requirements

If you are using SharePoint or you are engaging sharepoint consulting services, you can make sure that any critical or sensitive business data are managed and controlled efficiently. Just specify the expiration actions, auditing policies, storage, and security settings related to specific compliance regulations.

Centralized Administration

The great thing about the architecture of SharePoint is that it is scalable and open. As such, it can offer support to various web services. To establish control over the entire platform, it is equipped with a centralized administration tool. This feature can help managers quickly access and control specific functionalities like system management, features management, SharePoint monitoring, security setting management, and restoration and back-up actions. Managers can also tinker with configuration wizards, general settings, and SharePoint upgrades.

Facilitates Collaboration

SharePoint permits team members to collaborate, stay informed, and get connected all through the lifecycle of their projects. This feature comes handy for companies that are geographically separated. It makes connecting to a branch in a different location more effortless and seamless through a single portal. Aside from that, it provides a more efficient approach to tackling team-based projects. It allows information to freely flow throughout the organization, a process that makes decision-making faster and better.

Promotes Data Security

SharePoint provides single-unit and broad level security. Its 2010 version allowed organizations to protect their data from unauthorized and malicious access. This is done by managing documents, folders, lists, and site permissions. It also preserves the integrity of the data saved in the SharePoint cloud.

Several companies already utilized SharePoint. If you are ready to experience all these benefits, then it is time to get on board. If you need help in any of your SharePoint needs, you can always get the help of firms offering SharePoint consulting services.