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Understanding SharePoint and What It Offers

SharePoint is a web-based platform created by Microsoft that organizations use to store, organize, and share documents and information. Think of it as a central location where teams can work together on projects, keep files in one place, and communicate about work. Rather than having documents scattered across different email inboxes or personal computers, SharePoint lets multiple people access the same files from anywhere with an internet connection.

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A SharePoint site is basically a workspace on the internet where your organization can gather information. These sites can hold documents, lists, calendars, discussion boards, and other content that team members need for their work. The platform has been around since 2001 and is used by millions of organizations worldwide, ranging from small nonprofits to large corporations.

SharePoint comes in different versions and setups. SharePoint Online is the cloud-based version that comes as part of Microsoft 365 subscriptions. SharePoint Server is an older version that organizations install on their own computers. For most organizations today, SharePoint Online is the standard option because it doesn't require someone to manage the software behind the scenes.

The platform works by organizing information into sites, which contain libraries (for storing files) and lists (for organizing data). Each site can have different permission levels, meaning some people might see all the content while others see only what's relevant to their role. This structure helps keep information organized and secure.

Practical takeaway: Before setting up a SharePoint site, identify what your organization needs to store and share. Consider whether you need document storage, project tracking, team calendars, or a combination of these features. This will shape how you set up your site.

Steps to Create Your Free SharePoint Site

If your organization has a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can create a SharePoint site at no additional cost. The subscription itself may have a cost depending on your organization's plan, but creating new sites within that subscription is included. Microsoft 365 comes in different versions for business, education, and enterprise, with plans starting around $6 per user per month for basic versions.

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To create a SharePoint site, you need to be signed into Microsoft 365 with an account that has the right permissions. Not all users can create sites—usually, administrators or people with specific roles can do this. The process involves going to the SharePoint home page and selecting an option to create a new site. Microsoft provides different templates for different purposes, such as team sites, communication sites, or hub sites.

The creation process itself takes only a few minutes. You choose a name for your site, add a description, select a language, and decide on privacy settings. After you complete these steps, SharePoint automatically creates the site with default sections like a document library and a home page. You can then customize the site by adding more pages, libraries, lists, and content.

One important consideration is choosing between a team site and a communication site. A team site works better when you need a group of people to collaborate and edit documents together. A communication site works better when you want to broadcast information to a larger audience who may only read content rather than edit it. Both types can be created and modified without additional costs beyond your Microsoft 365 subscription.

Practical takeaway: Before creating your site, determine its primary purpose and decide who needs to access it. Write down your site name, description, and main goals. This preparation will make the actual creation process smoother and help you customize the site correctly from the start.

Organizing Content and Setting Up Libraries

Once your SharePoint site exists, the next step is organizing where your content will live. SharePoint uses "document libraries" to store files. By default, every site gets one general document library, but you can create additional libraries organized by department, project, document type, or any other system that makes sense for your organization.

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Creating a new library takes just a few clicks. You give it a name, add a description so people understand what goes there, and choose settings for how it behaves. For example, you might create one library for financial records, another for human resources documents, and another for marketing materials. This organization prevents files from becoming jumbled together and helps people find what they need.

Within each library, you can add columns of information that help organize files. Beyond the basic file name and date modified, you might add columns for document type, department, project name, or status. These columns act like tags that help you sort and filter files. For instance, a column labeled "Status" might have options like "Draft," "Under Review," or "Approved." When someone uploads a document, they fill in these details, which makes the document easier to locate later.

SharePoint also lets you create folders within libraries, similar to folders on a computer. However, many organizations find that using columns and metadata (the extra information about files) works better than deep folder structures. This is because folders can become hard to navigate when they get too nested, while columns let you search and filter more easily.

Version control is another important feature of document libraries. SharePoint automatically keeps a history of changes made to files. If someone edits a document, you can see who made the change and when. You can even restore an older version if needed. This feature prevents the problem of having multiple versions of a file with names like "Final_FINAL_v3_realfinal.docx" floating around.

Practical takeaway: Map out the main categories of documents your organization handles and create a library for each one. Add 3-5 columns that will help people find files later, such as department, document type, or project name. Test the system with a small group before rolling it out to everyone.

Setting Permissions and Access Controls

Controlling who can see and edit content is one of the most important aspects of setting up a SharePoint site. Permissions determine whether someone can view a document, edit it, or perform administrative tasks. SharePoint offers multiple permission levels that you can customize based on your organization's needs.

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The main permission levels in SharePoint are visitor, member, and owner. Visitors can view content but cannot edit files or add new materials. Members can view, edit, and upload documents. Owners can do everything members can do, plus they can change site settings and manage permissions. Some organizations create additional custom permission levels for specific roles.

You control access at different levels. You can set permissions for the entire site, meaning everyone who accesses the site has the same level of permission. You can also set permissions at the library level, so one library might be open to all site members while another library is restricted to managers only. You can even set permissions on individual files or folders, though this gets complicated and most organizations avoid it.

Many organizations use Azure AD groups or Microsoft 365 groups to manage permissions. Instead of adding individual people one by one, you add a group. When new employees join that group, they automatically get access to the sites and libraries they need. This approach saves time and reduces mistakes. For example, you might have a group called "Marketing Team" that gets access to all marketing-related libraries, so when someone joins the marketing department, one change to the group membership gives them all necessary access.

It's worth noting that permissions should be reviewed regularly. People change roles, leave the organization, or need access to different materials. Many organizations check their permission settings quarterly or at least annually to make sure people still have appropriate access levels.

Practical takeaway: Write down the different roles in your organization and what information each role needs to see and edit. Then create permission groups that match these roles. Make a note to review these permissions every six months to ensure they still match how your organization actually works.

Using Templates and Customization Options

SharePoint comes with built-in templates that can speed up your site setup. Templates are pre-designed site structures that already include common pages, libraries, and lists configured in a particular way. Microsoft provides templates for different scenarios, such as managing projects, tracking employee onboarding, or organizing team communications.

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When you create a new site, you choose a template to start with. The template gives you a head start by providing structure and examples. For instance, a project management template might include a document library for project files, a list for tracking tasks, a calendar for deadlines, and a discussion board for team comments. You can then modify any of these elements to match your specific needs.

Customization in SharePoint can range from simple to complex. Simple customization includes things like changing colors and logos, adding images to pages, and organizing the navigation menu. Anyone with site owner permissions can usually do these basic tasks without special training. You can upload your organization's logo, choose a color scheme,