* About: Microsoft SharePoint Online


Service overview | Who can use it | How to request & access | Cost | Availability | FAQs | Best practices & policies | Training & documentation | Support

Service overview

SharePoint Online is a cloud-based service offered as part of the Microsoft 365 Suite. It can be used as a secure place to store, organize and access information from almost any device and recent web browser.

SharePoint Online provides a central space where you can:

Content storage and collaboration features:

Communication features:

A SharePoint Online site can be customized to serve a variety of purposes. Some common scenarios include:


Who can use it

This service is available to active McGill students, faculty and staff.

People external to McGill may be given permission by the site owner to access the site.


How to request & access the service

Before requesting the creation of a SharePoint Online site, we strongly recommend you take an introductory training course.  Register for training here: SharePoint training.

Once you have completed the training, submit the form to Request a new SharePoint site.

After validation of the form, you will be contacted within 7 days by a member of the Content Collaborations team in order to create your site.


Cost

There is no cost associated with this service.


Availability

This service is available 24 X 7. Check the home page of the IT Support site for announcements in case of any outages.


Frequently asked questions

Should I use SharePoint or MS Teams?

For a comparison of storage tools, see Document storing and sharing - choosing the right solution


How do I collaborate with External Users?


Can I recover my data with SharePoint?


Can I set a retention policy on my SharePoint site?


Can I migrate existing content from departmental shared drives or other cloud services to SharePoint?


Best practices & policies

Best practices for sharing files:

Managing a large volume of content:


Training & documentation


Support

For access/authentication issues, and basic assistance using SharePoint Online, contact the IT Service Desk.

Meet with a SharePoint expert for specific questions about setting up or using a SharePoint site. Attend a general Q&A session. Reserve your spot.