If you’re a business owner searching for a file storage solution — something secure, affordable, and built to last — you’ve probably heard the name “SharePoint” tossed around. Maybe a colleague mentioned it. Maybe your IT person brought it up. Maybe you Googled “business file storage” and it kept appearing in the results.
But here’s the thing most articles won’t tell you up front: SharePoint and OneDrive aren’t standalone products you just go buy. They’re part of something much bigger — Microsoft 365 — and understanding how the pieces fit together is the key to making a smart, long-term decision for your business.
That’s exactly what this guide is for. We’re going to start from scratch and walk through everything: what SharePoint and OneDrive actually are, how Microsoft 365 licensing works, what each plan includes, how much storage you get, what security features come built in, how identity management works, and what it all costs in real dollars for a real business.
At COMNEXIA, we’ve been helping businesses across Georgia and the Southeast navigate exactly these decisions for over 35 years. We’ve deployed Microsoft 365 for hundreds of organizations — from five-person offices to multi-location enterprises with hundreds of users. We’re not just writing about this. We do this every day.
Let’s get into it.
What Is Microsoft 365, and Why Does It Matter for File Storage?
Microsoft 365 (often abbreviated M365) is Microsoft’s subscription-based platform that bundles together productivity apps, email, cloud storage, security tools, and device management into a single monthly per-user license.
When most people think “Microsoft,” they think Word, Excel, and Outlook. Those are still there. But Microsoft 365 is the modern evolution — it’s the platform that ties together:
- Email and calendaring (Exchange Online / Outlook)
- File storage and sharing (SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business)
- Communication and meetings (Microsoft Teams)
- Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote)
- Identity and access management (Microsoft Entra ID)
- Security and device management (Microsoft Intune, Defender, Conditional Access)
- Compliance and data protection tools
The reason this matters for file storage is simple: when you subscribe to Microsoft 365, you don’t just get a place to put files — you get an entire business platform. Your file storage is protected by enterprise-grade identity management, encrypted in transit and at rest, backed up by Microsoft’s global infrastructure, and integrated with every other tool your team uses daily.
Compare that to buying a NAS device, setting up a basic Dropbox account, or storing files on individual computers. There’s no comparison.
SharePoint vs. OneDrive: What’s the Difference?
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the answer is simpler than you’d think.
OneDrive for Business: Your Personal File Cabinet
OneDrive for Business is your personal cloud storage space within Microsoft 365. Think of it as your own file cabinet that only you can access (unless you choose to share specific files or folders with colleagues).
Every user who has a Microsoft 365 license gets their own OneDrive. It syncs to their computer, their phone, and their tablet. Files saved to OneDrive are accessible from anywhere, on any device, and they’re backed by Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure.
Use OneDrive for:
- Personal work files and drafts
- Documents you’re working on before they’re ready to share
- Individual project files
- Anything that belongs to you rather than a team or department
SharePoint Online: Your Company’s Shared Filing System
SharePoint Online is your organization’s shared document management platform. It’s where teams, departments, and the entire company store files that need to be accessed by multiple people.
SharePoint is organized into “sites” — you might have a site for your Accounting department, another for Sales, one for company-wide policies, and so on. Within each site, you create document libraries (think: shared folders with superpowers).
Use SharePoint for:
- Company policies and procedures
- Shared project files that multiple people work on
- Department-level documents (HR forms, sales templates, contracts)
- Client-facing document portals
- Knowledge bases and internal wikis
How They Work Together
Here’s the elegant part: OneDrive for Business actually runs on SharePoint technology under the hood. They’re not two separate systems — they’re two views of the same platform. Your personal OneDrive is technically a personal SharePoint site.
This means the security, versioning, sharing controls, and compliance features work identically across both. When you share a OneDrive file with a colleague, it uses the same permission system as SharePoint. When you need to move a personal file to a shared team library, it’s seamless.
Microsoft 365 Licensing: Which Plan Do You Need?
This is where most people get confused, and understandably so. Microsoft offers several business plans at different price points, each with different features. Let’s break down every option relevant to small and mid-sized businesses.
Note on pricing: The prices below reflect current Microsoft list pricing as of mid-2026. Microsoft has announced price increases effective July 1, 2026 for several plans — we’ve noted those where applicable. Actual pricing through a managed IT partner like COMNEXIA may vary based on licensing agreements.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic — $6/user/month
Increasing to $7/user/month effective July 1, 2026
This is the entry-level plan, and for many small businesses focused primarily on file storage and collaboration, it’s an excellent starting point.
What you get:
- Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook (no desktop app installs)
- 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user
- SharePoint Online with shared document libraries
- Microsoft Teams for chat, meetings (up to 300 participants), and collaboration
- Exchange Online email with a 50 GB mailbox and custom domain support
- Microsoft Entra ID (identity management — more on this below)
- Basic security features including multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Who it’s for: Businesses that primarily need cloud file storage, email, and Teams, and whose employees can work with web-based Office apps rather than desktop installations. Great for frontline workers, field staff, or anyone who works primarily from a browser or mobile device.
What you don’t get: Desktop Office app installations, advanced security features, device management.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard — $12.50/user/month
Increasing to $14/user/month effective July 1, 2026
This is the most popular plan for small and mid-sized businesses, and it’s what we recommend as the baseline for most organizations.
Everything in Business Basic, plus:
- Desktop installations of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access (PC only) — install on up to 5 PCs/Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 phones per user
- Microsoft Bookings for appointment scheduling
- Microsoft Forms, Planner, and To Do for task management
- Microsoft Clipchamp for video editing
Who it’s for: Most knowledge workers — anyone who creates documents, spreadsheets, or presentations regularly and needs the full desktop Office experience. This is the “sweet spot” plan for the majority of SMBs.
Storage: Same 1 TB per user OneDrive + SharePoint shared pool.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium — $22/user/month
This is the plan we recommend for any business that handles sensitive data, operates in a regulated industry, needs to meet cyber insurance requirements, or simply wants the strongest security posture available in a business plan.
Everything in Business Standard, plus:
- Microsoft Intune for device management and mobile application management
- Microsoft Defender for Business — enterprise-grade endpoint protection
- Azure Information Protection (sensitivity labels and data classification)
- Conditional Access policies — control who can access what, from where, on which devices
- Advanced threat protection for email (anti-phishing, safe links, safe attachments)
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies
- Remote wipe capability for lost or stolen devices
- Windows Autopilot for zero-touch device deployment
Who it’s for: Any business that takes security seriously (which should be every business). Particularly critical for businesses handling financial data, healthcare information, legal documents, customer PII, or those needing to comply with regulations like the FTC Safeguards Rule or cyber insurance requirements.
Why it matters: At $22/user/month, you’re getting security tools that would cost hundreds of dollars per user if purchased separately. Intune alone would cost $8/user/month as a standalone product. Defender for Business is another $3/user/month standalone. The value here is extraordinary.
Enterprise Plans (E3 and E5) — For Larger Organizations
Microsoft 365 Business plans cap at 300 users. If your organization exceeds that — or needs capabilities beyond what Business Premium offers — you move into Enterprise licensing.
Microsoft 365 E3 — $36/user/month (increasing to $39 in July 2026)
- Everything in Business Premium
- Unlimited OneDrive storage (after initial 1 TB per user, request increases through admin)
- Windows 11 Enterprise upgrade rights
- Advanced compliance tools (eDiscovery, retention policies, audit logs)
- No user cap
Microsoft 365 E5 — $57/user/month (increasing to $60 in July 2026)
- Everything in E3
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 (advanced threat hunting, automated investigation)
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2
- Power BI Pro included
- Audio conferencing for Teams
- Advanced compliance (insider risk management, communication compliance, advanced eDiscovery)
Most SMBs won’t need E3 or E5, but it’s good to know the path exists if your company grows beyond 300 users or needs the most advanced security and compliance tooling available.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Business Basic | Business Standard | Business Premium | E3 | E5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price/user/month | $6 ($7 July ‘26) | $12.50 ($14 July ‘26) | $22 | $36 ($39 July ‘26) | $57 ($60 July ‘26) |
| Desktop Office apps | ❌ Web/mobile only | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Email (Exchange) | ✅ 50 GB | ✅ 50 GB | ✅ 50 GB | ✅ 100 GB | ✅ 100 GB |
| OneDrive storage | 1 TB/user | 1 TB/user | 1 TB/user | 1 TB+ (expandable) | 1 TB+ (expandable) |
| SharePoint | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Teams | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Intune (device mgmt) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Defender for Business | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Conditional Access | Basic | Basic | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Advanced |
| DLP | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Max users | 300 | 300 | 300 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Understanding Storage: How Much Do You Get?
Storage is often the primary reason businesses start looking at SharePoint and OneDrive, so let’s be very specific about what you get.
OneDrive Storage (Per User)
Every Microsoft 365 user gets 1 TB (1,000 GB) of personal OneDrive storage. To put that in perspective:
- 1 TB holds approximately 500,000 pages of Word documents
- Or about 250,000 photos
- Or roughly 500 hours of video
For most individual users, 1 TB is more than enough. If a specific user needs more, administrators can increase their OneDrive storage up to 5 TB at no additional cost. Beyond 5 TB, Microsoft Support can increase it further on a case-by-case basis.
SharePoint Storage (Shared / Organization-Wide)
SharePoint storage works differently — it’s a shared pool for your entire organization.
Base allocation: Your tenant (organization) starts with 1 TB of SharePoint storage, plus an additional 10 GB per licensed user.
So for a 25-person company:
- Base: 1,000 GB
- Per-user bonus: 25 × 10 GB = 250 GB
- Total SharePoint pool: 1,250 GB (1.25 TB)
For a 50-person company:
- 1,000 GB + (50 × 10 GB) = 1,500 GB (1.5 TB)
This shared pool is used across all your SharePoint sites — your intranet, team sites, document libraries, and any shared resources.
Adding More Storage
If your organization needs more SharePoint storage, you can purchase additional storage:
- Microsoft 365 Extra File Storage add-on: approximately $0.20 per GB/month
- Sold in 1 GB increments
- Example: An extra 1 TB (1,000 GB) would cost about $200/month
For most SMBs, the included storage is more than sufficient. The typical 25-person company uses a fraction of their 1.25 TB SharePoint pool. But it’s reassuring to know you can scale up affordably if needed.
Microsoft Entra ID: The Identity Foundation You Didn’t Know You Needed
Here’s something that catches many business owners off guard: the most important thing you get with Microsoft 365 isn’t the Office apps or the storage — it’s the identity platform.
What Is Entra ID?
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly called Azure Active Directory or Azure AD) is Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management service. Every Microsoft 365 subscription includes it.
In plain terms: Entra ID is the system that knows who your employees are, what they’re allowed to access, and how they prove they are who they say they are.
When an employee logs into their computer, opens Outlook, connects to SharePoint, or joins a Teams meeting, Entra ID is the system verifying their identity and granting (or denying) access.
Why Identity-First Security Matters
In the old days, security meant putting a firewall around your office network. If you were inside the building, on the company network, you were trusted.
That model is broken. Today’s employees work from home, coffee shops, airports, and client offices. They use personal phones, tablets, and home computers. The network perimeter doesn’t exist anymore.
Identity-first security means your security perimeter is the user’s identity — their username, password, and the authentication methods that verify who they are. It doesn’t matter where they are or what device they’re on. What matters is:
- Who are you? (verified by Entra ID)
- What are you allowed to access? (controlled by Entra ID policies)
- Is this login attempt legitimate? (evaluated by Entra ID risk detection)
What Entra ID Gives You
- Single sign-on (SSO): One identity for all your apps — Microsoft and third-party
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Require a second verification (phone, authenticator app) to prove identity
- Conditional Access: Create rules like “block sign-ins from outside the U.S.” or “require MFA for admin accounts” or “only allow access from company-managed devices”
- Self-service password reset: Employees can securely reset their own passwords without calling IT
- Group-based access management: Control who can access which SharePoint sites, Teams channels, and applications based on group membership
- Audit logs: Full visibility into who signed in, from where, and what they accessed
This is the foundation that everything else in Microsoft 365 is built on. Your files in SharePoint and OneDrive are protected not just by passwords, but by an intelligent identity system that can detect suspicious sign-ins, enforce MFA, and automatically block compromised accounts.
At COMNEXIA, we configure Entra ID as part of every Microsoft 365 deployment. Getting the identity foundation right is the single most impactful thing you can do for your business’s security posture.
The Microsoft 365 Security Stack: What Comes Built In
One of the most compelling reasons to choose Microsoft 365 for your file storage — rather than a standalone solution like Dropbox or Google Drive — is the integrated security stack. Especially at the Business Premium tier, you get enterprise-grade security that would cost a fortune to assemble from separate vendors.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Conditional Access
MFA requires users to verify their identity with a second factor (like a phone notification or authenticator app code) in addition to their password. This single feature blocks over 99.9% of account compromise attacks, according to Microsoft’s own data.
Conditional Access takes it further. You create policies that evaluate sign-in conditions in real time:
- Is the user on a managed device? → Allow access
- Is the user signing in from an unusual country? → Block or require additional verification
- Is the user trying to access sensitive SharePoint data? → Require MFA even if they’re already signed in
- Is the device running outdated software? → Deny access until updated
Included in all plans (basic MFA). Advanced Conditional Access in Business Premium and above.
Microsoft Intune: Device Management
Intune is Microsoft’s cloud-based endpoint management platform. It lets you manage and secure every device that accesses your company data — Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.
What Intune does:
- Enroll and configure devices remotely (even ship a new laptop to an employee — it configures itself on first boot)
- Push security policies (require encryption, enforce screen lock, mandate OS updates)
- Deploy applications to devices automatically
- Remotely wipe a lost or stolen device — either the entire device or just company data
- App protection policies — control how company data moves between apps (e.g., prevent copying data from Outlook to a personal notes app)
Included in Business Premium, E3, and E5.
OS-Level Protection: Windows Hello, BitLocker, and More
Microsoft 365 Business Premium unlocks Windows-level security features:
- Windows Hello for Business: Replace passwords with biometric authentication (fingerprint, face recognition) or secure PINs tied to the device’s hardware
- BitLocker encryption: Encrypt the entire hard drive so that if a laptop is lost or stolen, the data is unreadable without the encryption key
- Windows Defender Credential Guard: Protects domain credentials from theft
- Exploit protection and attack surface reduction rules: Proactively block common attack vectors
Microsoft Defender for Business
Defender for Business is a full endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution. It goes far beyond traditional antivirus:
- Real-time threat protection against malware, ransomware, and zero-day attacks
- Automated investigation and remediation — when a threat is detected, Defender can automatically isolate the device, remove the threat, and restore the system
- Threat analytics — see what attacks are targeting businesses like yours
- Web content filtering — block access to malicious or inappropriate websites
- Vulnerability management — identify unpatched software and misconfigurations across your fleet
Included in Business Premium. More advanced capabilities (Plan 2 with threat hunting) in E5.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
DLP policies automatically detect and protect sensitive information across your Microsoft 365 environment:
- Detect Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, health records, and other sensitive data types in emails, SharePoint documents, and Teams chats
- Block or warn users when they try to share sensitive information outside the organization
- Apply automatically — no reliance on individual employees making the right choice
Included in Business Premium and above.
Sensitivity Labels and Information Protection
Azure Information Protection lets you classify and label documents and emails based on sensitivity:
- Public — anyone can see this
- Internal — employees only
- Confidential — specific people only
- Highly Confidential — encrypted, restricted access, no forwarding
Labels can be applied manually by users or automatically based on content detection. Once applied, the protection travels with the document — even if someone emails it outside your organization, the encryption and access controls remain in place.
Included in Business Premium and above.
Why This Matters for File Storage
When you store files in SharePoint and OneDrive on Microsoft 365, those files aren’t just sitting in a folder somewhere. They’re protected by:
✅ Identity verification (Entra ID + MFA) ✅ Access policies (Conditional Access) ✅ Device compliance checks (Intune) ✅ Encryption at rest and in transit ✅ Endpoint protection (Defender) ✅ Data loss prevention scanning ✅ Sensitivity labels and information protection ✅ Full audit trails
Try getting all of that from a Dropbox Business account or a NAS sitting in your office closet.
Scalability: How It Grows With Your Business
One of the strongest arguments for Microsoft 365 as your file storage foundation is scalability. You’re not buying a box that has a fixed capacity. You’re subscribing to a platform that scales with you.
Starting small:
- 5 employees? You get 5 TB of personal OneDrive storage + 1.05 TB of shared SharePoint storage.
Growing to 50:
- 50 employees? You get 50 TB of personal storage + 1.5 TB of shared SharePoint storage. Add licenses as you hire — no hardware to buy, no migration to plan.
Hitting 300 and beyond:
- At 300 users, you’re at the Business plan limit. Transition to Enterprise (E3/E5) for unlimited users and expandable OneDrive storage.
Adding locations:
- Open a second office? A third? A remote team in another state? Everyone accesses the same SharePoint libraries and OneDrive files through the cloud. No VPN required (though you can add one). No file server to replicate.
Mixing license types:
- You don’t have to put everyone on the same plan. Your C-suite and finance team might be on Business Premium (maximum security), your sales team on Business Standard (desktop apps), and your warehouse staff on Business Basic (web/mobile only). Mix and match to optimize cost.
This flexibility is exactly why we recommend Microsoft 365 to growing businesses. When you need scalable cloud solutions, M365 is the platform that grows with you without requiring a forklift upgrade.
Real-World Cost Examples
Let’s make this concrete with real numbers.
A 10-Person Company
| Plan | Per User/Month | Monthly Total | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Basic | $6 | $60 | $720 |
| Business Standard | $12.50 | $125 | $1,500 |
| Business Premium | $22 | $220 | $2,640 |
Our recommendation for most 10-person businesses: Business Standard for everyone ($1,500/year), or a mix — Standard for 7 general users + Premium for 3 users handling sensitive data ($1,842/year).
What you get for $1,500/year: 10 TB of personal cloud storage, 1.1 TB of shared storage, full desktop Office apps for everyone, business email, Teams, and SharePoint collaboration — plus the entire Entra ID identity platform.
A 25-Person Company
| Plan | Per User/Month | Monthly Total | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Basic | $6 | $150 | $1,800 |
| Business Standard | $12.50 | $312.50 | $3,750 |
| Business Premium | $22 | $550 | $6,600 |
Our recommendation: Business Standard as the baseline with Premium for executives, finance, and anyone handling regulated data. A typical mix: 15 Standard + 10 Premium = $5,010/year.
What you get: 25 TB personal storage, 1.25 TB shared storage, full Office suite, enterprise email, advanced security for your most sensitive roles.
A 50-Person Company
| Plan | Per User/Month | Monthly Total | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Standard (all) | $12.50 | $625 | $7,500 |
| Business Premium (all) | $22 | $1,100 | $13,200 |
| Mixed (30 Std + 20 Prem) | — | $815 | $9,780 |
At 50 users, the mixed approach saves $3,420/year over all-Premium while still providing advanced security for the roles that need it most.
Comparison: What Would Alternatives Cost?
- Dropbox Business: $20/user/month = $12,000/year for 50 users — and you get NONE of the security stack, no email, no Office apps, no identity management
- Google Workspace Business Standard: $14/user/month = $8,400/year for 50 users — no desktop Office apps, different security model, Google ecosystem lock-in
- On-premises file server: $5,000–$15,000 upfront for hardware, plus ongoing maintenance, electricity, backup systems, and eventual replacement every 3–5 years. No remote access without a VPN. No built-in security stack.
Microsoft 365 is the clear value winner when you consider the total package.
Compliance and Regulatory Benefits
For businesses in regulated industries — or any business concerned about cyber insurance requirements — Microsoft 365 provides significant compliance benefits.
FTC Safeguards Rule
If your business handles consumer financial data, the FTC Safeguards Rule requires specific security controls. Microsoft 365 Business Premium helps you check many of the required boxes:
- ✅ MFA for all users accessing customer information
- ✅ Encryption of data at rest and in transit
- ✅ Access controls based on least-privilege principles
- ✅ Audit logging of data access
- ✅ Device management and remote wipe
- ✅ Incident response capabilities
Cyber Insurance Requirements
Cyber insurance carriers are increasingly requiring specific security controls before they’ll issue or renew policies. Common requirements that M365 Business Premium satisfies:
- Multi-factor authentication ✅
- Endpoint detection and response (EDR) ✅
- Email filtering and anti-phishing ✅
- Data backup and recovery ✅
- Encrypted storage ✅
- Privileged access management ✅
- Security awareness capabilities ✅
Additional Compliance Frameworks
Microsoft 365 holds certifications for SOC 1, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, and dozens of other regulatory frameworks. When your data lives in Microsoft’s cloud, you inherit the benefit of their compliance investments — investments that would be impossible for an individual SMB to replicate.
Why Work With COMNEXIA?
You can buy Microsoft 365 licenses directly from Microsoft. But here’s what you can’t get from Microsoft: someone to actually set it all up properly, configure it for your specific business, train your team, and support you when something goes wrong.
That’s where COMNEXIA comes in.
We’re a full-service managed IT and telecommunications company headquartered in Roswell, Georgia, serving businesses across the Atlanta metro area and the Southeast. We’ve been doing this since 1991 — that’s 35 years of helping businesses make smart technology decisions.
What we bring to a Microsoft 365 deployment:
- Proper Entra ID configuration — security groups, Conditional Access policies, MFA enrollment, and access governance designed for your business
- SharePoint architecture — we design your site structure, document libraries, and permissions to match how your business actually works
- Data migration — moving files from your old file server, Dropbox, Google Drive, or whatever you’re using today into SharePoint and OneDrive without losing a single file
- Intune device enrollment — getting your computers, phones, and tablets enrolled and secured
- Security policy configuration — DLP, sensitivity labels, Defender policies, and compliance settings
- User training — making sure your team actually knows how to use what they’re paying for
- Ongoing managed IT support — help desk, monitoring, maintenance, and strategic guidance
We also bring deep expertise in cybersecurity, network infrastructure, and cloud solutions — so your Microsoft 365 environment doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a cohesive, secure technology strategy.
2,000+ businesses trust COMNEXIA. Whether you’re a five-person startup or a 200-person multi-location operation, we’ll help you get Microsoft 365 right from day one.
📞 (877) 600-6550 | 📧 info@comnexia.com | 🌐 comnexia.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SharePoint a Microsoft product?
Yes. SharePoint is 100% a Microsoft product. It’s been part of the Microsoft ecosystem since 2001 and is now one of the core services included in every Microsoft 365 subscription. You access it through your web browser or the SharePoint mobile app.
Can I just buy SharePoint without Microsoft 365?
Technically, there is a standalone SharePoint Online Plan 1 ($5/user/month) and Plan 2 ($10/user/month). However, for most businesses, it makes far more sense to get a full Microsoft 365 subscription. For just $1 more per user than standalone SharePoint, Business Basic gives you SharePoint PLUS email, Teams, OneDrive, and the entire productivity suite.
How is this different from Dropbox or Google Drive?
Dropbox and Google Drive are file storage services. Microsoft 365 is a complete business platform that includes file storage. With M365, your storage is integrated with your email, identity management, security stack, Office applications, and collaboration tools. It’s not just a place to put files — it’s the foundation of how your business operates digitally.
Is my data safe in Microsoft’s cloud?
Microsoft operates one of the most secure cloud infrastructures in the world. Your data is encrypted at rest (using AES 256-bit encryption) and in transit (using TLS). Microsoft’s data centers have physical security, redundant power, geographic replication, and are certified under dozens of compliance frameworks. Your data is almost certainly safer in Microsoft’s cloud than on a server in your office closet.
What happens if an employee leaves the company?
When an employee departs, their Microsoft 365 account can be deactivated. Their OneDrive files are retained for a configurable period (default 30 days, extendable) and can be transferred to their manager or another user. SharePoint files remain in place since they belong to the organization, not the individual. This is a massive advantage over scenarios where files live on an employee’s personal laptop or personal cloud account.
Can I access my files offline?
Yes. OneDrive syncs files to your local computer, so you can work offline. Changes sync automatically when you reconnect to the internet. SharePoint libraries can also be synced to your computer for offline access.
What internet speed do I need?
Microsoft 365 works well on any modern broadband connection. For a typical office of 10–25 users, a 100 Mbps connection is more than sufficient. Individual users working from home need at least 10–25 Mbps for a smooth experience. COMNEXIA can assess your network infrastructure to ensure it’s ready for cloud-first operations.
Can I mix different license types in my organization?
Absolutely. This is one of the smartest ways to manage costs. Put your power users on Business Standard or Premium, and assign Business Basic to employees who primarily need email and web-based tools. Every user must have a license, but they don’t all need the same one.
How long does migration take?
It depends on how much data you’re moving and where it’s coming from. A typical SMB migration (file server or Dropbox to SharePoint/OneDrive) takes 1–4 weeks including planning, migration, testing, and training. COMNEXIA handles the entire process — we’ve done hundreds of these.
What about backup? Does Microsoft back up my data?
Microsoft guarantees the availability of their infrastructure (99.9% uptime SLA), but their native retention and recovery options have limitations. For example, deleted items are recoverable for a limited time, and there’s no true point-in-time restore for all content. We strongly recommend a third-party Microsoft 365 backup solution (like Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365) for complete data protection. This is something COMNEXIA configures and manages as part of a complete M365 deployment.
Can I try it before committing?
Yes. Microsoft offers a free 1-month trial of most M365 Business plans. You can set up a trial tenant, invite a few users, and experience SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and the full suite before making a purchasing decision. Contact COMNEXIA and we’ll help you set up a trial that’s actually useful — not just a sandbox you’ll forget about.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for business file storage that’s secure, affordable, scalable, and built to last, Microsoft 365 with SharePoint and OneDrive is the answer. It’s not just file storage — it’s a complete business platform that gives you email, Office applications, collaboration tools, enterprise-grade security, and a modern identity management system, all for as little as $6/user/month.
The technology is proven. The platform is mature. The security is world-class. And the pricing is accessible for businesses of any size.
But the technology is only as good as its implementation. A poorly configured Microsoft 365 environment can leave your business exposed to the same risks as having no cloud platform at all. That’s why working with an experienced partner matters.
COMNEXIA has been helping businesses get technology right for 35 years. We don’t just sell you licenses — we design, deploy, secure, and support your entire Microsoft 365 environment. We’re based right here in Roswell, Georgia, and we’ve served over 2,000 businesses across the Southeast.
Ready to get started? Call us at (877) 600-6550, email info@comnexia.com, or visit comnexia.com to schedule a conversation. We’ll assess your current setup, recommend the right M365 plan mix, and get your team on a platform that will serve you for years to come.
Your files deserve better than a USB drive in a desk drawer. Let’s fix that.