Lab 10: SharePoint and OneDrive File Collaboration

Validated Microsoft 365 file collaboration by reviewing the SharePoint storage behind Teams, tightening site sharing, creating a standalone HR SharePoint site and testing OneDrive sharing between standard users.

Overview

In this lab, I extended the Microsoft 365 collaboration work from Lab 09 into SharePoint and OneDrive. Lab 09 proved Teams channels, posts and Teams file access. This lab focused on the file-storage layer behind that collaboration and separated team-owned SharePoint storage from user-owned OneDrive storage.

The build used two SharePoint patterns: a Teams-connected SharePoint site for the IT Helpdesk Team, and a separate HR Documents SharePoint site created directly for department documentation. I then validated OneDrive file creation and sharing from a standard user account.

Objective

The objective was to confirm that Teams files were stored in SharePoint, review SharePoint site settings from an administrative perspective, apply a more restrictive sharing model for a private helpdesk workspace, and validate OneDrive sharing between normal licensed users.

Environment

Environment
Component	Value
Company	Nietz Ltd
On-premises AD domain	corp.nietz.co.uk
Microsoft 365 domain	nietz.co.uk
Daily administrator	[email protected]
Teams-connected SharePoint site	IT Helpdesk
Standalone SharePoint site	HR Documents
OneDrive source user	[email protected]
OneDrive recipient user	[email protected]
Previous lab dependency	Lab 09: Microsoft Teams Collaboration
Next lab dependency	Lab 11: Entra ID Users, Groups and Roles

Configuration and Evidence

1. Teams-Backed SharePoint Library Validated

I opened the SharePoint site behind the IT Helpdesk Team and confirmed that the Teams channel file was stored in the connected SharePoint document library.

IT Helpdesk SharePoint site showing the Tickets document library and Lab09 Teams test file — Figure 1IT Helpdesk SharePoint site showing the Teams-backed Tickets document library and the Lab09 test file.

Context: Teams channel files are stored in SharePoint. This evidence links the Teams user experience from Lab 09 to the underlying SharePoint document library.

2. SharePoint-Connected Site Details Reviewed

I reviewed the IT Helpdesk Microsoft 365 group and connected site details, confirming the private team configuration and the corrected primary email address.

IT Helpdesk site and group details showing private team and primary email address — Figure 2IT Helpdesk details reviewed with the site connected to a private Microsoft 365 Team.

Context: The site details view confirms that the SharePoint site is connected to the IT Helpdesk Team and can be reviewed from an administrative perspective.

3. External Sharing Restricted

I reviewed the IT Helpdesk site settings and restricted external file sharing so the private support workspace was limited to internal users.

IT Helpdesk settings showing private team and external file sharing restricted to people in the organisation — Figure 3IT Helpdesk sharing settings saved with external file sharing restricted to people in the organisation.

Context: A private helpdesk workspace can contain ticket notes and support documentation, so validating the external sharing boundary is an important administration check.

4. Member Access to SharePoint-Backed File Confirmed

I signed in as Chloe Bennett and confirmed that a standard Team member could open the SharePoint-backed Teams file from the IT Helpdesk Tickets location.

Chloe Bennett opening the Lab09 Teams test file with file properties showing IT Helpdesk Tickets location — Figure 4Standard user access confirmed for the IT Helpdesk file stored in the SharePoint-backed Tickets location.

Context: This validates the user-side result of the Teams and SharePoint permission model rather than only showing the administrator view.

5. Standalone HR SharePoint Site Created

I created a separate HR Documents SharePoint site using an employee onboarding template and validated the HR document library with an onboarding checklist workbook.

HR Documents SharePoint site showing onboarding navigation and HR onboarding checklist workbook — Figure 5Standalone HR Documents SharePoint site showing the onboarding document library and HR onboarding checklist.

Context: This shows that SharePoint can be used directly for department document sites, not only as the storage layer behind Teams.

6. OneDrive Test Workbook Created

I created an Excel asset tracker in Chloe Bennett's OneDrive to validate user-owned cloud storage separately from SharePoint team storage.

Chloe Bennett OneDrive showing Lab10 OneDrive Asset Tracker workbook in My Files — Figure 6OneDrive asset tracker workbook created in Chloe Bennett's personal OneDrive.

Context: OneDrive is user-owned storage. The evidence also shows the difference between Chloe's personal OneDrive file and the IT Helpdesk SharePoint-backed file surfaced in OneDrive.

7. OneDrive File Shared to Recipient

I shared Chloe Bennett's OneDrive asset tracker with Emily Wilson using view access.

OneDrive confirmation showing Emily Wilson invited to view the asset tracker workbook — Figure 7OneDrive sharing confirmation showing Emily Wilson invited to view the asset tracker workbook.

Context: OneDrive sharing is a common support scenario involving links, permissions, recipient access and user-owned files.

8. Recipient Sees Shared OneDrive File

I signed in as Emily Wilson and confirmed that the OneDrive file shared by Chloe appeared in the recipient's Microsoft 365 file experience.

Emily Wilson OneDrive showing Lab10 OneDrive Asset Tracker shared by Chloe Bennett — Figure 8Emily Wilson's OneDrive view showing the asset tracker shared by Chloe Bennett.

Context: Recipient-side visibility confirms the sharing outcome from the user's perspective.

9. HR SharePoint Workbook Opened by Member

I also validated that Emily Wilson could open the HR onboarding workbook from the standalone HR Documents SharePoint site.

Emily Wilson opening the HR onboarding checklist workbook in Excel for the web — Figure 9Emily Wilson opened the HR onboarding checklist workbook from the HR Documents SharePoint site.

Context: This reinforces that the HR Documents site works as a separate SharePoint collaboration area for department files.

Validation

The lab was validated when the IT Helpdesk Teams file was visible in SharePoint, the connected site details were reviewed, external sharing was restricted for the private helpdesk workspace, a standard member could open the SharePoint-backed file, a standalone HR SharePoint site was created, and a OneDrive file was shared from Chloe Bennett to Emily Wilson.

Key Technical Outcomes

This lab demonstrated the practical difference between Teams-backed SharePoint storage, standalone SharePoint department sites and OneDrive personal storage.

It also showed how Microsoft 365 collaboration depends on site membership, document libraries, sharing settings and recipient-side validation.

Summary

I confirmed that the IT Helpdesk Teams file was stored in a SharePoint-backed document library.
I reviewed the connected IT Helpdesk site and Microsoft 365 group details.
I restricted external file sharing for the private helpdesk workspace.
I validated member access to the SharePoint-backed Teams file.
I created a standalone HR Documents SharePoint site for onboarding files.
I created a OneDrive asset tracker as a standard user and shared it with another user.
I validated recipient-side visibility for the shared OneDrive file.