M365 Storage Options

[boboman]

Hey friends, I have a customer who has run out of Office storage space. Additional storage space is quite expensive at $0.20/GB per month with an annual commitment. I've explored Azure hot and cold storage options, but transitioning to them would be disruptive. I'm curious if any of you have experience with or knowledge of external storage options like Dropbox, Box, etc., and how they compare in terms of pricing.

[#2 · Accepted solution]

@boboman 

Here's a comparison of Microsoft 365 storage options with popular external storage services like Dropbox and Box:

1. Microsoft 365 (OneDrive for Business):
• Pricing: Included in Microsoft 365 subscription plans.
• Storage: Typically includes 1 TB per user (varies based on subscription plan).
• Integration: Seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Office applications and SharePoint.
• Collaboration: Excellent collaboration features, including real-time co-authoring and sharing.
2. Microsoft Azure Storage:
• Pricing: Pay-as-you-go pricing model, with various storage tiers (hot, cool, archive).
• Storage: Flexible storage options, including Blob Storage, File Storage, and Queue Storage.
• Integration: Can be integrated with SharePoint and other Microsoft 365 services, but may require additional configuration.
• Scalability: Highly scalable and customizable based on requirements.
• Transition: Transitioning to Azure Storage may require some initial setup and configuration but can be seamlessly integrated with existing Microsoft 365 services.
3. Dropbox Business:
• Pricing: Offers various pricing plans starting at $15 per user per month with 5 TB of storage (minimum of 3 users).
• Storage: Provides generous storage quotas based on the selected plan.
• Integration: Offers integration with Microsoft Office applications but may not be as seamless as OneDrive for Business.
• Collaboration: Robust collaboration features, including file sharing, commenting, and version history.
4. Box:
• Pricing: Starts at $7 per user per month for the Starter plan with 100 GB storage (minimum of 3 users).
• Storage: Provides scalable storage options with generous quotas based on the selected plan.
• Integration: Offers integration with Microsoft Office applications and various third-party apps.
• Collaboration: Similar to Dropbox, Box offers advanced collaboration features suitable for business use.

Considerations:

• Integration: Microsoft 365 services offer seamless integration with OneDrive for Business and SharePoint, which may be advantageous if your organization heavily relies on Microsoft Office applications.
• Cost: While external storage services like Dropbox and Box offer competitive pricing, the total cost of ownership should be evaluated, considering factors such as integration, collaboration features, and support.
• Data Governance: Depending on your organization's requirements, ensure that the chosen storage solution complies with data governance policies and regulations.

Ultimately, the choice of storage solution depends on your organization's specific needs, budget, and existing infrastructure. It's essential to evaluate each option thoroughly before making a decision. FormularbeginnThe text and steps were edited with the help of AI.

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[#3]

Dropbox or Box could offer cheaper alternatives compared to Azure for additional storage. Consider comparing their pricing and features.