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MCC Daily Tribune

Tech Tip: Easy Collaboration using Microsoft Teams

Back in 2021, the college adopted the use of Microsoft Teams for online chat (replacing Skype for Business). Teams offers other useful ways to collaborate using one platform – besides chat, you can call/video call, hold online meetings, and access your files from anywhere. Teams can also be used to share files without requiring sign in to VPN. The self-service functions of cloud collaboration tools can make for an easier and more efficient way to work. Want to access your files anytime anywhere and not go through signing into VPN? Microsoft Teams is the answer!

Sharing files using Microsoft Teams offers several advantages: 

  • Collaborative editing in any Channel for members of that Team.  
  • While real-time collaborative editing can take a little getting used to, it streamlines the process of collaboration by eliminating manually tracking changes in multiple documents as copies are sent back and forth through email.  
  • File Explorer can be used to access files shared in Teams by linking the files using OneDrive through office.com.  No VPN required to access the files in Teams!
  • With a little setup, accessing files in Teams can look and feel just like finding files on your desktop or the M-Drive. 
  • Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection (no VPN needed) by signing into Microsoft Teams. 
  • Do you find Acronis awkward to navigate? Would you like the ease of accessing a file just by opening it?  Once you are signed into Teams, you can access shared files by just clicking on them–all you need is an internet connection. 
  • Real-time changing of Team members and permissions. 
  • Using Teams/OneDrive empowers the Teams/OneDrive data owner(s) to establish sharing permissions for individuals directly without having to put in requests. Currently, employees already establish permissions related to data security and protection in M:\MCC\Teams, it is just that Technology Services staff are “clicking the buttons” for them. 
  • Cost savings 
  • MS Teams/OneDrive are part of our campus-wide Microsoft licensing and do not require expensive storage and the maintenance of physical drives by MCC staff. 

Several other SUNY schools are in process of moving from on-premise file servers to using Teams/OneDrive for all shared files including SUNY Orange, SUNY Canton, Buff State, and SUNY Morrisville.  

To create a Team: 

  1. Go to the top level of Teams. This can be done by clicking on the Teams icon in the sidebar twice. 
  2. Next click on Join or create team. 
  3. Then click on Create team. 
  4. Choose the type of team you would like to create. 
  5. Give the team a name and choose the privacy level of the team. 
  6. Click the Next button. 
  7. Add names of people you want on the team. 
  8. Click the Next button. 
  9. Choose the level of access you want the participants to have. Every team should have more than one owner. 
  10. Click the Close button and your new team will open. 

If you would like assistance in creating the team, you can contact Employee Technical support at 585-292-8324, option 3 (Monday through Friday from 8:45am to 4:45pm). 

Ann Penwarden
Computing & Information Technology Services
03/25/2025