Use OneDrive to Keep Your Files Safe and Private

Update: This article has been updated to reflect the changes in how WCS employees login to devices. All WCS employees should have received their new login credentials. If you have not, please let us know and we will get you setup!

Using OneDrive to backup files can keep your files safe from virus attacks and other unfortunate events like that perfect cup of coffee that is now seeping into your hard drive. It happens.

So where do we begin? Let’s start with understanding what OneDrive is and explain its benefits.

First launched in August of 2007, OneDrive, which is a product of Microsoft and part of their Office 365 suite of productivity tools, is a file hosting and synchronization service.  File hosting involves the storage of files, such as Word documents, PDFs, images, or Excel spreadsheets.  The service stores an identical copy of a file that lives on your computer.  This allows you to work on the file from multiple devices and locations.  It also allows you to share the document so that others can access it or collaborate directly.  Lastly, it allows for a backup of your files should the worst-case scenario happen, err, the morning coffee.

There is more than one way to backup or store a file on OneDrive.  The most basic way is to upload one or more files directly to the cloud storage site.

Get Started with Uploading Files

Start by opening a browser such as Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.  Type office.com into the address bar and press enter.  Choose ‘sign-in’ and log in with your Office 365 credentials. These are the same credentials used to log in to your k12 e-mail.

Once signed in, choose ‘OneDrive’ from the list of Office 365 online applications.

OneDrive allows you to store over 300 types of files.

If you prefer using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, follow these directions:

Select Upload > Files or Upload > Folder.

Select the files or folder you want to upload.

Manually upload files

Select Open or Select Folder.

With other browsers:

Select Upload, select the files you want to upload, and select Open.

If you don’t see Upload > Folder, create a folder, and then upload the files to that folder.

Another way to store or backup your files is to allow OneDrive to automatically sync your files between your computer’s hard drive and the OneDrive cloud storage space. Currently, Wood County Schools employees are being asked to turn off or not use auto-sync. This may change in the future so we will be sure to update you if it does.

Would you like some more assistance? Reach out to a Technology Integration Specialist.

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