Five Key Steps to Managing SharePoint Users

By Dux Raymond Sy (@meetdux) Mar 22, 2010

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Managing user permissions in SharePoint can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it empowers users to be responsible for defining who can do what on SharePoint sites without heavily relying on IT. However, on the flip side, user management can be a total mess without proper guidance and a well-defined process.

“I can’t upload to the Shared Documents library!”

“Since you bought me dinner last night, sure, I can grant you Full Control permission.”

“Nobody knows who has access to what in our SharePoint environment”

Sound familiar? A common factor in mismanaged SharePoint site users is the lack of proper understanding on how SharePoint site membership works. Watch this screencast to have a good foundational knowledge:

SharePoint Security 101 from Dux Raymond Sy on Vimeo

Here are five practical steps that every SharePoint site owner can do to effectively manage SharePoint users:

1. Identify Communication Requirements

Before users are added to a SharePoint site, it is important to identify the communication needs of individuals that are to be added to the site. For example, if you have a SharePoint site used for projects, the communication requirements may look like:

Identify Communication Requirements

2. Group Site Users

Once you know what the communication needs are for your site members, group them based on SharePoint groups. By default, three SharePoint groups are created for each SharePoint site. These groups correspond to a specific permission level — it defines what a user can do and cannot do on the site.

By grouping users, it is easier to manage and maintain site permissions compared to assigning a permission level directly to a site user.

Group Users

3. Map Communication Requirements to List or Library Permissions

Site permissions get out of whack typically when SharePoint lists or libraries are aimlessly redefined. An effective way to prevent permissions mismanagement is to identify varying list or library permissions from the get go based on their communication needs from step 1:

Map Communication Requirements

Editor's Note: Read more SharePoint guidance from Dux Raymond Sy including
5 Reasons Why Executive SharePoint Ignorance is Not Bliss".

4. Enforce Permission Change Management

Directly related to aimlessly changing site permissions is the lack of a structured process of why permissions are changed within a SharePoint site. By enforcing a permission change management process, the risk of site permission mismanagement is greatly reduced.