How Much Does It Cost to Increase SharePoint Storage?

Overview of SharePoint Storage Plans

SharePoint offers a variety of storage plans designed to accommodate different organizational needs and sizes. These plans typically include a base amount of storage, with options to increase capacity as required.

Plan Type	Description
Standard	Intended for smaller organizations, standard SharePoint plans provide a foundational level of storage. These plans are often included in basic Microsoft 365 subscriptions and offer sufficient space for smaller teams and projects.
Enterprise	For larger organizations with extensive storage requirements, enterprise SharePoint plans offer significantly more storage capacity. These plans often include additional features and functionalities to support complex workflows and collaboration needs.
Add-On	To augment existing storage limits, many SharePoint plans allow for the purchase of additional storage capacity. This option provides flexibility to scale storage as needed without upgrading to a higher plan tier.

SharePoint Storage Pricing Models

SharePoint storage is typically priced based on different models, each with its own implications for cost calculation.

Per-User Licensing

In this model, storage is allocated based on the number of users within an organization. Each user is assigned a specific storage quota, and the total storage capacity is determined by the number of licensed users.

Capacity-Based Licensing

Organizations opting for capacity-based licensing pay for a predetermined amount of storage, regardless of the number of users. This model offers more flexibility in terms of storage allocation but may result in unused capacity if not managed effectively.

Hybrid Models

Some SharePoint plans combine elements of both per-user and capacity-based licensing. This hybrid approach provides a balance between user-based allocation and overall storage capacity.

Factors That Affects SharePoint Storage Costs

Several factors influence the overall cost of SharePoint storage:

• Storage Capacity: The amount of storage required directly impacts the pricing. Larger storage needs typically result in higher costs.
• Number of Users: For per-user licensing models, the number of active users determines the total storage allocation.
• SharePoint Plan: Different SharePoint plans offer varying storage capacities and pricing structures.
• Additional Features: Optional features and add-ons, such as advanced security or compliance tools, might incur extra costs.
• Data Growth: The rate at which data accumulates within SharePoint can affect storage costs over time.
• Third-Party Integrations: Integrating SharePoint with other applications or services may introduce additional storage-related expenses.

How to Make Most of SharePoint Storage?

Implementing effective storage management strategies can help control costs and optimize SharePoint utilization:

Regular Cleanup

Deleting unnecessary files and folders is a fundamental step in reclaiming SharePoint storage. Regularly auditing your SharePoint environment to identify and remove unused or outdated content can significantly free up space.

File Compression

Optimizing file sizes through compression can reduce storage consumption without compromising quality. Compressing images, videos, and other large files can yield substantial storage savings.

Version Control

Effective management of document versions is crucial to prevent storage bloat. Implementing versioning policies, retaining only essential versions, and regularly reviewing version history can help optimize storage utilization.

Additional Cloud Options

Offloading large or infrequently accessed files to other cloud drives can alleviate pressure on SharePoint storage. For example, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive are all great choices. You can download those seldom-used files from SharePoint to the local storage, and then manually re-upload them to the alternative cloud. Or, to save time and energey, you can directly turn to MultCloud, a professional cloud to cloud transfer tool.

Storage Quotas

Implementing storage quotas for individual users or teams can help control storage consumption and prevent excessive usage. By setting limits, organizations can allocate storage resources more effectively.