Syncing and Securing your Data

How can I sync my data to the cloud?

Syncing allows you to automatically send your files to the cloud, and download these files from any device - as long as you have access to an internet connection.

Sync with OneDrive on Microsoft's site has information on:

  • Syncing your files in Windows and Mac
  • Syncing Teams files
  • Backing up your documents, pictures and desktop folders

However, when it comes to sensitive or confidential data, you will need to take into consideration that these types of data must be on an encrypted hard drive.

Storage of sensitive and confidential data in the cloud is acceptable and protected by our existing Microsoft Agreement; however you need to be aware that local synced copies of your data that are not stored on encrypted hard drive do not meet Western's data classification standard or data handling procedures for sensitive and confidential information and must be protected against local syncing. This means that you will need to secure your data from being synced locally.

How can I secure my files from syncing locally?

Sensitive or confidential data in Office 365 needs to be protected from being locally synced as you work across different computers at home or in the office.

This means that if you choose to locally sync to a device, these files will be downloaded to the device and stored there. If the device's hard drive is unencrypted, you run the risk of the data being compromised should the device be stolen.

You have the ability to adjust local syncing of files to adhere to Western Policies with the following steps:

Selective Sync

  1. Right-click on the OneDrive icon in your system tray (usually located near the clock).
  2. Select "Settings”.
  3. Go to the “Account” tab.
  4. Click “Choose folders”.
  5. Uncheck the folders you don’t want to sync locally.
  6. Click “OK” to save your changes.

Laptops and workstations that are using Microsoft Office 365 and syncing data locally, must use a Western login to access the laptop or workstation and the local drive where sync folders are created must be hard drive encrypted.

Published on  and maintained in Cascade.