The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Log in

Google Drive

Google Drive

What is a Google Team Drive?

Google Team Drive is a shared space that allow teams to store, search, and access their files anywhere from any device. Unlike My Drive, Team Drive belongs to an entire Team instead of an individual. This is essentially a shared network directory that you can access anywhere in the world as long as you have an Internet connection.

Why should you use a Google Team Drive?

  1. It makes the “onboarding” of new members to a group much easier. Past documents, presentations, important information, etc. Is readily accessible and easy to find in one location.
  2. Files stay in the team drive even if the person who created the document leaves the team.
  3. It’s easy to add/remove permissions of members to the team drive. You can quickly and easily control access levels such as: viewing, editing, creating, and deleting of files (and more).
  4. Deleted files go to the “trash” for 30 days. Any mistakenly deleted files can be restored or conversely the trash can be emptied manually at any time.
  5. Multiple users can participate with live edits on the same shared document.

 

Differences between a Google Team Drive and your own personal “My Drive”

 

Google Team Drives

My Drive

Who owns files and folders?

The team

The individual who created the file or folder

Can I restore files?

Yes, if you have edit access or full access.

Yes, if you created it.

Can I move files?

Yes, depending on your access level in the current team drive and where you want to move the file to.

Yes

Can I move folders?

Only the domain admin can move folders inside Team Drives.

Yes

Sharing

All team members see the same file set.

Files can be shared to specific users outside the team, or to anyone using a provided URL.

Files can be shared to specific users, or to anyone using a provided URL.

How long do files I delete stay in Trash?

Each Team Drive has its own Trash. Only members with full access to the Team Drive can delete files. Files and folders in Trash are deleted permanently after 30 days or sooner if a full-access member deletes them first. Full access and edit access members can restore content from Trash.

If you own the file you delete, it’s automatically removed from Drive on all of your devices and on the web. Deleted files are moved to Trash. They still count toward your total storage until you permanently delete them from Trash. If you delete a file that you don’t own or that’s been shared with you, other people can still access it until the owner deletes it.

Google Drive cheat-sheet:

https://gsuite.google.com/learning-center/products/drive/cheat-sheet/#!/

General Google Team Drive information:

https://gsuite.google.com/learning-center/products/drive/get-started-team-drive/#!/