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How to Share Secure Links with External Recipients

Sharing secure links from SharePoint Online with users outside your organization can be a convenient way to collaborate and exchange information. However, you may encounter some challenges when external recipients try to access the secure links. Here are some tips to help you share secure links successfully and securely.

What is a secure link?

A secure link is a link that requires verification before granting access to the shared content. When you share a secure link from SharePoint Online, you can choose to require a verification code or an email address for external recipients. This adds an extra layer of security and prevents unauthorized access to your files or folders.

How to share a secure link?

To share a secure link from SharePoint Online, follow these steps:

1. Select the file or folder you want to share and click Share.
2. Under Link settings, select Specific people.
3. Enter the email addresses of the external recipients you want to share with.
4. Choose whether you want to require a verification code or an email address for each recipient.
5. Click Apply and then Send.

How to access a secure link?

When external recipients receive a secure link from SharePoint Online, they need to follow these steps to access the shared content:

1. Click on the secure link in the email message.
2. If prompted, enter the verification code that was sent to their email address. If they don’t see the verification code email, they should check their Junk Email or Spam folder.
3. If prompted, enter the email address that was used to share the secure link with them.
4. Click Continue and then Sign in.

How to check if a link is secure?

Before clicking on any link, you should always check if it is safe and trustworthy. You can use various tools and methods to scan a link for security issues. For example, you can use a link scanner website or plug-in that lets you enter the URL of a suspicious link and check it for safety. You can also look for security indicators in your browser, such as a lock icon or a green padlock next to the web address. These symbols indicate that the site has a security certificate and that your connection with the site is encrypted.

Conclusion

Sharing secure links from SharePoint Online can be a great way to collaborate with external users, but you need to be aware of some potential challenges and solutions. By following the steps above, you can share and access secure links easily and securely. You can also use various tools and methods to check if a link is safe before clicking on it. Remember to always be cautious and vigilant when dealing with online links and content.

How to troubleshoot secure link issues?

Sometimes, you may encounter some issues when sharing or accessing secure links from SharePoint Online. For example, you may not be able to share a secure link with certain external recipients, or you may not receive the verification code email. Here are some common problems and solutions:

• If you can’t share a secure link with an external recipient, check if your organization’s sharing settings allow you to share with anyone or only with existing guests. You can also check if the recipient’s email domain is blocked or allowed by your organization.
• If you don’t receive the verification code email, check your Junk Email or Spam folder. You can also ask the sender to resend the secure link or the verification code. If you still don’t receive it, contact your IT administrator or Microsoft support.
• If you can’t access a secure link, check if you entered the correct verification code or email address. You can also check if the secure link has expired or been revoked by the sender. If you still can’t access it, contact the sender or Microsoft support.

How to manage your shared secure links?

If you want to keep track of your shared secure links from SharePoint Online, you can use the Manage access panel. This panel lets you see who has access to your files or folders, and what level of permission they have. You can also change or revoke access for any recipient, or stop sharing a file or folder completely. To use the Manage access panel, follow these steps:

1. Select the file or folder you want to manage and click Share.
2. Click Manage access.
3. Under Links giving access, you can see all the secure links you have created for this file or folder. You can click on each link to see more details, such as who has access and when it expires.
4. To change the permission level for a link, click on the drop-down menu next to it and select View only or Edit.
5. To revoke access for a link, click on the X icon next to it and confirm.
6. To stop sharing a file or folder completely, click Stop sharing and confirm.