#Microsoft rms sharing software
#Microsoft rms sharing windows

Although you can share documents with users outside the organization they must be a user in Windows Active Directory.Īnother disadvantage to RMS is that it does not support use on regular browsers. Alternatively, they may be able to select a template or select specific protection options. In other cases, end users must apply for the document protection themselves from their Office applications by selecting a classification label (that is configured by an administrator) to apply for protection. The Azure Rights Management service can be set to automatically apply for document protection, according to policies that administrators create. Also, due to this integration and control by Microsoft, if there was ever a breach in the system, it would potentially affect all RMS clients and their data. So, it is impossible for apps other than the Microsoft Office Suite to function with the RMS. Through the integration stated above, Microsoft has made sure that third-party modifications to the RMS platform are impossible. Basically, there is a lot to configure, integrate and get right. and this connects to Windows server active directory for identity management.

Users of RMS can, therefore, send documents to any other user, without there being a need to download software for either of them.ĭocuments must reside on a Windows server running File Services which then connect to on-premises servers running Exchange, Sharepoint, etc. RMS functionality is also currently available on both desktop and mobile platforms under the name “Office everywhere encryption everywhere”. Enterprises using RMS will have to ensure that all document recipients and users use Microsoft Office products, otherwise, they will not be able to open and decrypt the documents.

Of concern is how tightly RMS and Office are currently integrated. This makes it possible to share documents outside an organization’s firewall. Microsoft has since found a way to tackle this by using Azure Active Directory and Azure RMS which is the cloud version of the software. The reason for this is that the active directory environment of the creator of the document may differ from that of the document consumer. Originally, it worked quite well with internal document distribution but presented a problem when it came to external sharing. It has been used over the years for rights management of documents, mostly in enterprise settings, and has helped protect trade secrets among other things. Like the name suggests, this is a product offered by Microsoft and was built for the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. We will, therefore, look at both options in depth in an effort to help you make the right decision when picking one for your business. They also both have their advantages and disadvantages.

But, the truth is that both are viable options and have practical applications in the real world. Whether Microsoft Rights Management Services (RMS) or Document Digital Rights Management (DRM) is best will be a subject of debate for anyone looking to secure his or her documents from unauthorized viewing.

#Microsoft rms sharing software