# Lesson Notes — File Sharing Permissions & Cloud Security

- Link: https://doss.academy/course-1-computer-literacy/unit-8-cloud-computing-collaboration/lesson-3-file-sharing-permissions-cloud-security-c1u8l3/lesson-notes-c1u8l3/
- Published: 2026-10-19T12:11:50-04:00
- Author: matthew.leffler@jefferson.kyschools.us

Course 1: Computer Literacy / Unit 8: Cloud Computing & Collaboration / Lesson 3:
File Sharing Permissions & Cloud Security

## Lesson overview

Sharing a file is easy, and sharing it too widely is just as easy. **Sharing permissions**
are the settings that decide who can open a file and what they can do with it. Setting
them carefully is a core part of **cloud security**.

## Who can open it

 * **Restricted access:** only the specific people you name can open the file.
 * **Public link:** anyone who has the link can open it, even if you never added
   them. A link can be forwarded or posted, so treat it as public.

## What they can do

 * **Viewer:** can read the file but not change it.
 * **Commenter:** can read and leave comments.
 * **Editor:** can change the file and often change who it is shared with.

Give people the lowest level they need to do their job. A classmate who only needs
to read your essay should be a viewer. This idea is called the principle of least
privilege.

## Access control and inheritance

**Access control** is the set of rules for who can reach what. Folders have **inheritance**,
which means files placed inside a shared folder usually take on that folder’s sharing
settings. If you move a private file into a shared folder, you may share it by accident.

## Protecting data in the cloud

 * **Encryption** scrambles data so only someone with the right key can read it.
   Cloud providers usually encrypt files while they are stored and while they travel.
 * Use a strong password and multi-factor authentication on the account that holds
   your files.
 * Review who has access from time to time and remove people who no longer need 
   it.

## Check your understanding

 1. What is the difference between restricted access and a public link?
 2. A group member asks to be an editor, but you only need them to read the file. What
    do you do?
 3. Why can moving a file into a shared folder be risky?

Use this lesson’s Key Terms page to build your glossary.