I am currently working on finding a suitable cloud solution for a non-profit where around 40 people need access to data. We currently use Dropbox, but this is too limited in terms of storage capacity, not everyone has access (more a management problem) and as a free version it is not possible to assign rights to users.
I am familiar with Owncloud, I used this during my studies at a study association. This was set up by a former board member at the time and I can manage users and update the software. So lately I have been trying to figure out the options, looking at paid options and also the option as a non-profit(Microsoft office 365 Non-profit and the G-Suite Non-profit). Hereby I came up with the requirements that we have Nextcloud is the best option and then to run this through our current VPS where our websites are running on.
Installation should not be a problem with the explanation that is here. But I am currently investigating how we can best organize the rights for users. Under the board we work with different commissions and projects, each of which deals with separate parts of the folder structure. The idea is that almost every commissions has reading rights everywhere because of the transparency of the organization and being able to find information.
The idea to assign the rights is through Group folders, which are set up and assigned to the groups by the admin account. Commission 1 then receives all rights in the Group folder of Commission 1, but only read rights in the other groups. In addition, everyone would get rights in the general folders. Then I come to the following overview:
Yes you can !
You have to look into the nextcloud folder you have a skeleton of those default files. You can delete them.
After that you can create your user.
If you create users before touching the skeleton… too late.
You cannot prohibit user to create/modify/delete files folders outside the GroupFolder. They have a private space that they can use. You could put quota on user, normally groupfolder don’t affect user quota.
It’s great that you’re considering Nextcloud for your non-profit’s storage solution. Based on my experience with Nextcloud, it’s indeed a robust choice, especially when it comes to managing user rights and access control. Group folders, as you mentioned, are a common and effective method for organizing rights, and they provide the transparency and access control you need within different commissions and projects.
To address your questions:
Rights Organization: Using Group folders is a common practice, and it seems like a suitable solution for your needs. It allows you to manage access efficiently, ensuring transparency and data security.
Preventing File Write Outside Main Folders: Yes, Nextcloud allows you to set strict permissions. You can configure user permissions to restrict them from writing files outside the designated main folders. This helps maintain data integrity.
Disabling Standard Nextcloud Files/Folders: You can indeed customize the Nextcloud skeleton by removing the default files and folders you don’t need. This gives you more control over the environment to tailor it to your non-profit’s specific requirements.
Potential Issues: While Nextcloud is a robust platform, keep an eye on regular updates and security patches. Ensure your VPS is well-maintained and secure to protect your data.
One piece of advice: Before making any changes, I recommend thoroughly testing your setup in a sandbox environment to ensure everything works as expected. This way, you can avoid any hiccups when rolling it out to your organization.
