When creating sites in SharePoint Online, the default options are a Team Site (public or private); or a Communication Site template. The former is connected to a Microsoft 365 group. The latter is a stand-alone SharePoint site.

For a Microsoft 365 group connected SharePoint site, the basic permission levels are as follows. They are applied to the connected Microsoft 365 Group and managed from the front-end of the site.

Permission Level	Description	Permissions
Group Owner	Full control of the connected Microsoft 365 Group, including permission management, customization, and group settings.	– All Site Owner permissions – Manage group membership – Manage group settings
Group Member	Can contribute content to the group, including adding, editing, and deleting items.	– All Site Member permissions – View and contribute to the group calendar and OneNote notebook
Group Visitor	Read-only access to the group and its content.	– All Site Visitor permissions – View the group calendar and OneNote notebook

In a stand-alone SharePoint Online site are as follows and are managed from Settings > Site Permissions > Advanced Permissions.

Permission Level	Description	Permissions
Site Collection Administrator	Full control over all sites, content, settings and site collection features within the site collection.	– All Site Owner permissions – Manage site collections and settings – Create and manage site collections – View site usage reports
Site Owner	Full control of the site, including permission management, customization, and site settings.	– Manage Permissions – Create and manage sub-sites if activated – Add or remove users from groups – Manage site features and settings
Site Member	Can contribute content to the site, including adding, editing, and deleting items.	– Add, edit, and delete items in lists and libraries – Create subsites if given permission – View and change own user information
Site Visitor	Read-only access to the site and its content.	– View items in lists and libraries – Download documents – View pages and site settings – View user information

Permissions can be customised to specific requirements – for example limiting the ability to delete content. These are just the basics. When planning content for SharePoint, start with the permissions and work backwards from there.

There is a specific “Edit Rights” permission level caveat on Site Members that we will cover in another blog.