Who Legitimate SharePoint Documents Come From

Every day, people receive SharePoint document links in their inboxes, but not all of them are safe. The question is, who do legitimate SharePoint documents come from, and how to check real or fake messages. All these types of questions will be discussed here.

I’ll explain:

How SharePoint Sharing Works

Who Do Legitimate SharePoint Documents Come From?

#1. Known Users Within Your Organization

#2. External Collaborators with Verified Microsoft Accounts

#3. Microsoft System Notifications

How to Check If a SharePoint Document Is Fake

#1. Check the Email Address

#2. Hover Over the Link

#3. Look for Typos or Urgency

#4. Contact the Sender Directly

Author’s Verdict

People Also Ask

When someone shares a file or document from SharePoint, Microsoft sends an automated email to the recipient. These notifications are generated directly by Microsoft and include the sender’s name and email, as well as a secure link to view the file.

The sender email for a legitimate SharePoint sharing notification is:
no-reply@sharepointonline.com

In some cases, I’ve also seen:
no-reply@onedrive.com

These addresses are trustworthy if they include the real sender’s name and email in the body of the message and link to a proper Microsoft domain. Additionally, it’s useful to install or update SharePoint Online management shell to monitor notifications automatically.

Understand this clearly with the help of an infographic:

Who Do Legitimate SharePoint Documents Come From?

Legitimate SharePoint documents usually come from the following sources:

#1. Known Users Within Your Organization

If you’re in a company that uses SharePoint, your colleagues may share files or folders with you. In this case:

The sender’s name and email will match someone you know.
The link will point to your organisation’s SharePoint site, e.g., https://sharepointmigrator.sharepoint.com.

I always recommend hovering over the link to verify the domain before clicking.

#2. External Collaborators with Verified Microsoft Accounts

SharePoint enables external sharing to collaborate with clients or vendors. However, the sender’s Microsoft 365 account must be verified and allowed by the admin. You’ll still see:

A message sent via SharePoint/OneDrive
The sender’s actual name and email address
A link with Microsoft’s domain, like sharepoint.com, 1drv.ms, etc.

#3. Microsoft System Notifications

Who do legitimate SharePoint documents come from? Sometimes, SharePoint itself sends automated messages, like access requests or alerts. These come from Microsoft servers, e.g., no-reply@sharepointonline.com, but will include specific context such as:

The document or folder name
The user who triggered the action
A secure Microsoft domain link

You can even customise notification emails sent from SharePoint, with the help of the official Microsoft guide on how to manage these messages.

How to Check If a SharePoint Document Is Fake

Here’s what I check to confirm legitimacy:

#1. Check the Email Address

If it’s not from a trusted Microsoft domain, e.g., @sharepointonline.com, @microsoft.com, or @anytrustedcompany.com, don’t trust it.

#2. Hover Over the Link

Make sure it points to a real SharePoint or OneDrive domain:

https://anytrustedcompany.sharepoint.com/...

```
https://1drv.ms/...
```

#3. Look for Typos or Urgency

Phishing emails often contain:

Grammatical mistakes
Fake urgency like Document will expire in 1 hour!
Vague messages like View your invoice

I understood the general phishing tactics through this FTC guide on spotting phishing scams.

#4. Contact the Sender Directly

If I’m unsure, I always call, message, or email the person to verify they sent it. If you’re unable to verify the sender due to admin connection issues, fixing the Connect-SPOService: Could Not Connect to SharePoint Online will help you gain access.

Who Do Legitimate SharePoint Documents Come From – Why This Matters

One of my clients once received a SharePoint invite to review Quarterly Budget Reports. My client clicked on it, and his account was hacked, and all the data, along with the company’s confidential information, was leaked.

That’s why I always confirm the sender and domain, and double-check the user is real or fake. Sometimes, even legitimate links not work due to permission issues. If that happens, you can refer to why is my SharePoint link not working for troubleshooting tips.

What You Should Do

Trust but verify the source.
Educate your team about phishing and fake SharePoint links.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to block unauthorised access.

Author’s Verdict

So, who do legitimate SharePoint documents come from? It can be your coworkers, external collaborators, or Microsoft’s systems. But even then, never click on the link shared file without checking the sender, the link, and the context.