Improving Control, Design Flexibility, and Discoverability Across SharePoint and Microsoft 365
Microsoft continues to enhance SharePoint and Microsoft 365 with features that give organizations more control, greater design flexibility, and smarter ways to surface information. However, as these capabilities expand, success increasingly depends on intentional structure, governance, and usability-focused design.
In this session, the dataBridge team explored updates that help organizations manage access to Teams meeting artifacts, elevate SharePoint page design, streamline navigation through URL techniques, and take advantage of the refreshed SharePoint start experience.
Below is a recap of the key topics covered—and why they matter. This is one of the many areas where our SharePoint Consulting Services help organizations move from features to strategy.
Manage Access to Microsoft Teams Meeting Artifacts
John opened the session by introducing a new Microsoft Teams meeting option that gives organizers precise control over who can access meeting artifacts.
Meeting organizers can now decide who has access to:
Transcripts
Recordings
AI-generated recaps
Copilot summaries
Organizers can choose from three access models:
People with existing access
Organizers and co-organizers
Specific people
This added control helps organizations protect sensitive information while still enabling collaboration. It also reduces the risk of oversharing content after meetings—an important consideration as Teams becomes more deeply integrated with SharePoint and Microsoft 365 governance models.
These controls are especially valuable when aligned with broader SharePoint Architecture & Governance practices.
Customize Section Backgrounds on SharePoint Pages
Next, Katie demonstrated how to apply custom images to section backgrounds on SharePoint Pages and News.
She walked through how content creators can:
Add custom background images to page sections
Adjust fill modes for better responsiveness
Apply gradient colors and overlays
Control opacity for improved readability
These enhancements give organizations more creative freedom while still working within modern SharePoint frameworks. When used thoughtfully, section backgrounds can improve storytelling, highlight key content, and reinforce branding—without sacrificing accessibility or consistency.
This flexibility pairs naturally with SharePoint Design & Development best practices.
Apply Shapes to Images in SharePoint
Katie also covered a newer visual enhancement: applying shapes to images in SharePoint.
Users can now apply shapes such as:
Square
Circle
Triangle
Hexagon
Pebble
Teardrop
These shapes can be applied to both the Image web part and inline images within text web parts. This capability allows content creators to introduce visual variety and emphasis—especially on landing pages, intranet home pages, and news articles—without custom CSS or development.
As with all visual enhancements, consistency matters. Shape usage works best when guided by clear design standards, which are often defined during SharePoint Information Architecture & Metadata and design engagements.
Use Query String URL Techniques to Work Smarter in SharePoint
Dylan then shifted the focus to query string URL techniques that unlock powerful, lightweight customization across SharePoint and Microsoft 365.
He demonstrated how query strings can be used to:
Filter and sort lists or libraries without creating multiple views
Redirect users after form submissions
Pass search values into list or search result pages
Enable maintenance or debugging modes for pages and web parts
These techniques offer flexible solutions without introducing additional views, automation, or development overhead. When used intentionally, query strings improve usability while keeping environments clean and maintainable.
This approach aligns well with dataBridge’s consulting-first philosophy—solving problems with structure and strategy before introducing complexity.
Explore the Revamped SharePoint Start Experience
Finally, Hayden walked through Microsoft’s revamped SharePoint start experience, which is designed to make content creation faster and more intuitive.
The new experience helps content creators:
Create sites, pages, and news with fewer clicks
Return to drafts and recently edited content
Review engagement metrics in one place
Manage ongoing publishing efforts more efficiently
By centralizing creation and visibility, the updated SharePoint start experience encourages consistent publishing and better content lifecycle management—especially when paired with SharePoint Adoption & Change Management initiatives.
Why These Updates Matter Together
While these features span Teams, page design, navigation techniques, and publishing workflows, they all point to the same conclusion: modern SharePoint environments thrive when control, usability, and governance evolve together.
Organizations that take full advantage of these updates:
Protect sensitive content more effectively
Empower content creators without losing consistency
Reduce clutter and manual workarounds
Improve adoption across Microsoft 365
If your environment is growing—or starting to feel inconsistent—this is often the right time to step back and reassess. A SharePoint Discovery & Readiness Assessment can help identify where structure, governance, and user experience need to align.
