A guy uploaded 75TB data and broke Microsoft servers
A year ago storage limits became a thing of the past with Office 365. A year later, Microsoft has realised that offering unlimited OneDrive storage at no additional cost to Office 365 customers wasn't so much of a good idea. The Redmond giant just pulled the plug on OneDrive unlimited storage, once a highly advertised endeavor, and as it turn out a highly abused one at that as well.
Those of you who signed up to Office 365 just so you can use unlimited OneDrive space (among other things), well, you can't. Microsoft won't let you. Why? Because a small number of users backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings, exceeding 75TB per user in some cases. In a nutshell, you can't enjoy unlimited OneDrive storage anymore because some random dude uploaded his entire movie collection just so he could at some point of time when unlimited OneDrive storage was the in-thing. And just because he did, all of eternity is doomed.
Those of you who signed up to Office 365 just so you can use unlimited OneDrive space (among other things), well, you can't. Microsoft won't let you. Why? Because a small number of users backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings, exceeding 75TB per user in some cases. In a nutshell, you can't enjoy unlimited OneDrive storage anymore because some random dude uploaded his entire movie collection just so he could at some point of time when unlimited OneDrive storage was the in-thing. And just because he did, all of eternity is doomed.
Microsoft on its part says that its new OneDrive storage plans change is in pursuit of productivity and collaboration. Just so it can make best use of the two -- and not be cheated again -- Microsoft has now put a cap on how much data you can save in your OneDrive storage. Office 365 Home, Personal and University subscribers will now get just 1TB of OneDrive storage, and in case you've stored in excess of 1TB, you will have to move it elsewhere in 12 months.
If you thought putting a new limit of 1 TB on OneDrive storage was the end of it, well, there's more. Microsoft is also decreasing its 'free' OneDrive storage from 15GB to 5GB for all users. At the same time it is also shunning its 100GB and 200GB paid plans, instead replacing them with one 50GB plan that will cost you $1.99 per month, starting early 2016. That said, if you're already using either of the 100GB or 200GB plans, you're allowed to continue.
Although 1TB of OneDrive storage will still be enough for many who simply use it to store their photos and documents, Microsoft just killed one of the major highlights of Office 365 that made it a knockout in front of rivals like Google and DropBox, but there's more than what meets the eye here. Microsoft basically changed nearly all of its OneDrive storage contracts. This is also a classic case of corporate doublespeak. A year ago storage limits became a thing of the past with Office 365. A year later Microsoft has decided to go against it, just so 'some' users don't misuse it.
