Bitrix24 Drive Integration with Cloud Storage
A company migrates to Bitrix24, but files already live in Google Drive. Part of the team works via OneDrive because they have corporate Microsoft 365. Contractors drop materials in Dropbox. Forcing everyone to instantly move to Bitrix24 Drive is unrealistic. That's why you need integration: files stay in familiar storage but are accessible from Bitrix24.
Supported Storage Services
Bitrix24 integrates out-of-the-box with three cloud services:
| Storage | What Connects | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Personal Drive or Shared Drives | OAuth 2.0 auth, Google Docs support |
| OneDrive | Personal OneDrive or SharePoint | Microsoft auth, Office Online support |
| Dropbox | Personal or Business account | OAuth connection, folder sync |
Each employee connects their own storage individually through Drive settings. The admin can connect shared storage for the entire company (relevant for Google Shared Drives and SharePoint).
How It Works
Connected storage appears in Bitrix24 Drive as a separate folder. An employee sees their Google Drive files right in Bitrix24—can open them, attach to tasks, send in chat.
Technically, Bitrix24 doesn't copy files—it calls the storage API and displays content. The file physically remains in Google Drive / OneDrive / Dropbox. This means:
- No duplication—the file doesn't take space on Bitrix24 Drive
- Always current—changes in storage appear immediately in Bitrix24
- Storage permissions preserved—if a file is restricted in Google Drive, the user won't see it in Bitrix24 either
Sync Configuration
For each connected storage, we configure:
- Connection scope—the entire storage or specific folders. No point connecting all of Google Drive with personal photos—just work folders.
- Sync direction—usually two-way: changes in Bitrix24 reflect in storage and vice versa. For archive folders, you can set read-only.
- Update frequency—how often Bitrix24 checks for storage changes. Default: when opening a folder. For critical folders, periodic sync can be set.
Conflict Resolution
A conflict occurs when the same file is modified simultaneously in Bitrix24 and in storage. Bitrix24 handles this by:
- Creating a conflict copy with a label (employee name, date)
- Saving both versions—the user manually chooses the actual one
- Notifying both change authors
To minimize conflicts, designate a primary storage for each file type: marketing materials in Google Drive, financial docs in Bitrix24 Drive, contractor files in Dropbox. Document this in your policy.
Limitations
Important to understand integration boundaries:
- Search—Bitrix24's full-text search doesn't index file content in external storage. Search works only on file names.
- Business processes—Bitrix24 workflow (approvals, routes) works only with Bitrix24 Drive files. External files must be copied to Drive first.
- File size—external storage limits remain in effect. Google Drive and OneDrive APIs have upload size restrictions.
What We Configure
- Connection of Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox to Bitrix24 Drive
- Sync scope: folder selection, direction, frequency
- Conflict resolution rules and notifications
- Company shared storage (Shared Drives, SharePoint)
- Usage policy: which files go where
- Employee training on working with connected storage