The Shift from SharePoint Subsites to Modern Site Architectures

After working with SharePoint technology for so long and with the advent of the new SharePoint modern platform, it seems that Microsoft is now discouraging the use of SharePoint subsites. In SharePoint, the hierarchy is Site Collection > Site > Subsite. Each can have its own permissions or inherit permissions from their parent. This structure is good for organizing sites, such as having separate subsites for HR, IT, Operations, etc.

However, in the modern SharePoint platform, there is a heavy reliance on Microsoft 365 groups. These groups can only be applied to sites, not subsites. Once a site is connected to a Microsoft 365 group, all the resources like Planner, Teams, Outlook, etc., are shared. But if you want the same features in a subsite, it is not possible.

This shift is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to simplify site management and enhance collaboration. Modern SharePoint sites are designed to be more flexible and scalable, making it easier for organizations to manage their content and resources.

Here comes the concept of Hub Sites. Hub sites are not the same as subsites. A hub site is a central site that connects and organizes related sites. Some of the features and benefits of hub sites include:

• Shared Navigation and Branding: When you associate a site with a hub site, it inherits the hub site’s navigation and theme, providing a consistent look and feel across all associated sites.

• Content Roll-Up: Hub sites aggregate news, events, and site activities from all associated sites, making it easier to discover related content.

• Search Across Sites: When you search from a hub site, the results include content from the hub site itself and all associated sites, improving content discovery.

Conclusion

While the traditional subsite model offered a structured way to organize content, the modern SharePoint platform mainly focuses on site collections and Microsoft 365 groups. This new approach provides a more streamlined and efficient way to manage and collaborate within an organization.