How can users prevent unwanted changes from others in Smartsheet?

Setting permissions for users at specific levels is a fundamental way to control access and prevent unwanted changes in Smartsheet. Permissions can be configured to allow different levels of interaction with a sheet, ranging from view-only access to full editing rights. This granularity enables the owner of the sheet to decide who can edit, comment, or even share the sheet further, thus maintaining the integrity of the data and preventing unauthorized alterations.

Establishing permissions ensures that only designated users can make changes, which helps mitigate the risk of accidental or malicious edits by others who may have less familiarity with the content or intent of the information. This approach also fosters better collaboration practices, as team members can work together while still protecting sensitive data from being altered by others.

While locking the entire sheet can prevent changes, it may not be practical for collaboration, as it restricts access to everyone. Email alerts for changes can notify users about updates but do not prevent them, and creating a separate sheet for sensitive information does not address the issue of current sheets that may require collaborative input. Therefore, managing access through user permissions is the most effective method for controlling changes in Smartsheet.