An item is shared based on an information boundary and access control settings. An application such as a document management application detects a selection of an information boundary to manage a sharing action associated with the item. The information boundary includes rules to define how the item is shared. A selection of an access control list is also detected to manage recipients who have an access to the item. The access control list allows a recipient in the list an ability to search and discover the item. In response to a detection of the sharing action to share the item, the information boundary and the access control list is applied to the item. The item is then shared based on the information boundary and the access control list through a link of the item transmitted to a recipient.