Unfortunately I have never used Sharepoint, but being pretty well versed in Microsoft Technologies, it probably isn't too hard to configure. Our solution for content management was done via a CMS (Content Management System) called PHP-Fusion. This is an entirely web based 'program' that allows for groups to be made and for specific users to be able to do specific things (user rights management). All your server must have to support this is either Windows Server 2000, 2003, 2008, or any Linux Distro, (even mac may work) that is running preferably Apache with the PHP Mod and MySQL. You may view what we have done at
www.team1676.com.