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Where should I store my project data?

Where should I store my project data?

There are many storage options available to faculty, staff and graduate students and Health Computing staff are available to assist you in identifying the best solutions - reach out to us. But first….

Start by reviewing data sensitivity and risk assessment documents to determine what type of data you are storing two documents help here:

  1. Guidelines for secure data exchange: Choosing information transmission methods based on the security classification. 

  2. Research data risk classification framework and guidelines

Then visit Data Storage Solutions - an online tool that helps you identify storage options based on responses to a series of questions.

You can also reflect on these four questions and then revisit the questions on the Data Storage Solutions page: 

  1. Do I want a space for file delivery/transfer or collaboration? For collaboration work, you need space to store the files, modify the content and collaborate with others (such as offered by network storage, Teams or SharePoint). For delivery or transfer of files, you need space for others to be able to access or retrieve the files, but long-term access is not required. In these cases, a service like SendIt can be used or you can share a file/folder in OneDrive. 

  2. What kind of data am I storing? Does it contain restricted or highly restricted information? Refer to the Guidelines for secure data exchange: Choosing information transmission methods based on the security classification and Research data risk classification framework and guidelines mentioned above.

  3. What is the scope of the collaboration? Is this a small, ad-hoc, short-term collaboration or is this a larger, on-going collaboration? Personal file sharing (using OneDrive) can be used for small, very short-term sharing and collaboration. For longer-term or larger group collaboration, you should use other options such as Teams, SharePoint, Health Research storage space or other network storage (R: drive for administration or other server space). Refer to https://uwaterloo.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ISTKB/pages/2216853539.

  4. Who do I need to have access to the data? Does the data need to be accessed by people outside of UWaterloo? External people can be added to Teams. HealthCloud is an UWaterloo-hosted option that is available for cases where cloud-based storage is not permitted. For external sharing options using OneDrive or SharePoint refer to https://uwaterloo.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ISTKB/pages/42914152467 online and https://uwaterloo.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ISTKB/pages/262013330.