Comparison
Title
Compare Options for Data & Document Storage
Challenge
As a student, faculty, or staff member, what are my options for online file storage for my project, my research or my department?
Solutions
There are a variety of options for online file storage depending on what your needs are and the type of data you need to store (see the Data Security Classification policy). We have outlined the available storage solutions, rated them for effort required, and identified key considerations.
Google Drive
Every student, faculty and staff member has access to Google Drive account through their UMN Internet ID and password. Google Drive can be used for storing, sharing and collaborating on files.
Recommended Resources
Effort Required
- Low
- Medium
- High
Key Considerations
- Create and share files and folders online
- Files can be accessed anywhere from any mobile device or computer
- Unlimited storage
- Not recommended for sensitive and private-highly restricted files
Box Secure Storage
Delivered by the Center of Excellence for HIPAA Data, Box Secure Storage is a secure environment intended for storing, sharing and accessing sensitive and private-highly restricted files. Our implementation of Box Secure Storage is specifically designed to be compliant with HIPAA and security standards for private-highly restricted data.
With Box Secure Storage, not only can you securely share files, you can also create, edit and review documents with others in real-time.
Recommended Resources
Effort Required
- Low
- Medium
- High
Key Considerations
- Compliant with HIPAA and security standards for private-highly restricted data
- Provides unlimited storage capacity for individual files up to 15 GB
- Includes encryption and activity logging
- Uses Duo Two-Factor Authentication and provides access controls such as view-only access
Google Team Drive
Google Team Drive is a shared space where teams can easily store, search, and access their files anywhere, from any device.
Files in Team Drive belong to the team instead of an individual. Even if members leave, the files stay exactly where they are so your team can continue to share information and get work done.
Recommended Resources
Effort Required
- Low
- Medium
- High
Key Considerations
- Files are owned by the team not by an individual
- All members of a Team Drive see the same content
- When a user is added to a Google Group they’re automatically added to all the Team Drives that include that group
- You can add external users to a Team Drive
General Data Storage
Store and share data and documents of any type and in any amount. General Data Storage is suitable for backups, archives, file-level storage, and general storage use.
Recommended Resources
Effort Required
- Low
- Medium
- High
Key Considerations
- Manage and move large amounts of data
- Easy access and meets most performance needs
- Integrates with active directory
- Protect your data using replication and snapshots
Storage for Servers
Storage for Servers is used for specific environments such as databases and virtual servers that require more storage resources to meet performance needs.Typically, Storage for Servers is used by departments and researchers needing a guaranteed high level of performance.
Recommended Resources
Effort Required
- Low
- Medium
- High
Key Considerations
- Guaranteed high level of performance
- Data is protected using scheduled backups
- Designed for use by servers
- Data is stored in blocks of a preset size
Supercomputing Storage
Through an agreement with the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) we have access to research storage and high-performance computing storage for data. If you have significantly large files, a large number of files, complex data, applications, or content, and/or data related to grant-funded projects you may need these fee-based storage services.
Recommended Resources
Effort Required
- Low
- Medium
- High
Key Considerations
- Access to a high-performance high-capacity primary storage platform
- Second tier storage with an object storage system supporting new workflows and inactive data parking
- Hadoop Cluster supporting MapReduce workflows on HDFS
- Database servers
Amazon Web Services Cloud Storage
University researchers, programs, and collegiate and non-collegiate units, can purchase Amazon Web Services (AWS) through our supplier agreement with the vendor, Cloudnexa.
Before purchasing these services, we are available to guide you through the process of determining whether cloud storage is right for you, and how you can obtain and use cloud storage to meet your research storage needs.
Recommended Resources
Effort Required
- Low
- Medium
- High
Key Considerations
- Amazon S3 simple storage service
- Off-campus data storage
- Amazon Glacier long-term archive