Primary Recommendations
These file storage methods are recommended and supported by WPI Information Technology (IT).
- Restricted Use Data is defined in the Action View Data Classification Policy.
- For additional information and instructions, please refer to the Related Items and Articles.
| Location | Usage | Quota/Creation | Access | Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneDrive Individual | Can share within and outside of WPI | 1 TB (15 GB max per file); automatically available with O365 access | portal.office.com; WPI credentials | Cloud storage maintained by Microsoft; deleted items recovery within 30 days |
| OneDrive Shared (SharePoint/Teams) | Can share within and outside of WPI | 25 TB; created per request | portal.office.com; WPI credentials | Cloud storage maintained by Microsoft; deleted items recovery within 30 days |
| Network Share Business | Shared network storage space for WPI departments, working groups, committees, etc. | Varies per department need; share and permissions created upon request | Map share to unused drive;WPI credentials; Remote access requires VPN | On-premise storage maintained by IT; File recovery from backup by request |
| Network Share for Research and Academic Data | Shared network storage space for WPI research and academic data including data generated by instruments, computational data, data mining and data sciences | Varies per need; share and permissions created upon faculty request | Map share to unused drive; WPI credentials; Remote access requires VPN | On-premise storage maintained by IT; File recovery from backup by request |
Secondary Options
These methods can be used by individuals, and guidance may be available from IT support, but they are not backed up by IT and not recommended as primary storage.
- Computer hard drive: Ideal for temporary storage prior to saving to recommended locations above, such as saving email attachments and downloading files. Manual backup is required.
- Removable storage: USB flash drives, external hard drives, DVDs, etc. are useful for extra copies of files and for file transfer. They are not recommended for primary storage because of susceptibility to damage, theft and loss.
Not Recommended for Data Storage
These methods have insufficient security for storing regulated data. Support for file retention and integrity varies per provider.
- Email: Unacceptable for sharing private personal data, health information, and data regulated by FERPA and HIPAA
- Non WPI Cloud Service: Files stored in Box, Dropbox, Google Docs, iCloud, etc. are unacceptable for WPI institutional data and funded research.