This use case is very general and the recommended solution varies depending on what type of data you are needing to store, who needs to access it, and what you will be doing with the data. The most common use case, simply needing a place to easily store and collaborate/share your research files, can be achieved using ready-to-go cloud storage solutions such as Microsoft at IU Secure Storage (Microsoft Teams) or Google at IU Secure Storage (Google Shared Drive). However, more complex use cases may necessitate custom solutions that require highly technical planning, building, and configuration beforehand. For these custom systems using cloud storage, IU has contracts with the three main public cloud platforms, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, all of which allow you to build exactly what you need.
Review the use cases in the Directions section below to see which service offering best fits your needs. If your use case has not been addressed, please feel free to contact us at securemyresearch@iu.edu
Prerequisites
- Secure your own environment.
- If you are going to be using AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure be sure to work in an account that is operated under IU's contract with the cloud vendors. Not only is this an institutional requirement, but it also ensures that you have access to the full set of features and support afforded by IU's vendor contracts.
Directions
I need...
A ready-to-go place where I can upload, download, and share my data
- For storing your individual files (files that belong to you and will not need to be accessed by someone else after you leave IU) see https://kb.iu.edu/d/aghw
- For storing institutional data (files that belong to your department, research project, etc and may need to be access by someone else after you leave IU) see https://kb.iu.edu/d/bgeo
A place to store unstructured data. For example, files that are used by a web server to serve images and documents to a user's web browser.
A database to store structured data
A place to archive data
Resources
- If you need more help using cloud technologies at IU, the IU Cloud Technology Support team provides guidance on platforms and tooling, and regularly arranges for direct consultations with software engineers from the cloud vendors, all at no cost to departments.
- Try using Microsoft's Data Store Decision Tree to help point you in the direction of an Azure storage service that fits your needs.
- See this page for more information on the storage services offered by AWS.
- See this page for more information on the storage services offered by Google Cloud.
Email securemyresearch@iu.edu if you have further questions regarding data security and regulatory compliance related to storing your research data.