Data Storage Finder

Service Detail	Tier 3 Research	Tier 2 Research	Tufts Dataverse	Google Drive	Secure Enclave	SharePoint	OneDrive	Tier 1 HPC	Tier 1 RStore	Box
Brief Description	Tier 3 Research storage is a lower cost location to store and share static, rarely accessed, research data. This storage tier utilizes the NESE Tape service maintained by Harvard at MGHPCC.	Tier 2 Research storage provides a lower cost location to store and share inactive research data.	Tufts Dataverse is a place for Tufts researchers to share their publishable research data publicly.	Cloud storage for individual use and collaboration.	Tufts Secure Enclave employes Microsoft Azure 365 Government Community Cloud High (GCC High). It provides reliable, scalable storage and compute for data required to meet NIST 800-171 security controls. A variety of storage options are available within the GCC High environment.	Microsoft SharePoint is used to create websites and as a secure place to store, organize, share, and access information from any device.	OneDrive is the Microsoft cloud service that connects you to all your files. Store and protect your files, share them with others, and get to them from anywhere on your devices.	Tier 1 High-Performance Compute (HPC) Cluster storage provides a reliable, scalable, high-performance, and highly available storage solution for distributed computing environments.	High-speed networked research storage solution for analysis, data collection, or collaboration over the network with higher performance.	Share and collaborate online with people at Tufts and not at Tufts. Sync with your computer and other devices. Manage access and document rights closely.
Recommended Use	For research groups, classes and student projects utilizing the Tier 1 HPC or Tier 2 Research, Tier 3 Research storage provides a less expensive option to store rarely accessed data. Note, you cannot access this storage directly from the cluster, data must be copied or moved back to Tier 1 HPC or Tier 2 Research storage if that is necessary. Data can be directly accessed and shared internally and externally via the Globus data transfer service.	For research groups, classes and student projects utilizing the Tier 1 HPC or Tier 1 RStore, Tier 2 Research storage provides a less expensive option to store inactive data. Note, you cannot access this storage directly from the cluster or client computers, data must be copied or moved back to Tier 1 (HPC or RStore) if that is necessary. Data can be directly accessed and shared internally and externally via the Globus data transfer service. Student use requires faculty sponsor.	Some common reasons for using Tufts Dataverse include: storing data related to a journal article, thesis or dissertation; storing data to meeting the requirements of a grant-funded research project; storing data related to a class; sharing data for other researchers to use and build upon.	Google drive is not supported or recommended for University work but is available using your Tufts credentials with the same storage options as a personal account. We recommend Box or OneDrive for on-going, collaborative work.	Required for data requiring NIST 800-171 security controls	Recommended for shared resources within a team. Easily used in conjunction with Microsoft Teams.	Online, real-time collaboration and sharing of any type of files with others in and out of Tufts.	For research groups, classes and student projects utilizing the Tufts Tier 1 HPC Cluster. The Tufts Cluster is only available to users and external collaborators with a valid Tufts account. Student use requires faculty sponsor.	Desktop research use that requires high-speed performance only. For researchers and research groups looking to collaborate and share folders and data files over the network that require high-speed performance storage. Student use requires faculty sponsor.	Online, real-time collaboration and sharing of any type of files with others in and out of Tufts. Recommended for business use at Tufts.
Cost	$12 per TB per year. Billed monthly.	Tufts faculty or faculty/research groups can be allocated up to 10 TB of Tier 2 Research storage per faculty research group at no cost. Beginning July 1, 2026: 10 TB no cost quota on Tier 2, $35 per TB per year beyond 10 TB quota. Billed monthly	Free for Tufts affiliates.	Free for 15Gb quota for all Tufts users.	Cost to researcher. Cost varies on configuration. Storage usage requires consultation.	Free for initial quota for all Tufts users	Free for 250GB initial quota A1 license users receive 100Gb.	Tufts faculty/research groups can be allocated up to 5 TB across both Tier 1 HPC and Tier 1 RStore per research group year at no cost. Tufts faculty/research groups with need for greater than 5TB per year growth rate will need to engage individually with TTS to address their needs. Cost may be associated for storage allocations beyond 5TB. Beginning July 1, 2026: 10 TB quota across both Tier 1 HPC and Tier 1 RStore, $85 per TB per year beyond 10 TB quota. Billed monthly	Tufts faculty/research groups can be allocated up to 5 TB across both Tier 1 RStore and Tier 1 HPC per research group per year at no cost. Tufts faculty/research groups with need for greater than 5TB per year growth rate will need to engage individually with TTS to address their needs. Cost may be associated for storage allocations beyond 5TB. Beginning July 1, 2026: 10 TB quota across both Tier 1 RStore and Tier 1 HPC, $85 per TB per year beyond 10 TB quota. Billed monthly	250GB quota for new users. Quota can be increased for research or teaching and learning purposes. Request an increase from it@tufts.edu.
Capacity	Quota starts at 5TB (with 5TB increments). No limit on capacity. No limit on individual file size. No limit to number of files or directories. Visit Research Storage Dashboard to view research data storage usage (PIs and their approvers only).	Quota starts at 50GB. No limit on capacity; however, space beyond 10TB will incur a fee. Beginning July 1, 2026: Request beyond 10 TB quota on Tier 2 Research will incur a cost. No limit on individual file size. No limit to number of files or directories. Visit Research Storage Dashboard to view research data storage usage (PIs and their approvers only).	Dataverse has a storage limit of 2.5 GB per file.	15Gb of storage is allocated to each user. Quotas cannot be increased.	Varies depending on storage option.	1 TB Total Storage per site for new users. 250GB single file size limit.	250Gb of storage is allocated to new users.	Quota starts at 50GB. No limit on capacity; however, space beyond 5TB may incur fee. Beginning July 1, 2026: Request beyond 10 TB quota across both Tier 1 RStore and Tier 1 HPC will incur cost. No limit on individual file size. No limit to number of files or directories. Visit Research Storage Dashboard to view research data storage usage (PIs and their approvers only).	Quota starts at 50GB. No limit on capacity; however, space beyond 5TB may incur an annual fee. Beginning July 1, 2026: Request beyond 10 TB quota across both Tier 1 RStore and Tier 1 HPC will incur cost. No limit on individual file size. No limit to number of files or directories. Visit Research Storage Dashboard to view research data storage usage (PIs and their approvers only).	250Gb of storage is allocated to new users. Individual file size limit of 50Gb.
Access and Collaboration	Only owner and their approvers will have access to Tier 3 Research storage.	Can include non-Tufts users. Owner has option to share data with users including non-Tufts users via the Globus data transfer service. Users outside of Tufts may be required to create a free Globus account.	To create your account with Tufts Dataverse, go to Tufts Dataverse and log in with your Tufts credentials. If you are working with a Tufts research group but do not have a Tufts username, you can still create an account with a non-Tufts email, ORCID ID, GitHub, or Google account. However, your account will not be affiliated with Tufts University by default. Research groups can request their own Dataverse Collection to showcase the group's datasets in one location. A collection is given a unique URL and can be embedded in a webpage.	Can include non-Tufts users.	Can include non-Tufts users. Specialized GCC-High credentials and NIST 800-171 onboarding and training required.	Can include non-Tufts users. Owner controls sharing options, including edit and view rights.	Can include non-Tufts users. Owner controls sharing options, including edit and view rights.	Can include multiple Tufts users. Accessible from the Tier 1 HPC. Tufts credentials required. Access through Tufts network or VPN.	Can include multiple Tufts users. Tufts credentials required. Access through Tufts network or VPN.	Can include non-Tufts users. Owner controls sharing options, including edit and view rights; file and folder level controls available. Users outside of Tufts may be required to create a free Box account.
Data Allowed	Allowed: Public data, simulated data, lab data. Allowed with special configuration: Sensitive/restricted risk data	Allowed: Public data, simulated data, lab data. Allowed with special configuration: Sensitive/moderate risk data. Not Allowed: HIPAA-regulated data.	Only publication-ready research data should be deposited into Dataverse. No personally-identifiable information should be deposited into the repository.	Public data only. NO sensitive data of any kind. Google drive is not supported or recommended for University work.	Allowed: high risk data requiring NIST 800-171 security controls such as Controlled Unclasssified Information (CUI).	Allowed: Public data. Sensitive / moderate risk data. FERPA-protected data. Confidential or restricted / high risk data. HIPAA-regulated data.	Allowed: Public data. Sensitive/moderate risk data. FERPA-protected data. Confidential or restricted/high risk data. HIPAA-regulated data.	Allowed: Public data, simulated data, lab data. Allowed with special configuration: Sensitive/moderate risk data. Not Allowed: HIPAA-regulated data.	Allowed: Public data, simulated data, lab data. Allowed with special configuration: Sensitive/moderate risk data. Not Allowed: HIPAA-regulated data.	Allowed: Public data. Sensitive / moderate risk data. FERPA-protected data. Confidential or restricted / high risk data. HIPAA-regulated data.
Durability (protection against data loss)	Two copies stored on redundant tapes.	3 months of snapshots	Tufts Dataverse is hosted by Harvard University. Data in the repository is stored using Amazon Web Services and S3, and a full backup of all data and directories are made using Amazon Glacier. Additionally, FAS Research Computing at Harvard University keeps a backup of all Harvard Dataverse data and directories. This means that there are always full, recent copies of the Harvard Dataverse repository at multiple locations.	File revisions are kept for up to 30 days. Max of 100 file revisions kept for any file. There is no version history kept for folder structures in Google Drive or Shared drives.	Azure offers different redundancy options to protect your data from planned and unplanned events ranging from transient hardware failures, network and power outages, to massive natural disasters.	Up to 500 versions of files are retained	Automatic file versioning keeps 100 most-recent versions. Deleted files are kept in recycle bin for 30 days.	2 months of snapshots	3 months of snapshots	Automatic file versioning keeps 100 most-recent versions. Deleted files are kept in recycle bin for 30 days.
Availability (protection against downtime)	Mostly 24x7 uptime based on highly available redundant storage architecture uptime. Once per year down for 2-3 days in June for MGHPCC maintenance.	Mostly 24x7 uptime based on highly available redundant storage architecture uptime. Once per year down for 2-3 days in June for MGHPCC maintenance.	Availability 7x24 from any device. (cloud)	Availability 7x24 from any device. (cloud)	Availability 7x24 from any device. (cloud)	Availability 7x24 from any device. (cloud)	Availability 7x24 from any device. (cloud)	Mostly 24x7 uptime based on highly available redundant storage architecture uptime. Once per year down for 2-3 days in June for MGHPCC maintenance.	24x7 uptime based on highly available redundant storage architecture uptime.	Availability 7x24 from any device. (cloud)
Retention policy	Reference your research data management and compliance requirements regarding preserved and destruction.	Reference your research data management and compliance requirements regarding preserved and destruction.	Harvard University supports permanent bit-level preservation of all materials directly deposited in the Harvard Dataverse.	Google removes all of your data 20 days after your account is deactivated. This is outside of Tufts' control and Tufts cannot recover any of the data.	Consultation required.	Transfer or delete all your content before leaving Tufts. Student accounts and data will be deleted 90 days after account is disabled.	Transfer or delete all your content before leaving Tufts. Accounts and data will be deleted 90 days after account is disabled.	Reference your research data management and compliance requirements regarding preserved and destruction.	Non-sponsored research data will be deleted 90 days after leaving the university. Reference your research data management and compliance requirements regarding preserved and destruction.	Transfer or delete all your content before leaving Tufts. Student accounts and data will be deleted 90 days after account is disabled.
Technical Assistance	Support offered by TTS Research Technology team. Please visit https://it.tufts.edu/research-data-storage.	Support offered by TTS Research Technology team.  Please visit https://it.tufts.edu/research-data-storage	Reach out to rdm@tufts.edu to get help depositing a dataset, or to request a Dataverse collection for your lab or research group.	Google is not a Tufts supported service. Login support available from it@tufts.edu. Please contact Google for any training or other support issues.	Support offered by TTS Research Technology team. Please visit https://it.tufts.edu/research-technology.	Installation and login support from it@tufts.edu. Visit learn.microsoft.com for training and documentation.	Training and documentation available at learn.microsoft.com and tufts.udemy.com.	Support offered by TTS Research Technology team. Please visit https://it.tufts.edu/research-data-storage	Support offered by TTS Research Technology team. Please visit https://it.tufts.edu/research-data-storage	To login: https://tufts.box.com Tufts' Online Guide Tufts Training courses available at http://learncenter.tufts.edu
Contact	Please email tts-research@tufts.edu to request storage creation, quota increase, add and remove access.	Please email tts-research@tufts.edu to request storage creation, quota increase, add and remove access.	rdm@tufts.edu	https://support.google.com/	tts-research@tufts.edu	Contact the TTS Service Desk at it@tufts.edu or 617-627-3376 for login and installation.	Contact the TTS Service Desk at it@tufts.edu or 617-627-3376 for login issues only.	tts-research@tufts.edu To request access or increase storage quota, complete the Tier 1 HPC Storage request form.	tts-research@tufts.edu To request access or increase storage quota, complete the Tier 1 RStore request form.	Contact the TTS Service Desk at it@tufts.edu or 617-627-3376.
Service Detail	Tier 3 Research	Tier 2 Research	Tufts Dataverse	Google Drive	Secure Enclave	SharePoint	OneDrive	Tier 1 HPC	Tier 1 RStore	Box