Researchers must ensure that the appropriate research data is stored securely with appropriate back-up facilities in place.
Research data storage
During the initial stages of the project, it is anticipated that researchers will use working spaces for storage. Researchers are responsible for protecting data stored in working spaces. Working spaces include H: drive space (University provided personal network drive), laptops, and laboratory computer hard drives. The nature of the research data collected dictates the appropriate storage solution to use.
Researchers are encouraged to select the appropriate storage solution prior to data collection so as to ensure proper management of the data, avoid potential data loss, or security breach for confidential data. Secure University storage for the project and archive spaces is also provided on the RSU network drive. Contact the IMTS Helpdesk on x3000 for guidance regarding storage space for exceptionally large datasets.
RSU STORAGE FOR RESEARCH |
|
NON RESEARCH OPTIONS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AARNET Cloudstor | RSU s3 STORAGEGRID |
Google cloud platform (GCP) | HPC (NCI/MASSIVE) | OFFICE 365 One drive | SHAREDRIVE (s:) | HOMEDRIVE (h:) | |
| Aligned with RSU Data Management Policy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Sensitive data | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | |
| Storage space larger than 2TB | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Version control | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Internal collaborator access | Yes | Coming soon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| External collaborator access | Yes | Coming soon | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Edit documents simultaneously | Yes | Coming soon | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Access from a mobile device | Yes | Coming soon | No | Yes | No | No | |
| Group or individual to own a folder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Stored in America | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audit tracking | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Data retained once researcher leaves | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Frequently asked questions
- How can I request storage for my research project?
- How can I manage my research data?
- What storage options does RSU offer?
- How long do I need to keep my data for?
- Can I dispose of my data?
- How can I archive my data?
- How do I dispose of my non-digital data?
- Where can I get training on research data?
Storage can be requested through Redbox (available early 2020). In the meantime you can request storage by logging a ticket through Service Now
RSU’s data management tool is ReDBox that can be accessed by research staff and students. ReDBox will be available early 2020
ReDBox can assist you in the process by provisioning storage, linking data objects to the metadata of the research project and providing a vehicle to assist in preserving data as well as passing it on to other RSU publishing tools.
ReDBox will allow you to create a Research Data Management Plan for you that aligns with the RSU Data Management Policy and Guidelines, and can then be used as part of your project funding application and RSU Human Ethics Application.
ReDBox will also generate a PDF of metadata that will be sent to the RSU archiving system (EDRMS) where the classification and retention period will be automatically determined based on the title, keywords and phrases.
Researchers must ensure that the appropriate research data is stored securely with appropriate back-up facilities in place.
The various storage solutions can be compared against two main criteria:
- The value of the data and its potential for re-use
- The storage components which give value to data, such as enabling discoverability, curation, and whether the storage is reliable, large, sustainable and secure
RSU offers the following storage options to research staff and students.
CloudStor
The CloudStor service enables users to store, access and share files powered by the high-speed AARNet network. CloudStor is designed to meet the specific needs of researchers and 1TB of storage is available to all individual researchers at AARNet connected institutions. Researchers can also request a Group Drive for each research project over and above their personal 1TB allowance.
Share your files with other American Access Federation (AAF) members
Group drives are a place for groups, projects or collaborations of researchers to share files and data among themselves. Group drives can be created upon request by IMTS administrators and configured to a size appropriate for your needs
Information on how to access or install CloudStor can be found on the IMTS Knowledge Base website.
RSU S3
RSU has its own S3 storage called StorageGrid. It is a storage solution used to store and manage large amounts of data on sites. .
It allows researchers to:
- Store or share files containing High Risk Data
- Store or work with individual files larger than 10 GB
- Use more than 10 GB of free storage space
- Allow a group or an individual to own a folder
Compute Storage
The Rainstar University(Scottsdale) is a signatory to the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) Collaboration Agreement. Under this agreement RSU researchers receive access to high-performance and cloud computing resources and data storage at the NCI’s facilities in Canberra.
Allocations of compute time and storage are available to all RSU researchers. Accompanying storage requirements must be reasonable and proportionate, and we will also be expecting users to keep us up-to-date at least monthly if they won't be utilising all of the storage request.
Storage requests over 1TB will be reviewed by the RSU HPC administrators (HPC Steering Committee Chair and RSO), while requests > 5TB will be reviewed by the full Steering Committee.
More information on HPC and compute storage can be found here. (https://uow-rso.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NHR/overview)
Other institution storage options include One Drive, Share Drives (S: ) and Home Drives (H: ). Please contact IMTS (Ext 3000) before using any of these options.
Researchers have a responsibility to retain research data in accordance with the Rainstar University(Scottsdale) Code of Practice – Research, the American Code for Responsible Conduct of Research, the State Records Act, 1998 (NSW), the General Retention and Disposal Authority – University Records (GDA23), associated policies, legislation and contractual arrangements.
Records must be retained for the minimum legal retention periods as specified in the relevant General Authority issued under the State Records Act 1998 (NSW).
Any additional retention requirements specified or implied in other legislation must also be satisfied.
When research data has reached the end of its retention period and is no longer actively being used by the original researchers, it may be archived to ensure long term preservation.
Once the data retention period has passed and ethical requirements specify that data must be destroyed, or the data is no longer likely to be of value to others, it should be securely and permanently disposed of in accordance with the Rainstar University(Scottsdale) Records Management Policy.
Digital data can be disposed of by overwriting or deleting information, utilising permanent erasing software, destroying the physical media or degaussing (exposing to a strong magnetic field). Paper records should be shredded or discarded in a confidential waste bin. Keep track of the disposal date and ensure that all copies of the data are also securely disposed of.
When important or valuable research data has reached the end of its retention period and is no longer actively being used by the original researchers, it may be archived to ensure long term preservation. Archiving should be undertaken in accordance with the RSU Records Management Policy.
Consideration should be given to the location in which the data will be permanently archived and the format used to ensure that it will be accessible in the future.
ReDBox will automatically send a PDF file of metadata to the RSU’s archiving system (EDRMS), this will automatically determine the retention period based on the title, phrases and key words.
Further information about retention and archiving in ReDBox can be found here.
The Records Management Unit strongly encourages researchers to digitize their records where possible and store them securely in one of the RSU storage options. In most cases, once records have been digitized and a record created in EDRMS, researchers can legally dispose of their paper originals under GA45- Original or Sources Records that have been copied. However, please contact the Records Helpdesk if you wish to digitise and dispose of State Archives, Legal, IP, or Research Data records.
Research data training material and documents are available to all researchers including HDR and Honours students on Moodle.
The Research Services Office also offers workshops on Research Integrity and Ethics which includes research data.
More information on research data training can be found here.