LibGuides: Research Data and Reproducibility: Storing Data

What do we mean by data storage?

Data storage refers to where data is located while actively being collected or processed. Data that is stored should be periodically backed up to a secure location. Storage and backup can be contrasted with preservation and archiving, which focus on handling data when a research project ends.

What do you need to know about storing research data?

Good data storage practices consider:

How data will be used during a project
How to sustainably record and access data during a project
Potential disasters and how they can be mitigated
The data's longer-term value, access, and preservation needs

Here are some tips for storing research data:

"Keep raw data raw"
Store data in open formats
Practice the 3-2-1 rule:
- Three copies
- At least Two media types
- One copy in an entirely different location
Read and understand the terms of service of your storage providers
Use an automated service to create regular backups, but don't create your backups on your local hard drive
Make sure you know how to recover data from your backups!

Data Storage and Backup Best Practices
This page from Cornell University's Research Data Management Service Group is a great overview of terminology and things to consider when planning for storage and backup.
Ten Simple Rules for Digital Data Storage
This article describes ten simple rules for digital data storage that grew out of a long discussion among instructors for the Software and Data Carpentry initiatives. Software and Data Carpentry instructors are scientists from diverse backgrounds who have encountered a variety of data storage challenges and are active in teaching other scientists best practices for scientific computing and data management. Thus, this paper represents a distillation of collective experience, and hopefully will be useful to scientists facing a variety of data storage challenges. It also provides a glossary of common vocabulary for readers who may not be familiar with particular terms.
11 ways to avert a data-storage disaster
Accidents and hard drive failures are inevitable, but data loss doesn't have to be. This article from Nature outlines some practical advice that can lessen the blow when data loss strikes your project.

Data Storage Options at OHSU

Microsoft Teams with SharePoint Online
Microsoft Teams with SharePoint Online is OHSU members' primary cloud storage solution for team-, project-, or department-owned files. It centralizes management of collectively-owned content, ensuring no single individual owns the team's content. It is HIPAA- and FERPA-compliant.
Research Data Storage (RDS)
Research Data Storage provides long-term, large-scale, secure storage housed at two physical locations which provide optimal data replication and redundancy. It is provided in partnership by ACC and ITG.
Network Drives
The X: (group storage) and H: (individual storage) drives are available storage systems located on the local OHSU network.

Microsoft OneDrive
OneDrive is OHSU members' primary individual cloud storage solution. Use OneDrive for files you own personally and for collaboration with individuals. It is HIPAA- and FERPA-compliant.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud file storage option, available by request only, offered in addition to Microsoft OneDrive – OHSU members’ primary individual cloud storage solution. Like OneDrive, Dropbox can also be used to store personal work files and to collaborate with internal OHSU colleagues and those external to OHSU. It is HIPAA- and FERPA-compliant.
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Each member is provided 5 TB of storage space in their Dropbox account.

Dropbox is not a shared centralized storage solution, which means when an individual OHSU member leaves OHSU, access to those files and folders will be lost.

Unlike OneDrive at OHSU, Dropbox accounts are available to OHSU members by request only and require members to complete a mandatory training to ensure sharing is done securely.
Network Drives
The X: (group storage) and H: (individual storage) drives are available storage systems located on the local OHSU network.

Individual vs Team File Management
This infographic from OHSU ITG can help you understand when you should use OneDrive or Dropbox vs a Microsoft Teams workspace with SharePoint Online.
OHSU Cloud File Management
This table provides a high-level comparison of OneDrive, DropBox, SharePointOnline/Teams, and Research Data Storage.
Request a Collaboration Consult
OHSU's User Experience team is available to provide advice on which file storage solution to use.
Restricted Information in Teams
This page provides guidance on storing restricted information in Teams.