Before chosing a storage location consider the following about the data that is being stored:

What Laws, Policies, and Regulations apply to this data? 

• https://safecomputing.umich.edu/protect-the-u/compliance

What level of data security is needed?

• https://safecomputing.umich.edu/protect-the-u/protect-research-data 
• https://safecomputing.umich.edu/protect-the-u/safely-use-sensitive-data/classification-levels

Which storage locations meet that level of data security?

• https://safecomputing.umich.edu/dataguide/

• Unit Administration (Files used in support of administration in a unit or center)
• Research (Files used in support of research by faculty, students and administrators)
• Teaching (Files used in support of educational efforts of teaching undergraduate and graduate students)

 Terms and Context:

Types of Use - How available does this data need to be? (data retrieval time)

• Active Use (A file needed to perform current operations or ongoing business matters. It is consulted frequently, and it must be conveniently available for immediate reference, either manually or via a computer system. Accessed files is (near) instantaneous or download in minutes )
• On Demand Use (On demand access to files for immediate and continuous use. Accessed files can be downloaded in hours)
• Archive (Storage no longer needed to conduct current business but preserved until it meets the end of its retention period. Note that requests for access take several days to week+ (cold storage)) See: Identification, Maintenance, and Preservation of Digital Records Created by University of Michigan and Research Data as outlined in the Stewardship Policy

Ways to access - How will the data be used?  (data access type)

• Collaboration (single or multiple editor(s) who simultaneously or over time contribute to a file )
• Sharing (Providing access to a file for multiple editor(s) or viewers)
• Secured (Access limited to those under specific authenticated access agreements, etc.)

Access types - Who can see the data? (data permission)

• Personal (Access is limited to my use)
• Shared Internal to U-M (Access using some form of  U-M credentials such as uniqname accounts or friend accounts)
• Shared External to U-M (Access to those without U-M credentials either authenticated or unauthenticated)
• Combination (Access to those with and without U-M credentials either authenticated or unauthenticated)

Note: Please leverage existing institutional resources/services as much as possible to avoid increasing LSA owned hardware to meet new sustainability goals We are not recommending hardware purchases:

• to increase storage capacity via external storage or adding servers
• as a means to avoid faculty costs of using institutional services