## Storage options

This section provides an overview of all storage options available at the VU. While it is useful to understand the benefits and limitations of each, not all options are accessible to students. Be sure to check with your supervisor early in your project to determine which storage solutions are available to you.

## Yoda

#### Benefits:

- Approved for high privacy/ confidentiality risks
- Storage of large volumes of data that don't need to be frequently accessed for processing/ analyzing
- Creation of structured metadata to describe your research data (FAIR)
- Access possible for external users (2FA)
- Cost covered up to 500GB
- Archiving and data publishing available through YODA
- Links with PURE

#### Limitations:

- Data will likely need to be copied locally prior to data processing/ analysis
- Lacks desktop sync
- Does not allow for access management at a folder and sub-folder level; everyone in the YODA group has access to all folders and sub-folders

## Research Drive

#### Benefits:

- Approved for high privacy/ confidentiality risks
- Storage of large volumes of data that need to be regularly accessed for processing/ analyzing
- Similar to SurfDrive, but works on a project level rather than individual
- Has a desktop sync client for easy management of locally copied data
- Facilitates access management at the folder and sub-folder level
- Access possible for external users
- Cost covered up to 500GB

#### Limitations:

- Requires encryption for very high risk data
- Requires syncing of data locally before processing/ analyzing
- Does not offer structured metadata
- Not suitable for archiving or publishing

## SciStor

#### Benefits:

- Storage of very large volumes of data that need to be regularly accessed for processing/ analyzing
- Data can be accessed directly from SciStor without copying locally
- Best option for high-processing computing
- Allows for access management at the folder and sub-folder level

#### Limitations:

- Access not possible for external (non-VU) users
- No coverage of storage costs, but costs are kept low
- Additional measures required for very-high risk data
- Access rights managed entirely by IT for Research, changes can only be made upon request
- Not suitable for archiving or publishing

## Sharepoint

#### Benefits:

- Replacement for the previously used G-Drive
- Similar to OneDrive, but ensures data storage is linked to a project rather than an individual
- Allows for access management at a folder and sub-folder level
- Access possible for external users

#### Limitations:

- Requires encryption for high risk data

- Very easy to grant access to data, meaning unauthorised data access can happen by mistake

- Difficult to maintain an overview of who has access to folders and Teams channels

- Does not offer structured metadata
- Not suitable for archiving or publishing
- Managed externally by Microsoft, unlike VU- or SURF-hosted services. Due to its external management, there may be additional security and access concerns.

## SurfDrive: (TO BE FILLED IN BASED ON CURRENT ADVICE 24/06/25)

#### Benefits:

#### Limitations: