Information Technology Services

Storage Services

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George Mason offers a variety of storage options to meet different needs, including solutions for personal work, collaboration, and special cases. All digital files should be stored and maintained in accordance with the university policies for Highly Sensitive Data and Records Management.

Collaboration Storage

  • OneDrive: OneDrive (for work or school) is a personal storage library. OneDrive uses Microsoft 365 to store your George Mason-related files in the cloud, making it easy to access and collaborate on them from anywhere across multiple devices.
  • Microsoft (MS) Teams: MS Teams is an enterprise-wide collaboration suite within Mason’s Office 365. In addition to chat and calling, MS Teams provides file creation, sharing, and storage. MS Teams are created using MyHub. File storage in MS Teams allows members to work synchronously on files from any device and easily communicate with other team members.
  • SharePoint Document Libraries (SPDL): SharePoint Document Libraries are a feature of Microsoft SharePoint that allows users to securely store, organize, and share files with others and make them accessible from any device at any time. Members of the workspace can work synchronously on files. Adding or moving files between folders is as easy as dragging and dropping them from one location to another. SharePoint Document Libraries are created using MyHub.

Enterprise Storage

  • Azure Files: Azure Files is a managed file share service in Microsoft Azure that supports standard file system access. Primary use cases include application file storage, cloud-hosted workloads, and lift-and-shift file shares. For more information, see the Azure Service Catalog.
  • Azure Blob: Azure Blob is object-based cloud storage in Microsoft Azure that is optimized for large-scale, unstructured data. Primary use cases include large datasets, backup and archival needs, and application data and analytics. For more information, see the Azure Service Catalog.
  • Patriot Drive: The Patriot Drive is a file-sharing and storage service that is available on-premises for enterprise use. This service is only offered to facilitate Access databases and automated file transfers. To learn more about the Patriot Drive or make a request, see the Patriot Drive Service Catalog.

Research Computing Storage

  • HPC Hot Storage (High-Performance Flash Storage): Hot Storage is high-speed flash storage optimized for performance for active computation and analysis on George Mason HPC clusters. It hosts the /home, /projects, /scratch, and other essential directories. It enables internal sharing among group members and approved collaborators, and external sharing via Globus. To get started, see ORC Storage Space.
  • HPC Warm Storage (Hybrid HDD-SSD): Warm Storage is a cost-effective hybrid HDD-SSD storage that researchers can purchase on demand. It provides a compromise between capacity and performance for storing research data. It hosts the /groups directory on George Mason HPC clusters. It is best used for active analysis, long-term data retention, and data sharing with internal and external collaborators using tools such as Globus and SMB. To get started, see ORC Storage Groups.
  • Secure Research Computing: Secure Research Computing laptops and their supporting infrastructure are designed for controlled or regulated research data. Primary use cases involve export-controlled research, sensitive datasets, and individual secure research projects. To access, coordinate with the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance.

Survey & Research Data Storage

George Mason provides various survey platforms for research. Please see the University Libraries Survey page to determine the most suitable platform for you. 

  • REDCap Survey Platform: The REDCap Survey Platform is a web-based application for building and managing online surveys and research databases. It is best used for participant-facing surveys, surveys without sensitive information, and data collection and analysis.
  • REDCap Secure Survey Platform: REDCap Secure Survey is a HIPAA and FERPA-compliant REDCap environment for sensitive survey data. Researchers should coordinate with CHSS/CHP administrators for use.
  • Qualtrics Survey Platform: Qualtrics is a web-based survey and data collection platform used to design, distribute, and manage studies. It enables investigators to build complex surveys, collect responses securely, and export data for statistical analysis while supporting compliance with institutional review and data protection requirements.

Media Storage

  • Kaltura MyMedia Library: Kaltura is a personal media repository in Canvas. It can store recorded videos, audio files, and images. Zoom cloud recordings are automatically stored in Kaltura.