Research Data Storage Service
The Research Data Storage Service (RDSS) is Northwestern University’s dedicated research storage platform. This service allows Northwestern researchers to purchase storage for research purposes. RDSS is housed at the University’s central data centers, providing a secure, reliable, and stable environment designed to meet researchers’ needs.
RDSS has two storage zones based on data regulation guidelines:
- Non-Audited: for non-regulated research data
- Audited: for most legally and contractually restricted data
This storage is accessed by mapping it as network drive. You must be on the University's (eduroam) network or on VPN to access the Research Data Storage Service share drive. Storage must be purchased in 1 TB increments.
Features and Benefits
RDSS has the following features tailored for research data:
- No individual file size limits
- Daily snapshots and data replication for disaster recovery saved for 28 days.
- Ability to share data with internal and external collaborators (via guest NetID).
- Maps to computers running Windows, Mac OS or Linux operating systems.
- Accessible from off campus via VPN.
- Compliance with most legally or contractually restricted data such as Personal Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII), or data that is subject to regulation by HIPAA and FISMA.
- Auditing capabilities for reporting on access, creation, replication, updates, and deletion of files upon request.
- Ability to manage user read-only and read/write access through established security groups using the Self-Service Group Management Tool.
Available to
- Students
- Faculty
- Staff
How to Request Service
To request storage, please complete the Research Data Storage Service Request form*, which requires a valid ChartString. If sponsored funds are used to purchase data storage, the faculty member is responsible for assuring the purchase is consistent with the purpose and aims of the grant. The faculty member will complete any necessary repudiating of the sponsored project, if required, to ensure appropriate management of the funds.
Your request will be processed within five days of requesting service. Northwestern Information Technology (IT) will then email instructions on how to access the shared network and manage user access permissions.
*Researchers from the Feinberg School of Medicine should not use this form to request storage. Instead, please email their local IT support staff at fsmhelp@northwestern.edu.
Automatic Renewals
Each August, Northwestern IT will send the primary contact an email reminder that their ChartString will be charged beginning September 1, unless the allocation is canceled. Participants who wish to discontinue service, must notify the IT Service Desk at consultant@northwestern.edu by August 31 of each year. Data in discontinued storage allocations will not be retained by Northwestern IT.
Cost
The annual cost is $100.00 per 1 TB of storage with the option to pre-pay for storage up to 5 years in advance. New orders will be pro-rated based on the date of purchase. See the table below:
| Activation Date | Cost/TB |
|---|---|
| September 1 - November 30 | $100.00 |
| December 1 - February 28 | $75.00 |
| March 1 - May 31 | $50.00 |
| June 1 - August 31 | $25.00 |
Additional Information and Documentation
- Connecting to a Research Data Storage share location. (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- Managing user access to Research Data Storage share locations
- Restoring a previous version of a file or folder from a Research Data Storage share location
- Document Sharing and Data Storage Finder
Last Updated: 26 August 2022
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