Comparing File Storage at UConn
- Ethan Caya (Deactivated)
- Dan Jakubiak
- Ashley Mattingly
Individual Storage
When students graduate or when faculty/staff separate from the organization, they will lose access to their OneDrive / SharePoint files.
Students should be sure to download any data they wish to keep before leaving UConn.
Individual storage solutions, such as OneDrive, allow users to store their documents in an accessible location. Users may choose to share files and folders in OneDrive with others. OneDrive files are deleted 90 days after the owner’s account closes.
 | OneDrive |
|---|---|
Access Limitations | Any computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection. |
How to Access | Through file explorer on your computer or on the Office 365 website. |
Encryption | Data is encrypted while stored and during transit to your computer. What is OneDrive? - Is My Data Safe section |
Version History | Automatically creates versions while editing. Can recover the last 500 versions. Version History for Files in OneDrive |
Collaboration and Co-Authoring | Real-time collaboration and co-authoring with team members. What is OneDrive? - Advantages of OneDrive section, second paragraph |
Storage Location | Microsoft’s cloud servers |
Storage Limit | 5 TB (5,000 GB) |
Individual File Size Limit | 250 GB |
Deletion | Self-recoverable through the OneDrive recycle bin. |
Shared Storage
Shared storage solutions such as SharePoint allow any user within the SharePoint site to access stored documents by default. Shared storage is preferred for collaborating with team members.
 | SharePoint | Enterprise File Service (Q: Drive, R: Drive) |
|---|---|---|
Access Limitations | Any computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection. | Any computer on a UConn campus. Any computer connected through Direct Access or UConn’s VPN. |
How to Access | Through file explorer on your computer or on the Office 365 website. | The Q: or R: drive mapped to your computer’s file explorer. |
Encryption | Data is encrypted while stored and during transit to your computer. | Q drive: not encrypted. R drive: encrypted while stored. |
Version History | Automatically creates versions while editing. Can recover the last 500 versions. | Creates version daily and are retained for 30 days. |
Collaboration and Co-Authoring | Real-time collaboration and co-authoring with team members. | No co-authoring. Single user edit lock. |
Storage Location | Microsoft’s cloud servers | Storage servers on Storrs Campus |
Storage Limit | 25 TB (25,000GB) | 64 TB |
Individual File Size Limit | 250 GB | N/A |
Deletion | Self-recoverable through the SharePoint site recycle bin. | |
Creation |
Google Drive does not meet UConn’s data storage policies for all types of information. Work related and sensitive documents should not be stored on Google Drive.