OneDrive (institutional) with Encrypted Data
Facet Matches
Service Paragraphs
Description
McMaster OneDrive is a file hosting service and synchronization service operated by Microsoft as part of its Office suite of software.
Medium and High risk data can be stored on the institutional OneDrive if it is manually encrypted.
Security
OneDrive data is encrypted while in transit and at rest on OneDrive servers. Medium and High risk data must be manually encrypted before being uploaded to OneDrive.
Storage Available
Students and POI/affiliates are allocated 20 GB; employees are allocated 100 GB.
Cost
Free for all McMaster faculty, staff and students
File size limits
100 GB
Backup details
Ongoing real-time sync.
Unlimited version history.
Data hosting location
OneDrive and Teams data is stored in Canadian servers.
Sharing capabilities
Files and folders can be shared with other oneDrive users or groups, with differing levels of permissions. Files and folders can also be shared externally with links. Microsoft Office documents can be worked on collaboratively.
Example use case
Medium and High risk data can be stored online in Ondrive provided it has been encrypted, either file by file or using an encrypted virtual disk.
Website
McMaster OneDrive: https://office365.mcmaster.ca/office-365-3/applications/ms-onedrive/
Contact
OneDrive is administered by UTS
How to get started
McMaster users can login to office365.mcmaster.ca or office.ca with their MacID and password to access OneDrive online or download the desktop app.
Technical Complexity
Low
Access protocol
Web portal, desktop syncing integration for Mac, Windows, and Linux as well as mobile apps for Android and iOS.
Summary
Store sensitive data in encrypted files on OneDrive
MacDrive with Encrypted Data
Facet Matches
Service Paragraphs
Description
MacDrive is a customized McMaster version of Seafile, which is an open source EFSS (Enterprise File Synchronization and Sharing) solution, similar to Dropbox. It allows people and teams to store files on a central server and access them via a web interface or client on a device. These can be desktops, laptops, and mobile devices. All copies are automatically synchronized whenever one of the copies is modified. Files are easily accessible, and can be quickly and securely shared.
Encryption must be used for high risk data.
Security
MacDrive 'Libraries' or folders can be encrypted online and locked with a password. Data downloaded to a device is stored unencrypted. High risk data must be manually encrypted before being uploaded to MacDrive.
Storage Available
300 GB is provided to employees. Researchers can request that collaborators be provided access in order to have the ability to see Researcher’s shares. No storage is provided to them.
Cost
Free for current McMaster employees – faculty or staff.
File size limits
n/a
Backup details
Ongoing real-time sync. 4-month version history. Full Library restore through UTS.
Data hosting location
Replicated clusters in Gilmour Hall and JHE
Sharing capabilities
Files and folders can be shared with other MacDrive users or MacDrive groups, with differing levels of permissions. Files and folders can also be shared externally with links for download. Folders can be set up so that files can be uploaded by non-users.
Example use case
Medium and High risk data can be stored on MacDrive using encrypted folders or individually encrypted files or virtual drives. Research participants, interviewers, or data collecters can upload documents to an encrypted folder without having access to the rest of the folder's contents.
Website
MacDrive: https://macdrive.mcmaster.ca/
Documentation: https://goo.gl/AvRGwx
Contact
MacDrive is administered by UTS
How to get started
Current McMaster employees – faculty or staff –will generally be granted a MacDrive automatically, starting in the Spring / Summer 2018 academic term. If you are a current employee and were not granted a MacDrive account automatically, please go to the UTS Contact Us page to request access.
This includes researchers affiliated through HHSC, Persons of Interest (POIs) and other individuals that may have been missed in the automatic enrollment process. Other potential users will also be able to access MacDrive upon request from a faculty or staff member. This can include student staff members, RAs, TAs, community members, collaborators, and anyone else with whom you need to share your data.
Researchers can request that their Grad students be provided access in order to have the ability to see Researcher’s shares. No storage is provided to Grad Students.
Technical Complexity
Low
Access protocol
Web portal, Seafile apps provides desktop syncing integration for Mac, Windows, and Linux as well as mobile apps for Android and iOS.
Summary
Store sensitive data in encrypted files on MacDrive
FRDR
Facet Matches
Service Paragraphs
Description
The Federated Research Data Repository (FRDR) is a National Data repository. Any researcher affiliated with a Canadian institution can deposit data into FRDR. The platform can efficiently ingest datasets of any size, and preservation processing is done automatically. Data professionals from the Portage Network and institutions across Canada work with researchers to curate and approve deposited items. FRDR also provides powerful functionality to search for Canadian research data. The search tool aggregates metadata from numerous repositories.
Security
FRDR should not be used to store medium or high risk data. Data from research with human participants must be de-identified or anonymized before upload.
Storage Available
1TB by default, more available upon request
Cost
Free
File size limits
n/a
Backup details
Regular backups and geographically distributed storage for research data. FRDR aims for secure repository storage for a minimum of 10 years after deposit
Data hosting location
Data storage is spread across multiple Compute Canada Federation hosting sites.
Sharing capabilities
All data deposited into FRDR is publicly available, although deposits can be embargoed for up to 1 year. Collaborators can be added to data submissions.
Example use case
FRDR is designed to provide a repository platform for all Canadian researchers. FRDR is an excellent choice for depositing large research datasets, and provides curation, discovery, and preservation services.
Website
Contact
Email support@frdr-dfdr.ca for help directly or contact us at rdmgmt@mcmaster.ca for help getting started.
How to get started
Documentation on how to deposit data can be found on the FRDR webpage.
Technical Complexity
Medium
Access protocol
Web portal, data transfer uses Globus.
Summary
Find and Share Canadian Research Data
McMaster based custom solution
Facet Matches
Service Paragraphs
Description
McMaster staff can work with you to distill your needs and find or build a solution that matches. Does your project have special ethical, legal, or commercial requirements? Are you working with an Indigenous community? Does your data need special security provisions? We can help to ensure your data is securely stored and backed up, and that all special requirements are met.
Security
Variable.
Storage Available
Potentially unlimited
Cost
Variable. No cost for consultations.
File size limits
n/a
Backup details
Variable.
Data hosting location
Canada, unless otherwise required.
Sharing capabilities
Variable
Example use case
Complex projects that require special treatment precluding the use of commercial storage platforms.
Website
Visit our RDM website at library.mcmaster.ca/services/rdm
Contact
Contact us at rdmgmt@mcmaster.ca
How to get started
Our work starts with an initial consultation where we will discuss your needs and see if there is an available platform that can meet them. If not, we will discuss how to build the custom solution for your project.
Technical Complexity
Low - High
Access protocol
Variable.
Summary
Contact us directly for help with complex projects