Storage selection

Where should I store my files?

First, consider who should have access to each set of your files. Follow the steps below to select the desired extent of sharing. Then study the features of the different storage locations in the recommended table and select the best choice for you needs. We recommend the locations marked with a star ⭐.

• If it is possible that also someone outside of the Tampere Universities community should be able to access the files in addition to yourself, choose a storage location from the table Joint use also with outsiders.
  • This is a good choice because it allows for all future sharing needs.
  • This is a good choice because files stored in these locations remain available even if the user who created them would leave the work community, for example due to graduation or termination of employment.
• If it is sufficient that other members of the Tampere Universities community have access to the files in addition to yourself, choose a storage location from the table Joint use within the Tampere Universities community.
  • This is a good choice because files stored in these locations remain available even if the user who created them would leave the work community, for example due to graduation or termination of employment.
• Save the table Personal storage to storage locations only files that you only use yourself.
  • These places are only suitable for temporary sharing, although it is possible to give other users access to your files through OneDrive. The reason is that all your files will be permanently deleted from OneDrive as soon as your TUNI username ceases to be valid, for example due to graduation or termination of employment. The sudden loss of shared files always causes problems to the work community.
  • If you later find that others should be able access to some of your files, move them to a storage location found in the other two tables.

See the descriptions of the features and the links to instructions after the tables. All storage locations are available on TUNI Windows and TUNI Mac computers. If you cannot find a solution that suits your needs or if you otherwise need help, please contact IT Helpdesk.

Note that you should store files only temporarily in the local hard drive of class machines or TUNI Virtual Desktop because the files stored on them are not preserved.

Joint use also with outsiders

The Teams workspace is the preferred general purpose storage location. CSC provides systems for researchers.

The table above in text format, which also has links to the instructions.
 

Joint use within the Tampere Universities community

The Teams workspace is the preferred general purpose storage location.
S drive aka Group folder is applicable for specific needs (our instructions).

The table above in text format, which also has links to the instructions.
 

Personal storage

The table above in text format, which also has links to the instructions.
 

Descriptions of features

• Location:
  • MS = Files are in Microsoft's M365 cloud service in the EU/EEA
  • TUNI = Files are in university's own data centre in Tampere
  • CSC = Files are in CSC's data centre in Finland
• Capacity (maximum total file size)
  • Large = No specific limit. If you need more than 1 TB, contact IT Helpdesk.
  • CSC = There is a limit, capacity is requested from CSC, please contact IT Helpdesk
• Synchronization: You can set the files you want to sync automatically between the TUNI computer's hard drive and the cloud service, allowing you to process them even without a network connection
• Backup: The files are safe even if the storage system in question is destroyed (device failure, fire, etc.).
• Version control: You can manually restore an earlier version of a file that you accidentally changed. The time within which recovery is successful is currently 90 days in P and S drives, 30 days in OneDrive, and 30 days in Teams workspace. If you have enabled OneDrive synchronization, you can recover the file you accidentally deleted from the OneDrive Trash within 30 days.
• Confidentiality:
  • If your files do not contain personal data or otherwise confidential data, you can ignore this column.
  • Personal data not allowed: Personal data and the like may only be stored by encrypting the files with a separate encryption program (instructions available at Management and storage of research data).
  • Personal data allowed: Personal data and the like may be stored without the use of a separate encryption program. Special categories of personal data and the like may only be stored by encrypting the files with a separate encryption program (instructions available at Management and storage of research data). If a student needs to process special categories of personal data, the faculty must enter into an extended resource agreement for the student and request via IT Helpdesk a centrally managed computer (similar to that of the staff) for the student.
  • Special categories of personal data allowed: Special categories of personal data and the like may be stored without the use of a separate encryption program.
• Lifecycle limitation: How long the storage location remains available.
  • TUNI account: The storage location is destroyed when the TUNI account that created it is removed (e.g. when the employment contract ends or the student graduates)
  • Year by year: You can request an extension year by year to use the storage location.
  • To be agreed: The deadline for using the storage location is agreed on a case-by-case basis.
  • CSC Project: The storage location is available as long as the CSC project that created it is valid. The continuation of the project must be requested from the CSC.
  • Loss or breakage of device: Devices may break or get lost at any time. The files should also be stored elsewhere.

Links to instructions

Joint use also with outsiders

⭐ Teams workspace (our instructions)

• Location: MS
• Capacity: Large
• Synchronization: Not recommended
• Backup: No
• Version control: Yes
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: Year by year
• Restrictions, more information: If multiple users synchronize files of the same workspace with their computers, editing the files simultaneously will lead to problems. A student can also set up a workspace. The workspace is only available on Linux computers with a browser.

CSC disk on cPouta computer (our instructions)

• Location: CSC
• Capacity: CSC
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: No
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: CSC project
• Restrictions, more information: See CSC instructions.

CSC Allas

• Location: CSC
• Capacity: CSC
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: No
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: CSC project
• Restrictions, more information: See CSC instructions. Data Processing Agreement (DPA) must be produced for storing personal data. You must encrypt sensitive data.

CSC SD Connect (our instructions)

• Location: CSC
• Capacity: CSC
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: No
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 2
• Life-cycle limitation: CSC project
• Restrictions, more information: See CSC instructions. Only available in the CSC SD Desktop environment (Linux) with a limited set of software.

Fairdata IDA (our instructions)

• Location: CSC
• Capacity: CSC
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: Yes
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: See restrictions below
• Life-cycle limitation: CSC project
• Restrictions, more information: See CSC instructions. You must not store data that contains special categories of personal data.

Fairdata PAS

• Location: CSC
• Capacity: CSC
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: Yes
• Version control: Yes
• Confidentiality: See restrictions below
• Life-cycle limitation: CSC project
• Restrictions, more information: See CSC instructions. For long-term storage of data.

Joint use within the Tampere Universities community

⭐ Teams workspace (our instructions)

• Location: MS
• Capacity: Large
• Synchronization: Not recommended
• Backup: No
• Version control: Yes
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: Year by year
• Restrictions, more information: If multiple users synchronize files of the same workspace with their computers, editing the files simultaneously will lead to problems. A student can also set up a workspace. The workspace is only available on Linux computers with a browser.

⭐ S drive aka Group folder on network drive (our instructions)

• Location: TUNI
• Capacity: 1000 GB, more can be requested
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: Yes
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: Year by year
• Restrictions, more information: Available on a centrally maintained TUNI computer using a VPN, on a TUNI Linux SSH server, on a TUNI Linux remote desktop server and on a TUNI Virtual Desktop service (the last one also for students, our instructions)

TUNI Linux server (our instructions)

• Location: TUNI
• Capacity: To be agreed
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: Yes
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: To be agreed
• Restrictions, more information: Available only on that server

CSC disk on ePouta computer (our instructions)

• Location: CSC
• Capacity: CSC
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: No
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 2
• Life-cycle limitation: CSC project
• Restrictions, more information: See CSC instructions. Available only at TUNI campus or via VPN.

Personal storage

⭐ OneDrive for Business (our instructions)

• Location: MS
• Capacity: 1000 GB
• Synchronization: Yes
• Backup: No
• Version control: Yes
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: TUNI account
• Restrictions, more information: On Linux computers available only with a browser. Only short-term sharing and joint use possible.

⭐ P drive aka personal home directory on network drive (our instructions)

• Location: TUNI
• Capacity: 100 GB, personnel can request more up to 1 TB
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: Yes
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: TUNI account
• Restrictions, more information: Available on a centrally maintained TUNI computer using a VPN, on a TUNI Linux SSH server, on a TUNI Linux remote desktop server and on a TUNI Virtual Desktop service (the last one also for students, our instructions)

⭐ Linux home directory (our instructions)

• Location: TUNI
• Capacity: 100 GB, personnel can request more up to 1 TB
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: Yes
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: TUNI account
• Restrictions, more information: Available on a TUNI Linux SSH server, on a TUNI Linux remote desktop server and on a TUNI Linux lab computer

TUNI Windows computer hard drive (our instructions)

• Location: TUNI Windows computer
• Capacity: Depends on computer, about 400 GB
• Synchronization: (With OneDrive)
• Backup: With OneDrive
• Version control: With OneDrive
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: Loss or breakage of device
• Restrictions, more information: Set the directories you want to sync with OneDrive to access backup and version management (our instructions).

TUNI Mac computer hard drive (our instructions)

• Location: TUNI Mac computer
• Capacity: Depends on computer, about 400 GB
• Synchronization: (With OneDrive)
• Backup: With OneDrive
• Version control: With OneDrive
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: Loss or breakage of device
• Restrictions, more information: Set the directories you want to sync with OneDrive to access backup and version management (our instructions).

TUNI Linux computer hard drive (our instructions)

• Location: TUNI Linux computer
• Capacity: 12 GB
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: Yes
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 1
• Life-cycle limitation: Loss or breakage of device
• Restrictions, more information: 

USB drive or stick

• Location: User
• Capacity: 
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: No
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 0
• Life-cycle limitation: Loss or breakage of device
• Restrictions, more information: Not recommended due to the risk of breaking or falling into the wrong hands. Special categories of personal data and the like may only be stored by encrypting first the device and then the files with a separate encryption program (our instructions).

Own (home) computer

• Location: User
• Capacity: 
• Synchronization: No
• Backup: No
• Version control: No
• Confidentiality: 0
• Life-cycle limitation: Loss or breakage of device
• Restrictions, more information: Files containing work data must not be stored on your own (home) computer. If a TUNI computer is not available, we recommend TUNI Virtual Desktop (our instructions).

 

IT Helpdesk
+358 294 520 500
it-helpdesk [at] tuni.fi (it-helpdesk[at]tuni[dot]fi)
helpdesk.tuni.fi