The appropriate solution for storing research data depends on the need. It is impossible to find a solution that works for all storage needs. 

The characteristics of a good storage location include:

• Automated backups – The risk of data loss increases if you have to make backups manually.
• Independent location, meaning that you have the option to use data remotely. 
• Access control, which means that access to your files is restricted with a password, for example.

Automated backups are important because it is easy to forget manual backups, putting you at risk of losing all the data.

All students at the University of Helsinki have their own home drive, the Z: drive, which is backed up every hour.

Read more about backups in the Students’ Digital Skills course material.

Remote access is useful if you must access the data from anywhere. This also frees you from carrying the data with you on a memory stick, which can easily be lost and end up in the wrong hands.

As a student, you have access to a home drive (Z: drive) offered by the University of Helsinki, which you can use over a VPN connection.

Access control means

• Restricting access
  • By protecting the material with a password
  • By encrypting the material so that only authorised parties can read it
• Enabling access
  • By granting access rights to several people on a collaboration platform, such as Wiki