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The advantages of Research Drive

The number-one data storage for research:

  • Research Drive was developed by and for researchers.
  • Managed and continuously updated by SURF based on input from research universities and universities of applied sciences.

Secure storage and sharing:

  • Store and share research data (including sensitive data) securely and flexibly with national and international colleagues and partners in a single, clearly structured environment.
  • Access to the data is guaranteed by the project or data owner and by SURF.
  • Research data are sent encrypted and can only be accessed using secure two-factor authentication (visit SURF Research Drive for more info).
  • Additional encryption of sensitive data.

User friendliness:

  • Clearly structured cooperation based on groups.
  • Easy to manage.
  • Ample and flexible storage space.
  • Can be applied for easily straight away (shortened link through SURF to Topdesk).
  • Extensive support from ResearchIT (the ICT Services team dedicated to IT for research) and SURF (tutorials and wiki).

How does Research Drive work?

Each research team has a data owner, who is responsible for the project environment. This data owner creates groups and a folder structure and can grant users (or groups of users) access to specific folders. External parties are assigned a guest account using a public link. You need to be a data owner to apply to use Research Drive. You’ll receive a starter pack, including a tutorial. You’ll then be able to set up the project environment.

More tools for data storage

Researchers have many platforms at their disposal for storing and editing data. Aside from Research Drive, for instance, OneDrive offers personal file storage or Microsoft Teams to collaborate on files online. But beware: as soon as you work with sensitive personal data, it is not recommended to use these tools due to privacy risks. If you and your colleagues need to work with research data (including sensitive data) as part of your research, Research Drive is an excellent choice.
Would you like to have a better idea of which storage tool to use for which purpose? In the course of 2022, we’ll publish a handy selection tool to explain which commonly used tools are available and supported by ICT Services and for which purposes they are most suited.

Want to find out more, ask any questions or get started straight away?