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Research Guides

Research Data Management: Data Storage Comparison

Guide of resources related to the many aspects of research data management. Data management encompasses the processes surrounding collecting, organizing, describing, sharing, and preserving data.

Comparison of Data Storage Options

These services are aimed at University of Washington affiliates looking for data storage options. Services that are HIPAA-aligned or FERPA-aligned offer the tools for secure transmission and storage, but each user must still ensure that their data is maintained in compliance with any security requirements. The comparison chart assumes UW affiliation. If you are interested in long-term archiving, please contact Scholarly Communications and Publishing for guidance. For even more UW storage options, visit UW IT's Online storage page.

Service Storage Capacity Pricing FERPA Aligned HIPAA Aligned PID1 Capable Access Restrictions
ResearchWorks Archive Unlimited2 Free3 - - Open web access, but with a temporary embargo option.
RedCap Unlimited4 Free - Accounts can be shared with UW affiliates.
Google Drive Unlimited Free - - Capable of open or restricted web access.
UW OneDrive for Business 1TB total 2GB per file Free - Sharing limited to UW affiliates.
U Drive 30GB Free - - - Not shareable.
lolo Archive Unlimited Paid - Sharing limited to researchers at UW and UW affiliates.
Shared File Service Intended for small storage needs Paid - - Limited to UW affiliates.
Cloud Services (e.g. AWS, Azure, Google) Unlimited Paid - Publicly available, accounts can be shared outside UW system.
Open Science Framework (OSF) Unlimited Free - - Capable of open or restricted web access.

1. System can assign materials a persistent identifier (PID) such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or Handle.
2. Requires administrative assistance for files over 10GB.
3. May require a negotiated charge for very large datasets.
4. Limited to 100MB per file upload (unlimited total file storage).