Research data: Choosing the most suitable storage solution at EPFL
CC-BY EPFL Library & G. Anex
To support researchers in making informed storage decisions, the EPFL Library Research Data Management (RDM) team, in collaboration with the Information Systems Department (DSI) and the IT services of the School of Life Sciences (SV Faculty IT), has created a dedicated webpage. This resource provides an overview of the available storage solutions at EPFL, highlighting their key features, security levels, and recommended use cases. A comparative table is also available to help researchers quickly evaluate and select the most suitable storage solution.
EPFL offers a wide range of storage solutions for research data, available through central services, faculty-specific IT teams, laboratory-managed resources, etc. Navigating these options can be challenging for researchers when selecting the most appropriate solution. Each option is designed to meet specific needs, depending on factors such as data type, security requirements, and intended use.
For instance, confidential research data should not be stored alongside general research data, as different systems provide varying levels of security and access control. Datasets containing personal information or intellectual property, must comply with Swiss or European regulations, requiring storage in systems with appropriate authentication and authorization mechanisms.
Additionally, storage needs differ between active data - data that is frequently accessed and potentially shared with collaborators - and data intended for long-term preservation or archiving. While active data can be stored using various solutions, including local storage, NAS, or cloud services (with confidentiality considerations), professional archival storage requires a secure and dedicated repository, designed to ensure long-term data integrity and accessibility. At EPFL, ACOUA (ACademic OUtput Archive) provide a secure alternative to temporary storage locations, such as drop folders, which are not suitable for long-term preservation.
For more information, visit the webpage go.epfl.ch/rdm-storage, or contact the Library RDM team at researchdata@epfl.ch.