Computing or storage environment for research

Purpose

Choosing the correct location for your data will allow you to manage and protect your data to meet the requirements and expectations for your research project. The University provides a number of solutions.

Audience

researchers

On this page

Initial considerations

Determine your data's classification.

• Classifying your data is the first step to knowing what safeguards are required to securely process or store your data.

  • Classify data

Determine other project requirements.

• A non-exhaustive list of requirements to consider when selecting a research environment include:

  • Legislative and/or regulatory obligations,

  • contractual and agreement obligations (e.g.; data share [DSA], material transfer [MTA]),

  • human ethics and animal use protocols,

  • research project stage,

  • backup requirements,

  • funding and cost limitations,

  • collaboration and sharing capabilities, and

  • space requirements.

What can I do?

Evaluate possible institutional options.

• Data Storage Finder - Centre for Research and Innovation Support

• These systems are managed by technical experts at the University, divisional, or departmental level, allowing you to focus more on your research, rather than on maintaining the security of unmanaged systems.

Contact your local IT about what divisional or departmental options are viable for your research.

• Contact us | Information Technology (IT)

If institutional and divisional offerings are unsuitable, you may choose to manage your own systems.

• Ensure that you meet the confidentiality, integrity, availability, and privacy requirements and expectations of your research project.

  • Best practices to secure systems and environments

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Additional help

General

Contact us | Information Security (IS)

Contact us | Information Technology (IT)

Researchers

Research Information Security - Information Security at University of Toronto

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