Data Storage Overview

There are several storage options available for the EPFL research community. Prior to selecting the right storage option for you, consider the following elements:

  • potential usage, e.g. working storage, data archive, code repository
  • access management
  • security
  • back-up and measures related to data loss and data recovery
  • cost of storage and other related expenses (e.g. administration)
  • cater to special needs, e.g. storing data subject to commercial contracts, the secrecy of function or data consider as personal data

Data subject to secrecy of function can only be stored and processed using tools marked by an asterisk*. 

Capture and Active Storage – all Data Types

The file storage service is based on a centralized solution for file hosting which is accessible through the whole school’s IT network, as well as outside via VPN. This service is provided to central services and faculties at the school.

The EPFL Google Workspace service gives EPFL’s Google Workspace for Education access to users with an email address at EPFL.

SWITCHdrive is a non-commercial cloud storage service for institutions of higher education in Switzerland.

One Drive is a part of Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). One Drive is part of the Microsoft Office suite and a group of services provided from the Microsoft cloud.

Capture and Active Storage – Specific Data Types

SV LIMS is a highly customisable LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) combined with an ELN (Electronic Laboratory Notebook) offered by SV-IT.

C4science is a platform for scientific code co-creation, curation and testing.

Active Storage – Computational Data

The file storage service is based on a centralized solution for file hosting which is accessible through the whole school’s IT network, as well as outside via VPN. This service is provided to central services and faculties at the school.

Cold Storage/Archive

The Object Storage Service is based on a centralized solution for object hosting which is accessible through the entire school’s IT network, as well as outside via VPN. This service is available to central services and faculties of the school. The main goal of the service is to provide storage of large data sets, archiving and backups.

ACOUA (Academic Output Archive) is a data archive service offered by the EPFL Library.