Comparing RDS to other storage options

Recommended use

Individual use. Active document and small data file sharing

Deprecated service. SharePoint is recommended service

Group based collaboration documents.

Active workspace for users of the College HPC system (only)

Storage of high volumes of active and cool research data;

Data to be processed on HPC systems;

Standard allowance

Allowance subject to licence and governance

Data transfer is limited to 1TB/mo.

Initial quota: 100GB.

Increases may be given depending on usage, compliance and governance

1TB for HPC users

2TB/research grant

Extra storage

Not available

Not applicable

Not applicable

Time limited (metered) ephemeral storage for temporary storage of large data sets

Time limited (metered) ephemeral storage for temporary storage of large data sets

Data sharing

Selectively, by file folder

Selectively: Co-owner, collaborator or read-only access

Selectively: Allow Editing or read-only access. Can block downloads

POSIX file permissions. 

Sharing within an individual's research group

POSIX file permissions. 

Single access control list per allocation

Sharing outside of IC members

Individuals with a Microsoft account

Yes, can share with selected individuals or create public links

Yes, but no anonymous links

No

yes with Globus.

Access

Web, Windows, Mac

Web, Windows,
Mac

Web

RCS HPC systems,

Linux, Windows 10, Mac (CIFS)

RDS HPC systems, 

Linux, Windows 10, Mac (CIFS)

Accessible outside College network

Yes, with an active College account

Yes

Yes

yes with Globus.

yes with Globus.

Data locality

EU

US

EU

Imperial

Imperial

Reliability

Cloud service

Cloud service

Cloud service

Snapshots, second copy at the second site

Snapshots, second copy at the second site on request

Allocation lifetime

Owning an individual's College account

Deprecated system.

Indefinite

Owning an individual's College account

Typically for the length of a research project, subject to funding