File Shares & Storage is where customers are able to access, share, and collaborate across campus; across the country; and around the world with a few clicks on a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Individuals, teams and departments can use WUSTL Box to store and share files with unlimited cloud storage. The user-friendly interface makes uploading and organizing content fast and easy. Customers are able to access, share and collaborate across campus, across the country and around the world with a few clicks on a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Outcomes

Customers find the File Shares & Storage service offering useful for storing documents and files in a single, secure network or cloud location enabling backup and recovery.

Requirements & Considerations

Files which are stored on Box are accessible from any device, including mobile devices, where an internet connection is available. Files stored in on-premise file shares require connection from on campus or via VPN.

Email is not a recommended file storage solution for the following reasons:

  • Files stored in emails that are later deleted are not recoverable
  • If locally stored email files becomes corrupted, you could lose the contents of the locally stored file
  • It can be difficult to locate the latest version of a file when additional versions are emailed

Features & Options

  • WUSTL Box
  • On premise network file shares

Features of WUSTL Box include drag and drop versioning, and real-time activity alerts. Current staff, faculty and students with a university email address can share files, view and comment on any kind of document, and connect on multiple devices. Box permissions and reporting capability allow for controlling and monitoring access. Box apps (like Box Drive, Box Edit, and Box Notes) can be used to enhance functionality of WUSTL Box.

On premise file shares provide CIFS and NFS based shares which are replicated across two data centers on campus, backed up to disk three times daily, and allow for self-service restore.

Overview of File Storage Options

You can also print a version of the file storage solutions options chart.
Printable file storage options chart (PDF)

OneDrive (Office 365)WUSTL BoxCloud Storage (AWS, Azure, GCP)On-premise Network File Shares (files.wustl.edu)
Service Owner/ContactDan ZweifelJohn BaileyJim JohnsonJohn Bailey
Short DescriptionSecure file storage and collaboration platform with seamless integration to Microsoft Office apps.Secure file storage and collaboration platform that lets you easily share and collaborate across campus and with partners outside of the University.On-and off-premise hosting for data storage management of files, VM storage, blob and more. Public cloud platform service is supported by Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform.Traditional network file shares which are replicated across two data centers on campus, backed up to disk three times daily, and allow for self-service restore from previous versions.
Who Can Use This ServiceFaculty, staff, students, researchers/PIs, departments/schoolsFaculty, staff, students, researchers/PIs, departments/schoolsFaculty, staff, researchers/PIs, departments/schoolsFaculty, staff, researchers/PIs, departments/schools
Intended AudienceAll WUSTL departments, schools, and studentsAll WUSTL departments, schools, and studentsDepartments/schoolsDepartments/schools
CostUniversity fundedUniversity fundedRequestor funded5GB per IPed FTE of network file storage included in BIT Bundle.  $1.38 per GB allocated annually for all storage above base allotment.
Amount of Storage Provided (per person, per team)1TB; Increase to 5TB by request1TB; Increase to 5TB by requestUnlimited5GB per person
Maximum File Size15GB150GBVaries16TB
Supported FilesUnsupported: .lock, CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM0 – COM9, LPT0 – LPT9, _vti_, desktop.ini, any filename starting with ~$.Adobe (.pdf, .ai, .psd), Microsoft Office (.xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .doc, .docx), Open Office (.odp, .ods, .odt), Text (.csv, .rtf, .txt, .html), WordPerfect (.wpd), Image (.jpeg, .png, .gif, .tiff, .bmp), Audio/Video (.flv, .swf, .mp3, .mp4, .avi, .mov, .mpg, .mpeg, .wmv, .qt, .ra, .ram)AnyAny
Version ControlYesYesYesYes
Personal StorageYesYesNoYes
Group StorageYes, but SharePoint online recommendedYesYesYes
Real-Time Collaboration & EditingYesYesNoNo
FERPA CompliantyesYesYes, if configuredYes
HIPAA CompliantYesYes Yes, if configuredYes
PHI CompliantYesYes Yes, if configuredYes
Backup/RecoveryYesYes Yes, if configuredYes
Mobile AppYesYes – Box AppNoNo
Desktop AppYesYes – Box DriveNoNo
Web AppYes – View the “To Access Your OneDrive” section on the OneDrive pageYes – Box Web app Yes – View the Cloud Computing page for more infoNo
WUSTL Key AccessRequiredRequired Yes Yes
Offline AccessYes (via OneDrive Sync offline access)Yes (via Box Drive offline access)NoNo
OwnershipAccess is terminated once a user’s affiliation with WashU ends.Access is terminated once a user’s affiliation with WashU ends. Graduates are given a 90 day grace period after graduation to transition their account to a personal Box account.Access is terminated once a user’s affiliation with WashU ends
Related ServicesTeams
File Naming RestrictionsUnsupported characters: ” * : < > ? / \ |Box does not support ‘/’ and ‘\’ anywhere in a file or folder name or whitespaces at the beginning or end of a file or folder name.Unsupported characters:
Windows:
<>:”/\|?*
Mac:
:
Ransomware ProtectionYesBulk file version rollback possible via request
Dedicated File ServerRAW StorageTeams
Service Owner/ContactJim JohnsonJim JohnsonDan Zweifel
Short DescriptionDedicated physical or virtual server for hosting a file server.Direct storage mapped to physical server.Chat-based workspace that brings together people, conversations and content—along with the tools that teams need—so they can easily collaborate to achieve more.
Who Can Use This ServiceFaculty, staff, researchers/PIs, departments/schoolsFaculty, staff, researchers/PIs, departments/schoolsFaculty, staff, students, researchers/PIs, departments/schools
Intended AudienceDepartments/schoolsDepartments/schoolsAll WUSTL departments, schools, and students
CostRequestor fundedRequestor fundedUniversity funded
Amount of Storage Provided (per person, per team)Limited to agreed sizing and fundingLimited to agreed sizing and fundingUnlimited
Maximum File Size15GB
Supported FilesAnyAnyUnsupported: .lock, CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM0 – COM9, LPT0 – LPT9, _vti_, desktop.ini, any filename starting with ~$.
Version ControlYesNoYes
Personal StorageNoNoYes
Group StorageYesNo Yes
Real-Time Collaboration & EditingNoNo Yes
FERPA CompliantYesYesYes
HIPAA CompliantYesYesYes
PHI CompliantYesYesYes
Backup/RecoveryYesNoYes
Mobile AppNoNoYes – Detailed instructions on accessing Teams (PDF)
Desktop appNoNoYes – Detailed instructions on accessing Teams (PDF)
Web AppNoNoYes – O365 website
(Search for the Teams Icon and launch the web application.)
WUSTL Key AccessYesDependent on front-end systemYes
Offline AccessNoNoYes
OwnershipDepartment/schoolDepartment/school
Related Servicesfiles.wustl.eduOffice 365, OneDrive, SharePoint Online
File Naming RestrictionsDependent on operating systemDependent on front-end system
Ransomware Protection

Service Level Expectations (SLE)

Service RequestFulfillment Target
File Shares and Storage1 business day

The File Shares and Storage Service Offering is within the Basic IT Bundle (Bit Bundle) Service. The complete Service Level Expectation (SLE) document for the Basic IT Bundle (Bit Bundle) Service can be found here: Basic IT Bundle (Bit Bundle) SLE (PDF).

Training and How-To

Box How To Page

How to Map File Services Personal and Departmental Drives (PDF)