Data storage allows researchers to keep digital information in such a way that it can be retrieved in future. Securely storing data in this way has become an increasingly important and burdensome responsibility for researchers, particularly as the size of their data sets grow.

It’s no longer sufficient – or feasible – for researchers to store and share data from their personal computers, or write it to an external drive and leave it in their bottom drawer. To help researchers manage this challenge, UCT provides ample data storage options in reliable and secure location.

To assist our researchers with their needs for storing digital research data, UCT provides cloud-based storage options on Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. The Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) which came into effect on 1 July 2021, requires that research data comprising personal information must be protected in a secure storage environment. UCT has established local data storage infrastructure that provides dedicated data centres with network perimeter protection, managed access controls, and replication to an off-site facility. You can gain secure access to your data from anywhere in the world using your UCT credentials. You can find out more on the eResearch website.

Get access

To order data storage, email UCT eResearch and let us know how much space you need. You can find out more on the eResearch website.