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The University community has many options for shared file storage. Google Drive, OneDrive, and the “X-Drive,” are free to faculty, staff, and students and supported by IT Solutions. Each of these systems can be utilized to share information among faculty, staff, and students. Each of these systems offers different options--some of which are detailed below.
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X-Drive
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Google Drive** Includes My Drive and Shared drives
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OneDrive
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Storage Space
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20GB personal + 50GB shared (per user)
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TWU uses both My Drive and Shared drives
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100 GB
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Collaboration
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File sharing only
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Live collaboration
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Live collaboration
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Revision history
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Permission-Setting
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Access controls at the top folder level
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Full permission control
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Full permission control
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Availability
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Only on-campus or VPN
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Anywhere with internet
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Anywhere with internet
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Sensitive data*
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Allowed; Most secure of these options
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Not recommended
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Not recommended
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FERPA compliant
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Browser compatibility
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N/A
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Works best in Chrome
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Any browser works
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Sharing capabilities
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Yes
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Yes; more robust
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Yes
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Mobile Accessibility
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Create content
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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File types allowed
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Any
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Nearly all
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Nearly all
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| Share with non-TWU addresses |
Individuals need to complete a Guest Access form, have VPN access with DUO, and be added to the X drive by a member of the X drive folder
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My Drive - Individuals can add
Google Shared drives - ticket to the Service Desk with link to folder and all non-TWU email addresses
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Ticket to the Service Desk with link to folder and all non-TWU email addresses |
X drive will display personal usage only.
*More information about Personally Identifiable Information PII is available from the question What determines sensitive data from non-sensitive data?
**A Note About Google
Google My Drive only allows one account to “own” a Google-created file (doc, sheet, form, etc.). Ownership can only be transferred within domains (only @twu.edu can transfer to/from another @twu.edu account). Departments who wish to use Google Drive extensively may consider creating a Shared drive. Google Shared drives allow a group or department to own a collection of files and or folders.
Compare Google My Drive and Google Shared drives
More information about Google My Drive is available from the Google Workspace Learning Center.
More information about Google Shared drives is available from the Google Workspace Learning Center.
For additional support, contact the Technology Service Desk at 940-898-3971, servicedesk@twu.edu, techchat.twu.edu, or submit a request through the Technology Service Catalog.
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