Box

UCF offers Box, a cloud-based content management and collaboration platform, to provide researchers with a secure and efficient solution for storing, sharing, and managing their research data. This service facilitates seamless collaboration, streamlines research workflows, and ensures data security and compliance with institutional policies. Access to this premium service is available to eligible research projects through a formal application process that requires confirmation of funding to cover associated costs.

Key Features of Box for Research

• Secure File Sharing and Collaboration: Box provides a secure environment for sharing research files with colleagues both within and outside the university. It supports cross-institutional collaboration, making it ideal for multi-institutional research projects. 

• Flexible Data Management: Researchers can easily organize their data using Box's intuitive folder system. This includes creating main folders for projects, public folders for shared resources, and private folders for sensitive data. 

• Access Control: Box allows researchers to manage permissions at both the folder and file levels, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information. This feature helps comply with Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements and other data protection standards. 

• Generous Storage Capacity: Box provides ample storage to accommodate large datasets, enabling researchers to store and manage their data effectively. Box supports individual file uploads up to 50GB. 

• Data Security: Box offers robust security features including enterprise-grade encryption, remote logout capabilities, and granular access permissions. These features ensure that research data is protected against unauthorized access and potential breaches. 

Benefits for Researchers

• Enhanced Collaboration: By facilitating easy sharing and collaboration on research projects, Box helps bring together researchers from different institutions to work more effectively on joint projects. 

• Improved Workflow Efficiency: The platform's ability to automate administrative tasks and streamline workflows reduces the time spent on data management, allowing researchers to focus more on their core research activities. 

• Cost savings: Box can help to save money by reducing the need for on-premises storage. 

Getting started with Box

Access to Box is a premium service and requires approved funding to cover the associated per-user costs.  Use the following form to request a Box account [Link].  Upon approval and funding verification, you will receive instructions on how to access and utilize your Box account. 

For more detailed guidance on setting up your Box account, please contact us at ResearchIT@ucf.edu. We can provide additional resources and support to help you make the most of this powerful tool. 

Support

The UCF Research Computing team provides ongoing support for Box Storage for Research. Contact us via ResearchIT@ucf.edu.

Please note: Box Storage for Research is not intended to be used for long-term data archiving.  For long-term data storage solutions, please contact the UCF Research Cyberinfrastructure Team.