Changes to storage limits
On Dec 18, 2023, ITS announced changes to cloud storage account limits. USC Google Drive accounts will be limited to 100GB, and USC OneDrive accounts will be limited to 250GB for individuals (100GB for iVIPs and shared org accounts).
For more information, see ITS's page on Google and Microsoft changes.
Overview
In this guide, we review and compare approved cloud storage options at USC.
Approved cloud storage options at USC
ITS maintains an up-to-date chart of the specifications for each of the approved cloud storage providers on their page, "Storage at USC."
Microsoft OneDrive
We highly recommend using OneDrive for cloud storage at USC.
Microsoft OneDrive at USC
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Quick access: Go to https://usc.edu/onedrive and log in using your USC NetID
- Available to USC faculty, staff, students, and affiliates (iVIPs)
- Up to 250 GB storage space
- Approved by ITS for the storage of FERPA-regulated data, although additional controls may be needed
Microsoft OneDrive resources
Other storage options
The other storage options below are all approved for use but have certain limitations:
Google Drive
Google Drive at USC
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Quick access: Go to https://usc.edu/googledrive and log in using your USC NetID
- Available to USC faculty, staff, and students
- Up to 100 GB storage space
Google Drive resources
Dornsife network drives
Dornsife network drives
- Available to USC Dornsife faculty and staff, as well as Dornsife graduate students and undergraduates on an as-needed basis (e.g. student workers)
- Limited storage space (shared with other Dornsife departments/units)
- Not approved by ITS for the storage of FERPA-regulated data
Dornsife network drive resources
Dornsife research storage needs
Email ts@dornsife.usc.edu if you need specialized research storage options: we can provide a custom-tailored solution to suit your research needs.
Dornsife Cloud, our Azure-based previous option, has been discontinued due to vendor changes.
Cloud storage in other applications at USC
You may notice that applications such as Zoom, Slack, and Brightspace are not listed here as cloud storage options. While it's true that these applications are using cloud storage (for instance, you can upload files to Slack and Brightspace), that storage is reserved for application-specific use, not for broader uses such as backing up computer files.
Considerations when choosing a cloud storage option
Preferences in cloud storage options vary by department: if your department or team is already accustomed to using one of the approved cloud storage options above, we recommend staying with that option for consistency.
You can also reach out to us for guidance: email ts@dornsife.usc.edu with some details about your specific needs.
Storing FERPA-regulated data
Only Microsoft OneDrive is approved by USC for the storage of FERPA-regulated data. If you or your department are working with FERPA-regulated data, you cannot use other solutions such as Dornsife network drives or Dornsife digital repository.
For up-to-date information, please refer to:
Cloud storage access after an account is disabled
Bear in mind that your access to cloud storage at USC is tied to your USC NetID account. When you depart USC, your account is disabled by ITS as part of standard operating procedure. At that point, not only will you lose access to your files, but even other active USC members will no longer be able to access files that you shared with them from your account, whether you saved them on Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive.
Our recommendation is to prepare in advance as much as possible: if you have important USC work saved to cloud storage that others will need to access, you may want to transfer ownership of those files to another active USC member or to a shared organizational account.