Data Protection Basics

Data Protection Basics 

Data protection is about keeping your data safe from loss, corruption, and even theft. It isn’t something that happens by default! Protecting your data is based on good practices that every individual must do on purpose. 

One: Use OneDrive

UTA’s OneDrive is our best tool for protecting data. UTA “daily drivers” that are used for day-to-day work are configured to make UTA’s OneDrive easily available for use. Putting your data into OneDrive creates a copy of it in your UTA account in UTA’s Microsoft cloud. This copy will exist even if something happens to your laptop. 

In the research group, make an effort to copy data from instrumentation and data collection platforms to OneDrive. Don’t depend on data collection or data analysis platforms to be the primary copy of your data. Copying data from data collection and analysis platforms also facilitates the sharing of that data with the research group.  

Two: Have a Recovery Plan

Have a recovery plan for each critical resource in your research group. This plan does not need to be complex. The idea is to have thought through what you would do to address the unavailability of failure of a computing resource before a time of crisis. A plan may include having a vendor contact, being able to reinstall licensed software, or being able to reload data from your OneDrive back to a research computing resource.

Three: Formal Backup Tools

You may have data protection needs that go beyond what OneDrive can accomplish. Your idea of a recovery plan may necessitate having a copy of programs and configurations along with data. UTA’s Office of Information Technology (UTA OIT) has backup tools that may be useful for your situation. Use of these backup tools starts with a consultation with an OIT technician. The scope and intended use will be discussed, along with estimated costs.  

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