Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of storage should I use?

In order to accomodate different research projects and their requirements, a number of storage products are available through RDS. These include Market (storage for active data), Vault (storage for inactive data), Compute (storage for cloud computing) and Object (storage for unstructured collections). Each storage product supports different research scenarios and has its own advantages and disadvantages. The Storage Products page provides an overview and is a good place to start if you are not sure what kind of storage you need.

Is the data I store on RDS backed up?

Data stored via Compute and Object storage is not backed up automatically, but does support data redundancy. Data stored on Market and Vault is backed up daily and features 30 days of backups.

What happens if I accidentally delete a file?

The best way to recover a deleted file is to contact the RDS Team via email (merc-rdsm-support@monash.edu) or lodge a support ticket through the Data Dashboard. Be sure to include important details such as date the file was last used and as much of the full path and filename as you can remember.

Who can access my data?

Windows shares (SMB) are restricted to Monash IDs that are members of specific secure access groups. SFTP and rsync allocations are linked to specific accounts, while NFS shares are restricted to the IP addresses and/or hostnames of specific machines. Object and Compute allocations are linked to specific accounts and projects within the Nectar Dashboard.

My data is is Sensitive or Very Sensitive. How do I store it securely?

Sensitive and Very Sensitive data, such as datasets containing personally identifiable information, should be stored appropriately in line with the data's security requirements. Data security requirements can be complex, especially if the data has been provided by a third-party as they may have their own technical requirements above and beyond those required by the relevant ethics agreement and Monash's own data security guidelines. If you have sensitive data, contact the RDS Team directly to discuss your requirements.