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Campus AD File Service

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The Campus Active Directory File Service provides an area on central servers that can be used to store and share files among multiple computers and users.

Features and Benefits

There are separate areas for your home share and your organizational files.

  • Your home share is private to you. Use this share to store any files you find useful, up to the quota. Accounts are created with a 15GB quota on home directories.
  • Your organizational share is for documents and files that are shared with your co-workers.
  • There are standard drive mappings for PCs that are connected to the Campus Active Directory:
    • the home share is the H: drive
    • the organizational share is the N: drive
  • If you work with sensitive data, and your workgroup has requested secure file services, you may have a secure organizational share. For PCs that are connected to the Campus Active Directory, the secure organizational share is the O: drive.
  • More information about the Campus Active Directory

For all shares:

  • File Backups — Data files are backed up nightly. Backups are securely rotated off site through Iron Mountain.
  • File Security — Data is protected while stored on central servers. Files are protected by Active Directory, Windows Group Policy, Access Control Lists, malicious-software detection, host-based firewalls, and frequent patching.
  • Physical Security — Files are stored on servers located in the UCSC Data Center, behind the Data Center firewall.
  • Remote Access — Files are available from off campus using the Campus VPN Service.
  • Clients can restore their own files in the event of accidental change or deletion. More information on restoring files.
  • If your computer is managed through ITS Managed Computer Support (BigFix):
    • For Windows users, your home and organizational shares are automatically mapped to your desktop.
    • For Mac users, you can use SMB to connect to your home and organizational shares. How to map home and organizational shares.

Availability

The Campus AD File Service is available for use 24x7. This service is supported by the DCO Windows team.

For planned maintenance, the UCSC Data Center follows the ITS Change Management Process, and planned changes are posted on the ITS Maintenance Calendar.

Data Security

Standard Campus AD File Services are appropriate for P1 - P2 data.

Secure Campus AD File Services should be used for P3 - P4 data, excluding EAR/ITAR and PCI.

Eligibility

The Campus AD File Service is available to UCSC faculty and staff, and to students with a faculty or staff sponsor.

A Campus AD account is required to use the Campus AD File Service. If you do not already have a Campus AD account, you can request one here. Please include in the request if you would like a Home Share (H:).

Computers that use Secure Campus AD File Services must be either:

  • Windows 10 (or higher)
  • Mac OS X Yosemite (or higher)
  • Linux Samba 4.4 (or higher)

Costs

The Campus AD File Service is provided free of charge.

How to use the AD File Service

In order to keep the Campus AD File Service healthy and performing well for the entire UCSC community, please note the following service parameters and client responsibilities:

  • Each administrative department is responsible for managing their documents in compliance with the University’s Records and Information Management policies at http://rim.ucsc.edu.
  • Each department in which employees handle sensitive data, is responsible for ensuring that employees complete campus security training.
  • Each department is responsible for requesting the prompt removal of access when an employee’s status changes (for example, due to transfer or retirement).
  • To ensure backups complete in a timely manner, the backup process skips certain types of files. This includes disk images, application-installation files, mail archives, and backups of databases or virtual desktops.
  • The Campus AD File Service is a shared and limited resource, intended to serve the campus community's day-to-day file-sharing needs. If you have other types of data to store, such as backups or installation media, we can help find more appropriate storage options. Please use the “Get Help Here” button, below.
    • Regarding email archives: Google Apps provides unlimited storage which can include email. This service is always available from anywhere with an internet connection. It’s no longer necessary to place your email archive on the file server for backups. Connecting your email client to an archive on the shared file server can cause performance issues for all customers. If an email archive is necessary, for better performance it should be placed on your workstation rather than on the shared file server.

Request this Service

The Campus AD File Service is provisioned on request  - Submit a help request via SlugHub

If the type of information you work with requires Secure File Services, please let us know that when you make your request. Please include in the request if you would like a Home Share (H:).

Please note the minimum requirements highlighted in the Eligibility section to consume the service.

Get Help

If you have any questions regarding the service or need assistance, please work with your Divisional Liaison, or contact the ITS Support Center.

Note: This service is also offered by Academic Divisional Computing; more information can be found here. Other storage options are described here.