Cloud Storage Changes

Over the last few years, major cloud service providers have all phased out unlimited storage; this includes the three licensed by UMBC: Google, Box, and Microsoft. With unlimited storage, there was no reason to limit usage, now with limits, universities across the country are implementing quotas, including UMBC. With new storage limits for Google, we are implementing storage quotas for all users.

Please note that every effort is being made to ensure existing users in our campus community are not adversely affected by the storage quotas. Your data is important. Existing users with a staff, faculty, or student affiliation have been provided additional space based on their current Google storage use. New UMBC accounts will be given the default quotas below to ensure we remain under our storage limits. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this change.

Timeline For Alumni Accounts: We aim to help all alumni accounts get below 5GB by the summer of 2025. Over 75% of our alumni accounts are within the 5GB storage limit. We are developing an outreach and communication program to help those above the 5GB quota reduce their data within the limit provided.

Alumni with Google storage above the 5GB allowed have been granted a temporary increased quota to accommodate their current usage. Starting in January 2025, DoIT will reach out to alumni with storage over 5GB to provide tips and assistance for migrating and managing your Google storage. If we do not hear back by June 1, 2025, we will begin to take steps to deactivate your alumni account if you are above the limit of 5GB. We are committed to working with the Alumni Association to support our alumni in this transition.

Storage Quotas:

• Existing users have a quota that allows them 5GB+ headroom:
  • If you are a student with less than 3GB, you are in the 5GB quota group. Faculty and staff are provided a minimum of 25GB.
  • If you currently have 3 – 15GB, you are in a 25GB quota group.
  • If you have 15 – 90GB, you are in a 100GB quota group.
  • If you have 90 – 900GB, you are in a 100TB quota group.
    If you are a member of the 100TB group, you may be contacted by DoIT to determine if Google Drive is the most appropriate place for your data.
• New Users:
  • New faculty and staff members will receive 25GB of storage.
  • New students will receive 5GB of storage.
• Alumni:
  • Alumni receive 5GB of storage.
  • Alumni with Google storage above the 5GB allowed have been granted a temporary increased quota to accommodate their current usage.
    We aim to help all alumni accounts get below 5GB by the summer of 2025. Please stay tuned for tips and resources coming in early 2025 from DoIT.

Please Note: Quotas and Amounts are subject to change based on our Google storage as a university.

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