Local Data Storage and Software Policy

The workstation (local) drive is the C: drive. It is an institutional resource and provides hard drive space to hold the common network application image. It is not provided for data storage. There are three main reasons why local drives should not be used for data storage. First, local drives are not backed up. In the event of hard drive failure, the drive will be replaced and all data will have been lost. Second, damaged application images will often require an image replacement. This too will cause locally stored data to be lost. Third, workstation security was designed to facilitate the movement of faculty and staff between campuses and buildings. As such, the local drive is the least secure storage available to users.

Employees may install special purpose applications on their local drive provided these applications do not interfere with normal workstation/network operations. In general, applications of this type are not supported by IT Services. If you attempt to change the operating system or install software and it does not work, we cannot guarantee that we can repair it. Therefore, software installed by you should be done so only with the understanding that should circumstances require the loading of a new network application image, the user would then have to reinstall any applications they may have installed or eliminate those applications from the system that caused the original problem.

If it has been determined that some software is incompatible with the network operating system, it will not be permitted on the local machine (i.e. Web Shots Screensaver, Gator, Spinner, Bonzi Buddy or Hot Bar).

Employees have a responsibility for safeguarding their data. Network drive space is backed up daily to provide a reasonable level of safety for data files. Storing data on a local C: drive is risky. Local C: drives are not backed up and therefore hardware failure or user error can have severe consequences. Never store important data files on your desktop or local C: drive.

See Personally-Owned Technology for Employees and Network Data Storage Policy for more information.