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Research Data Management 101

Data Documentation (AKA Metadata)

Backing up data: storing during active phase

Ideally, keep three copies of your data:

  1. local/working copy
    e.g. on your workstation or in shared workspace
  2. remote copy
    e.g. on a managed backup system
  3. other copy in another remote location, or local/external
    e.g., external hard drive* (CDs and DVDs not built to last)


Test file recovery at setup and on a regular schedule

This is not for publishing or sharing (storage ≠ archiving) 



Additional considerations:

• What to keep?

Consider weeding obsolete data as you go

• Huge file size!


Images can often be very large files

• Image compression may be done by your image software automatically

• If not, you can compress your data.

• But always keep one uncompressed copy somewhere

• Use open source compression software

• Document the version of compression software used 


Additional considerations:

• My Research is top secret!

• Then you can use encryption

• Don't rely on 3rd party encryption alone

• Use something like PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)

• Write the keys down on two pieces of paper

• Store each piece of paper securely in separate locations