« M+Box
Box is a commercial online file sharing and storage service.
Internet2 (a consortium of leading U.S. research and educational organizations) chose Box after a review of many storage and file management services. As members of Internet2, the University of Michigan can benefit from attractive pricing and support. One of the key benefits of Box is its ability to integrate with other university systems. For example, it can use the same password system as other U-M services such as CTools and Wolverine Access.
What other schools are Box early adopters?
Michigan was the first school to implement Box through the partnership with Internet2. Other universities include: The University of California - Berkeley, Indiana, Cornell, Notre Dame, Illinois, and Carnegie Mellon.
At the present time there is no direct charge for M+Box for individuals or units. Funding decisions for M+Box will be made later this year.
What are the advantages to online file sharing and storage systems like Box?
Like similar cloud environments such as CTools, Google Drive, and DropBox, Box is a good resource for storing and sharing files, authoring content, and encouraging collaboration.
What are the benefits of Box over other popular commercial services?
Because M+Box works on Macs, PCs and a wide range of mobile devices, it gives you access to your files from just about anywhere. M+Box is also a great place to collaborate: not only can your team share, view, edit and retrieve project files, you can discuss them as well. M+Box uses the same login system as CTools and Wolverine Access, so there are no new user IDs or passwords to remember. It also offers desktop synchronization so that files from your local hard disk will be backed up automatically as well as be available to you from other computers and devices.
Also included are features like content and task management, online workspaces for collaboration, user permissions and a built-in editor. High level features, custom options for embedding files into a website, Google Apps integration, and administrative controls allow M+Box users to create and manage a complete work space environment.
Is M+Box compatible with other U-M file sharing services like CTools, etc.?
How does M+Box compare to Google Docs and CTools?
When will I get my M+Box account?
M+Box accounts are now available to all current students, faculty and staff at the University of Michigan.
Are all the campuses and the Health System getting Box?
M+Box accounts are available to current students, faculty and staff on all the campuses. However, it is up to each unit to determine how to best use the service.
While members of the Flint and Dearborn campuses can use Box, these campuses have not officially decided to roll Box out to their entire community. Until then, individuals can create accounts, but broad communication about the service won't occur.
Who do I contact for help with M+Box?
Users with questions can refer to Using Your Account, Box's knowledge base. Contact information can be found on the Help page.
I already have a Box account. What will happen to that?
Information on existing Box accounts can be found here: For Users with Existing Box Accounts
M+Box has many features that are not available for free personal Box account users. These include:
How much data can I store in my M+Box account?
U-M Enterprise users will receive 50GB of storage space.
Can I increase my storage space?
At this time, 50GB is the maximum size for accounts.
How is my quota usage calculated?
Any file or folder that you upload or create will count against your quota usage. This includes any files that are placed (by you or your collaborators) inside shared folders created by you. Your quota usage also includes any files that you may have deleted that are still in the Trash.
Can I share files with people both inside and outside of the university using M+Box?
Yes, you simply share M+Box content with a person's email address. This may be an @umich.edu address or an external address.
What is the difference between the different link sharing options?
When you share a file with a link, you are presented with a few different options for access.
| Option | Access |
|---|---|
| Open | Anyone with the link can access the file without a Box password. This option allows additional controls such as whether the file can be downloaded, whether the link expires, and whether a shared password should be used. |
| @Umich | Any user with the link AND an @umich.edu account can access the file. In addition, anyone with whom you are directly collaborating can access the file. This option allows additional controls such as whether the file can be downloaded and link expiration. |
| Collaborators Only | The file is in a private folder. Only those you invite as collaborators can access the file. |
| Disabled | There is no shared link access to this file. |
For more information, please see:Box -Smart Links.
Will I be able to sync files between my desktop and M+Box?
Yes, M+Box includes desktop synchronization so that files from your local hard disk will be backed up automatically as well as be available to you from other computers and devices.
Is there a file number limit with M+Box Sync?
Sync is designed for those files you use most frequently so there is currently a limit of 40,000 files per account. Box intends to remove this restriction at some point, and that change will be communicated to users when it happens.
Apps connect your M+Box data with other applications and services. For an overview of Box apps, visit the Box Apps Overview and FAQ.
What apps are available to U-M users?
While all apps are available to U-M users, only the list of M+Box Core Apps have been tested and approved by U-M.
Not all apps are free. App descriptions are available through the Apps menu and should provide information on pricing.
Are all apps for all platforms?
Not all apps are available for all platforms. App descriptions are available through the Apps menu, and should provide information on platform compatibility.
Can I sync network drive files to my M+Box account?
We do not recommend that you sync folders on network drives to M+Box. The problem is that the default location of the Box sync folder is in a place that is synced to the network drives in MiWorkspace builds.
Are my files and data safe on M+Box?
Box adheres to the highest industry standards for security at every level and commits extensive resources to the design, implementation, monitoring, and maintenance of its security infrastructure, including:
M+Box provides provides robust security for sensitive university data. However, due to federal, state, and university laws, policies and standards, it should not be used to collect, process, store or share certain types of Sensitive Regulated data; this includes data regulated by HIPAA, ITAR/EAR, GLBA, FISMA and PCI. Sensitive Human Subjects Research data can only be stored on M+Box so long as as it does not contain any protected health information that is subject to HIPAA (e.g., medical record number/hospital registration number, etc.).
Student educational records regulated by FERPA and Sensitive Human Subject Research data may be collected, processed, stored or shared in Box.
If you store sensitive data on your Box account and access Box data with a mobile device, we recommend that you enable the mobile app passcode lock in the Box app settings on your mobile device.
Are my files on M+Box backed-up?
Yes. If you accidentally delete a file, you have 30 days to recover it using the M+Box system. Visit the project support page for more details.
Can I get to M+Box files from home or from my mobile device?
Yes. This is one of the strengths of M+Box. It allows you to access your files from many different types of locations and devices. See Using Your Account for more details.
How long will my M+Box account be available to me?
Users who have a current active student/faculty/staff affiliation will keep their account until they are no longer active student/faculty/staff. (See also "What happens to my files on M+Box when I leave U-M?")
What happens to my files on M+Box when I leave U-M?
We are working with Box to finalize procedures for transitioning users from the service as their affiliation with the University changes. We plan to make the processes as seamless as possible, and you'll be notified if you need to take any action to move your data.
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