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IT Service Transition: Box Secure Online Storage Retirement Updates

Box Secure Online Storage, our legacy online file storage and sharing service, is scheduled to be retired on July 26, 2021, due to a dramatic cost increase and the end of unlimited storage.

This spring, your Box data will be automatically moved to Microsoft OneDrive, UMass Amherst's preferred online storage platform. You may also choose to move your Box data manually to Google Drive.

venn diagram comparing onedrive and teams, at the link

Microsoft OneDrive vs Box

Learn how to duplicate your Box workflows in OneDrive with this side-by-side comparison of common features and actions.

 

Projected Timeline

Updated June 22, 2021

 

Tuesday, June 1 - Monday, July 12, 2021
Review Period

  • You can now review your Box files in the BoxData folder in OneDrive. 
  • Friday, July 9, 2021, 9 p.m.: Your Box account will become read-only. You can still download and preview Box files.
  • Friday, July 9, 9 p.m. - Monday, July 12, 2021, 6 a.m.: To allow for the final sync, do not make any changes to your BoxData folder in OneDrive. 
  • Report any missing files or folders to it@umass.edu.
  • Can't see the Shared screen in OneDrive? Let us know.
  • Steps you can and cannot take during the review period

Monday, July 12 - Monday, July 26, 2021
Post-transition Period

  • Monday, July 12, 2021: You can edit or move content from the BoxData folder in OneDrive. 
  • Your Box account is read-only. You and your collaborators can no longer make changes to content stored in Box.

We are here

Monday, July 26, 2021
Anticipated Date for Retiring Box

  • Box accounts will transition to Box Lite, a limited version of Box, to enable access to Box documents shared with you by colleagues at other institutions, pending data security guidelines.
  • Create and save new projects in OneDrive or Google Drive.

Other Events & Important Dates

  • Week of April 12, 2021 - Move from Box to OneDrive begins. Files remain available in Box while being copied to OneDrive.
  • Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - Data transfer pilot announced. 
  • Tuesday, December 8, 2020 - Box retirement announced.

 

About OneDrive & Other Online Storage Options

Switch to OneDrive Automatically

  1. Your Box files will be automatically copied to your UMass Amherst OneDrive account. Your files are available in Box during the move.
  2. Delete or transfer ownership of files you no longer need.
  3. Rename files to avoid special characters in filenames. Special characters not allowed in OneDrive file names will be replaced during the move.
  4. Check your computer configuration to avoid problems during the move.

Move to Google Drive Manually

You may consider Google Drive for your Box files. Before making a final decision, here is some information you need to know about Google Drive

  1. There is currently no automatic file transfer from Box to Google Drive. 
  2. Starting July 2022, Google will implement changes to Google Drive, which may involve storage restrictions.
  3. Check the classification and compliance requirements for the university data you store in Box. Email it@umass.edu to coordinate a risk assessment for your data.

What is OneDrive?

What is Google Drive?

 

Communications

Sign up for extra weekly updates to get additional information about the service transition.
Read previous updates - Box Transition: Weekly Updates Archive

 


 

Support Resources