IET presents multiple drive letters to each user. The intention is to enable each user to organize data and store it in an organized manner. This practice enables the college to maximize its investment in storage and backup systems. It is important to note that space is not limited, it is managed. Users are provided with as much space as necessary to contain all data needed to perform their job function.
Important Redirection Notice:
Network redirection is configured on all virtual machines and physical desktops. This redirects My Documents, Desktop, Pictures and Downloads to the network I: drive, transferring the default location of C: to the network location.
These locations are backed up in the enterprise backup system. This practice prevents loss of data in the event of a failure of the local C: drive, the default location for My Documents on Windows systems.
This redirection is also a protection against ransomware. Storage system snapshots of data are made to ensure quick recovery in the event of a ransomware occurrence.
Laptops do not have this enabled. Laptop users are responsible for backing up any critical data on the laptop drives to OneDrive or network drive for backup.
Using the local C: drive for storing data outside the redirected folders mentioned earlier in the document is discouraged on physical and virtual machines! This data is not backed up. Any information stored in that location is the end user responsibility.
Information stored on local hard drives is not backed up by automated backup systems.
Local hard drive storage is subject to failure and corruption and should not be used to store any information that is essential to business operations. A copy should always be maintained in another location. This drive is considered a temporary storage location.
Network Drives
H Drive
Each user gets a H drive that provides access to an area that holds application install points. This area is also used as a location for applications that are being distributed using either Desktop Authority or Microsoft Configuration Manager.
I Drive
Each user is provided the home directory I: drive for data that is for the sole use of that person. Security restrictions are in place to protect files from unauthorized access. I=Individual can be associated with the function of this mapping.
J Drive
This is a joint drive departmental shared drive to hold data that needs to be accessible by others in the department. All departmental faculty and staff have full access to this location unless restrictions have been implemented at the request of the head of the department. This is also the location for the departmental scan folder where all documents scanned from the department’s multifunction printer-copier are temporarily placed. This repository should be used for temporary storage only and is subject to being cleaned out to properly manage space. Documents with sensitive information should not be scanned and left in this location. They should be relocated to a location that aligns with the security requirements of type of data scanned.
K Drive
This area is for faculty use. The location is provided to place documents instructors wish to provide to students from any Academic lab. The owner of the drive has full access to place, modify and delete files in their own personal folder. All others have read-only access.
L Drive
Special Shared Drive. This location is for internal collaboration and sharing of documents needing to be accessible by users across departments. Special functional groups and committees can collaborate on documents internally and ensure the recovery point and recovery time options maintained in the college IT private cloud. By default, all faculty and staff have read-only access to this structure as configured by administrators using membership of specific groups (i.e. Budget Committee, Campus Safety and Security). This access level is granted through request of the respective committee chair.
N Drive
This area is for faculty to place documents that need to be accessible to students from any Academic lab. Anyone who can access this location has full access to view, modify or delete any files located here. This was originally created to allow students to store “work in progress” class work if they did not have a flash drive to store their work.
U Drive
“Utility Drive” Storage for utility data. This can be used for large data that is needed for special departmental needs. Examples are graphics, archival of data, videos and other data that is large in nature. Utility storage is provided on an as needed basis to facilitate faster recovery times for mission critical data.
Hours
Mon – Fri: 7:45 AM – 5:00 PM
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Business Science M269
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