Box Secure Online Storage to Retire in 2021

Dear Box user:

Box Secure Online Storage, UMass Amherst’s legacy online file storage and sharing service, will be retired in 2021 due to vendor-driven changes, including a dramatic cost increase and the end of the unlimited storage offering.

As we prepare for this transition, major updates will be shared via email and posted on the IT website: https://www.umass.edu/it/box/retirement
You can also sign up for weekly updates: signup.e2ma.net/signup/1938671/1766882/
Questions? Contact IT User Services at it@umass.edu or 413-545-TECH (8324).

About the Box Online Storage Transition

As a member of the campus community, you have other, equally secure storage platforms at your disposal, including Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive.

Unlike Box, which only offers storage, both OneDrive and Google Drive provide more opportunities for communication and collaboration as part of their larger ecosystems of applications (Microsoft 365 and G Suite respectively). They also include more flexible options for the storage needs and preferences of our students, faculty, and staff, beyond what Box can offer. Online Storage Platforms Compared

Box remains available for the remainder of the 2020-2021 academic year as teaching, learning, working, and research continue remotely. During this time, UMass Amherst Information Technology (IT) will work with faculty and staff to prepare for moving Box data to other online storage platforms. We will provide you with a project timeline as soon as details become available.

An automated solution will help members of the campus community move their files from Box to OneDrive with an eye to replicating workflows and permission settings.
Support will also be available for moving files from Box to Google Drive.
Additional support will be provided for instructors who use Box for their course materials.

Service changes and transitions are an essential step in UMass Amherst’s continuous digital transformation. We are committed to modernizing the campus technology infrastructure with unified, cost-effective enterprise platforms that ensure data security, increase functionality, and enhance user support.