Secure Data Sharing

TTU has several options for securely sharing data during the course of research activities. Only share data to those that approved to have access to the data, and de-identify the data whenever possible. TTU has established secure means of exchanging confidential data and information to others authorized in the IRB protocol to receive. Quick guidance for researchers conducting human research, with an approved IRB protocol.

Data Exchange with TTU Members of the Research Team or IRB Approved Others

Most human subjects' protocols have a team of researchers authorized in the collection, analysis, processing, and storing of participant information and data collected during the research project. For confidential data exchange between and among the researcher team approved by the IRB, researchers may securely exchange documents and data (attachments or in the email text) from one TechMail account (ends in @ttu.edu) to another TechMail account. For larger data sets, researchers may use the following resources:

TTU Large File Transfer Service

This service is provided by the Texas Tech University Information Technology Division as a convenience to faculty and staff in conducting business and research. This service facilitates the sending and receiving of very large files that normally cannot be sent as an email attachment.

All files uploaded to this service are associated with a Texas Tech University faculty or staff eRaider account; whether uploaded by a University employee or an external colleague.
After the TTU faculty or staff member has initially uploaded a file, an email message containing file download links is distributed to their TTU email account.
TTU faculty and staff members are responsible for distributing those links to external colleagues and partners, as needed for University business.
This application provides temporary file transfer services, permanently deleting uploaded files after the expiration date. Please note that upload and download speeds may vary depending on your internet connection.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams provides a popular, collaborative environment with Office 365 integration.

OneDrive for Business

OneDrive for Business is a cloud-based service hosted by Microsoft. All TTUS and TTU students, faculty, and staff can share documents internally and externally.

SharePoint Online

SharePoint Online is a cloud-based service hosted by Microsoft. All TTUS and TTU students, faculty, and staff can create their own sites, as needed.

TTU RedCap

RedCap can be used to collaborate on data, not just for surveys.

Globus

The Globus Connect interface can also be used to share data you have stored on HPCC resources with outside collaborators. For detailed instructions on how to do this, please see the guide "How To Share Data Using Globus" written by the Globus team. When going through these instructions please keep in mind the following:

To reach your data on the HPCC Lustre storage area (/home, /lustre/work, /lustre/scratch) set the endpoint to "ttuhpcc#TTUTerra"
Be careful in who you give "write" permission to. You will be held responsible for anything uploaded to your account on your behalf.

The first step you will need to take is to determine the name of the endpoint used by the outside organization.

If the external site you want to use as your destination does not have Globus Connect, but you have an account on a resource there, it's easy to set up a personal end point on the remote resource to use as a destination to transfer your data directly.
To reach your data at the external your personal computer, set the endpoint to the name you selected when you created the endpoint.

TTU Email

TTU Email should only be used for internal exchange between authorized and legitimate purpose individuals.

Additional Information

If you need a different option, TTU IT can assist with a secure file transfer site (sFTP) by contacting IT Help Central at (806) 742-4357 (HELP) or ithelpcentral@ttu.edu.

Note: If the IRB determines that your human subjects' research is HIPAA applicable, you may not use any of these means to transfer that protected data. Please contact the IRB, and they will work with appropriate authorities to see that you have resources required.