Posted on Jun 19, 2014
Maj Ahron Oddman
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What are you (and members of your unit) using for data storage? Where do you store your files, pics, unit e-pubs, etc?

We all create long, archaically formatted military documents, powerpoints, pdfs, etc.

Where do you keep yours for handy recall and reuse, especially as you move from base to base or forward deploy?
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
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My unit used a share drive on the intranet. It hardly ever worked, always went down, synched wrong, etc. So we were allowed to use CD-Rs. As you can imagine that was very inefficient.
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Maj Ahron Oddman
Maj Ahron Oddman
11 y
Yea the inefficiency is actually driving me nuts right now. Well thinking of it is driving me nuts. I'm working on non-DoD computer using commercial, cloud storage, so I'm doing ok.  But thinking of how inefficient and how immobile, or non-expeditionary as Marines say, our data is, drives me crazy.  And when I think of the growing knowledge base of our RallyPoint community, I think of 100,000s of hard drives, share drives, and how difficult it is to share and pass on that information, especially across branches.  We can always email, but some files are too large for email, right? On my google drive, I can click one button and share a working copy of document with dozens of people, and we can work on it at the same time; it updates in real-time!
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SSG Robert Burns
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My brain
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SSG Robert Burns
SSG Robert Burns
11 y
Hey I didn't say that I keep it. I format the hard drive at COB.
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CPT Zachary Brooks
CPT Zachary Brooks
11 y
MSG Huffman, you beat me to it. I was going to say we upgraded to killobytes decades ago.
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SFC Signal Support Systems Specialist
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11 y
2ndLT Blais did you disable the write protect?
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SFC Signal Support Systems Specialist
SFC (Join to see)
11 y
SPC Smaby, is it possible to make a b movie reference, to a b movie?
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SFC Team Chief
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I use Dropbox for my personal stuff it is easy to check on any of my multiple devices (phone, tablet and computer).
Officially I tried to use AKO Files but I find it slow and the storage limit is too small to have all the files I need. In a hurry I just email it to myself but can be a pain to locate files later on.
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What does your unit use for data storage?
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CPT Dave Shephard
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Edited 11 y ago
Boat loads of CD-Rs!
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CPT Zachary Brooks
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I use different things for different situations. I use my external HDDs to back up pictures, videos, and documents so I can access them at any time when I may need them.

I use Dropbox and my gmail account to transfer small documents in short periods or from work to home and vice versa.

Lastly, I have been using Google Drive to keep my movie list up to date on my phone so I stop buying duplicate movies. Up to 940 titles so far!
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1SG First Sergeant
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I don't like using the share drive because you always have issues with connectivity and worse, you can't make changes if someone opened a file and didn't close it. Then all you can do is view a read-only copy.
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MSG Wade Huffman
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I actually use a combination of the above for personal use. For archival purposes I use an external hard drive. For day to day I use cloud storage and have my computer and tablet auto-sync through the cloud so my data is current between them. This works well for me and allows for a good degree of redundancy as well.
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SSG Justin Malone
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It really depends on what you are doing with the stuff that you have and how you plan on using it. Either way I recommend encrypting everything before it gets saved in a common access location or the cloud if that is the solution you plan on using. There are a variety of cloud storage solutions but it really depends on the feature-set you are looking for (and what is authorized on your network) some of the things to look for are space, redundancy, encryption, access permissions, and company history.

Local share drives can be safer in terms of preventing PII from leaking on the internet but, as mentioned in another comment below, has issues with multiple access. If you are sharing on the same computer you can always store files in the public directory. that will allow any user on the same computer access to the same files. And if you have the infrastructure for it you can always share files through SharePoint. this system allows for reversioning, check-in and check-out and certen types of files can be broken down into multiple files to allow for multiple access such as power point presentations where each department requires access to their own slides.
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PO1 Airframe Mechanic
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pen and paper
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Col Squadron Commander
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I have become a fan of drop box. This way I don't need to use the military forbidden jump/thumb drives, and am able to access my data from any computer.
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LTJG Robert M.
LTJG Robert M.
11 y
RED FLAGS!! DropBox is Public Domain, has gone through Class Action Suit for failure to implement adequate security and is NOT recognized under FEDRAMP as a qualified Cloud Provider, if you are moving unit data to Dropbox, you are placing your unit at risk.
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Col Squadron Commander
Col (Join to see)
11 y
I don't use it for unit data that needs to be secure. Only day to day taskers, lectures, powerpoints that don't pose a threat to OPSEC. As far as security goes, nothing is really truly "secure".
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LTJG Robert M.
LTJG Robert M.
11 y
Yes Sir, I agree, sorry for the rant - I work for the wolds largest security company and I KNOW, from insight, that nothing is secure. The paradigm in Information Security has changed from "we need to be vigilant" to "we have been Compromised, we just don't know it"
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Maj Chris Nelson
Maj Chris Nelson
11 y
Our unit has blocked Dropbox. We have to use disc. Or attachments with email.
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SGM Hqs, Senior Enlisted Advisor
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I recommend everyone to use AKO. You can upload/download your files from anywhere.
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SSG Ed Mikus
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Sir,

Great questions i have faced at an organizational level at many units, a combination is necessary to perform the mission, no one solution will fit any unit as a whole however, there are many risks and benefits to each that are worth weighing. I can provide you many examples of other solutions but not over this medium.

SSG Mikus
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SFC(P) Senior Instructor
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Egyptian Hierroglyphics
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Maj Ahron Oddman
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It doesn't sound like many people use google drive by going to Google.com/drive? Mostly externals and DoD provided shared spaces. Wondering if there's an opportunity to get more servicemembers on the cloud, then sharing more documents, ppts, i.e. knowledge with each other?
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SSG Joint Fires Observer
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The Mass Guard has three folders. One for all the units that you need to be granted access too, Each unit has its own folder in this drive. The second is your personal drive that runs off CAC, and the last on is a shared folder for the state.
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Maj Ahron Oddman
Maj Ahron Oddman
11 y
Are there file size limits on Mass Guard's folders? Do those folders travel with you if / when you deploy?
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Capt Current Operations Officer (S 3)
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Edited 11 y ago
Im not sure about the Army's network, but the MC intranet doesn't allow dropbox, or any other cloud option other than the shared drive and Microsoft SharePoint.

Also to move units...external HD and thumb drives are a no go so good 'ol fashion Cds are the only other option besides emailing stuff to myself.
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Maj Ahron Oddman
Maj Ahron Oddman
11 y
Can you access Google Drive on the MC network? Essentially does MC network let you go to google.com/drive? If so, you have access to google drive. Probably same is true for Dropbox if you go to dropbox.com. I hear you that MC network doesn't let you download the desktop apps for these.
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Capt Current Operations Officer (S 3)
Capt (Join to see)
11 y
no sir,

access to these sites are blocked. It either wont come up at all or it gives you this message:

Headquarters Marine Corps Command, Control, Communications & Computers
(HQMC C4)





You have attempted to access a site (URL: dropbox.com/ - Category: Cloud Storage) which has been blocked in accordance with Marine Corps and DoN policy governing the appropriate use of government information systems.

If there is an Operational requirement to access this website or this link, users are directed to follow the MCNOSC directed Waiver Request Process.

Waivers must be submitted and endorsed through the local Marine Corps Installation G6/Information Assurance Manager, whom will forward the waiver utilizing the NetOps C2 Structure per MARINE CORPS REGIONAL NETOPS TASKING AND REPORTING STRUCTURE (UNCLASS//FOUO) message dated 091559Z Jul 10. The MCNOSC will accept waivers which have been approved through and forwarded from the following Organizations.

RNOSC RES

RNOSC NCR

RNOSC LANT

RNOSC PAC

The Waiver Request Form and Instructions are available at the MCNOSC web site at https://www.mcnosc.usmc.mil . From the main page, select S3, then DCOS.
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LTC Paul Labrador
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I keep all of my music, pics, docs and videos on external hard drives. I don't really trust the cloud, and it doesn't do you any good if you don't have internet access.
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SGM Matthew Quick
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milSuite
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