We store research and user data for the purposes of providing access to BEAR services. This page details how long we retain the data and when we remove it.
For all users, information on the status of a user account is provided to BEAR by the University identity systems. Decisions concerning the services an account can access is controlled by that information. BEAR receives updates to this information regularly.
- An account is considered a leaver when the account is marked as having left the university. This account will be unable to authenticate against BEAR systems and will lose access to BEAR services.
- An account is considered dormant when the account has not been used to access the relevant BEAR service for a certain number of days.
Data Associated with a User Account
BEAR GitLab projects attached to a user account
BEAR GitLab projects that are created within a user's personal area (as opposed to attached to a GitLab group) will be deleted when the account has been a leaver for at least 90 days. This is why we recommend that all research repositories should be created inside a GitLab group and not as personal projects.
BEAR Home Directory
BEAR home directories are deleted once the account has been a leaver for at least 90 days. These home directories are used by BEAR Linux accounts on BlueBEAR and BEAR Cloud Virtual Machines.
BEAR User Information in the BEAR Identity Database
This will be removed when the user account is no longer attached to any BEAR projects or groups and when the account has not been used to access any BEAR service for at least 180 days.
You can access the identity database on campus, or using the VPN.
Data Associated with a BEAR Project
We strongly recommend that all research data be associated with a BEAR project. There are two ways of doing this for active data:
- Research Data Store storage associated with a BEAR project
- Repositories etc. within a GitLab group associated with a BEAR project
Data in these places will not be automatically deleted in any scenario. Instead a PI can request that the data be archived into a BEAR Archive associated with a BEAR project. Or in the event that the PI leaves the University we will contact relevant parties to identify a new PI or archive/remove the project. Ideally, a PI would contact us before leaving as it is easier to make such changes at that point.
Data will remain in the BEAR Archive for a specified time and then automatically removed with no further warning or notification.
Please note that a leaver will no longer be able to access any BEAR projects they were once associated with unless they are granted Contingent Worker or Honorary status by their College.