Frequently Asked Questions: Box Cloud Storage
Account Information
Privacy and Security
Accessibility
Can I increase my storage quota?
No. There is a limit of 50GB for each CMU Box account. For additional storage, you may wish to explore the other file storage options available to you.
What is the file size limit when uploading?
There is a 5GB file size limit for CMU Box accounts.
Who can see my files and folders within my Box account?
By default, all files, folders and links are created with "collaborators only" sharing rights. Detailed information on sharing files is available on the Box website.
Can I associate alternative email addresses (aliases) with my primary Box account?
Yes. Box recently added the ability to associate alternative email addresses or aliases with your primary box account. To add an alias as a secondary Box email address, follow these steps:
- Login to cmu.box.com
- Click the Gear icon (View/Edit Profile) and select Account Settings.
- Click Account.
- Under the "Login and Email Addresses" section, click Add more emails.
- Type your email alias in the textbox and click Save.
- You will receive an email response to this change. To confirm the change, be sure to click the link included in the email message.
- The alias is added to your primary account.
For additional details on alternative email addresses, visit the Box website.
Can I use Box to share files and folders with a group?
Yes. You can share files with any individual with an email address, whether they have a CMU Box account or a free Box account. For detailed instructions on sharing your files and folders, visit the Box website.
Can I sign up for a free Box.com account with my Andrew email address?
You may sign up for a free account via Box.com, but you must use an email address other than your Andrew email address.
What happens to my Box storage space when I graduate or leave the university?
- Students: Your Box account, along with other services related to your Andrew account, will expire 90 days after your graduation.
- Staff and faculty members: Your Box account will expire 21 days after leaving the university. However, your department may elect to cancel this service immediately.
Can I download my Box data?
Yes. Follow the steps below to create a compressed file of your Box data.
- Login to your CMU Box account.
- Select the files/folders you want to download. To quickly highlight all files and folders on a page, select the checkbox in the upper right.
- Click Download from the pop-up menu.
Note: If Download does not display, uncheck the files/folders that are preventing the download. These may be shared files.
- Follow the onscreen prompts to save your Box data to a compressed file on your computer.
- Repeat Steps 2 through 4 for each page of Box data that you want to download.
IMPORTANT: Be sure not to overwrite the compressed file that you already downloaded.
Additional information on downloading files is available from the Box website.
What apps are available for use with CMU Box accounts?
Apps are available for the following devices, operating systems, and programs:
- Box for Android
- Box for Android tablet
- Box for iPad
- Box for iPhone
- Box for Windows Phone
- Box Edit
- Box Sync for Mac
- Box Sync for Windows
- Box for Windows 8
- Box for Office
- Box for Outlook
- Box SimpleShare
- CloudOn
- GoodNotes
- Notability
- PDF Expert for iPad
Help with installing and managing apps is available at the Box website.
Can I use Box on my mobile device?
Yes. For detailed information, see Box's mobile help.
Is my CMU Box account secure?
Yes. CMU Box accounts use an encrypted connection for all uploads and downloads. Once your files are uploaded, they're encrypted in storage.
How does Box protect my data?
Box protects data using both access controls and encryption. Access to your CMU Box account is controlled using your Andrew userID and password. When you access cmu.box.com, you will first be redirected to login.cmu.edu to authenticate. Access to the files you store in Box is controlled by the permissions you set. By default, access is private to the account holder. All communication with Box from your computer or mobile device is encrypted using SSL and data is encrypted in storage using 256-bit AES encryption. Other security features include file-level password protection and access notification. Additional information can be found by reading Box’s security whitepaper.
Can I use my CMU Box account to store institutional data?
For faculty and staff members, restricted data (data deemed sensitive by the institution) may not be appropriate for use with your CMU Box account. You should consult with the appropriate data steward in your department prior to uploading such files.
For students, most of your documents can be safely stored in your CMU Box account. Use caution when storing documents that contain sensitive information such as your Social Security number or credit card information.
Does Box back up my data?
Box takes steps to back up your data to protect against system failures. However, it is important to note that changes made by a user can have a lasting effect. If a file is overwritten or becomes corrupt, it may not be recoverable. Each CMU Box account has a Trash folder where deleted files can be recovered. However, once the Trash is emptied, files may not be recoverable. Files do stay on the Box servers for short period of time after the Trash is emptied; however, a ticket will need to be opened with Box to determine whether a file or folder is actually recoverable. Box also maintains a document’s version history. If used correctly, a user can recall previous versions of a document. This could allow a user to recover from inadvertent changes.
