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Data Transfer

What this service is

Data transfer provides ways to move research data between systems, environments, and collaborators.

This includes movement:

  • between local machines and institutional systems
  • between storage and compute environments
  • between institutions or external partners

Data transfer moves data. It does not store or manage it.


When to use this service

Use data transfer when you need to:

  • move data into a compute environment for analysis
  • retrieve results from compute systems
  • transfer data between storage locations
  • share data across systems or institutions
  • keep data synchronised across locations

If your data does not need to move, see:


What this service provides

Data transfer at UCT includes:

  • managed transfer services for large or important transfers
  • command-line tools for direct data movement
  • synchronisation and sharing platforms for user-facing workflows

These options differ in how they are used, but all serve the same purpose: moving data between locations.


How to choose

The appropriate approach depends on:

  • the size of the data
  • where the data is located
  • how often transfers occur
  • how reliable the transfer needs to be

For a description of available methods:



Next steps