Deploying Box.com to County Extension Staff

Marguerite Kelly, Tom Ward, Bill Woessner

University of Illinois Extension

Background

• Extension staff are a mobile lot and need access to their files anytime/anywhere

• Campus IT had recently signed an agreement to offer Box to all campus staff and students

• Using it for cloud storage, not for collaborative sharing

Benefits of Using U of I Box

• Secure file storage in the cloud• 50 GB of storage, more than other services• Provide secure legal storage for FERPA data• Box Sync provides access to files even when

not connected to the network• Accessible on mobile devices

Deployment

• Goals for deployment– Use Box Sync (tool supplied by Box for syncing

local folder to cloud storage)– Default Office/app storage within Box folder – Backup of browser settings

Deployment continued

• Initial installs done “by hand”• Attempted instructions for users• Settled on installation by student worker• Eventually aided by script– HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\

CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Deployment continued

• Browser Backup is/was problematic– FEBE eventual chosen tool– Revised FireFox Sync Tool may be better choice– Xmarks caused trouble with duplication, but was

interesting because of cross platform abilities.

Support and Training

• Offered online training and user guide• Developed a Box FAQ• Moving away from the H: drive • Box Sync has its issues• Alert users Box also has a web presence

Thanks for listening

• Questions?