Offline access now available with Box Drive

Box Drive makes your UBbox files and folders easily accessible as shortcuts on your Windows or Mac device. Now, with the newest Box Drive feature, Mark For Offline, you can access selected files without an Internet connection.

The Mark For Offline feature was enabled for UBbox with an update to Box Drive on December 5, 2018. After that date, Mark For Offline will be available as soon as you update your Box Drive software.

Once you have updated to the latest version of Box Drive, you can mark any folder to be available offline by right-clicking and selecting "Make Available Offline." The contents of your folder will begin downloading immediately.

The icon next to the folder, and next to all the files in the folder, will turn from a cloud icon into a green checkmark, indicating the files have been downloaded and will be available even if you are not currently connected to the Internet.

If you're using UBbox to store restricted data like social security numbers, protected health information or financial information, you should not use desktop sync software like Box Drive, because it could leave a copy of your restricted data on your computer. This is true even if you don't mark your files for offline access.

Also, you should avoid using online tools like Google docs or sheets, or Microsoft Online Word, Excel or PowerPoint. Using these services stores a copy of your data on third-party infrastructure, making it insecure.

Find out more about the rights and responsibilities of storing restricted data in UBbox on the UBIT website.

For help with UBbox, questions about Box Drive or other Box apps, contact the UBIT Help Center, by phone at 716-645-3542 or online at buffalo.edu/ubit/help.