Despite significant progress to reduce storage, there are many cases in which users may wish to retain data that significantly exceeds their storage quotas. To accommodate the need for extraordinarily large storage capacity while being sensitive to the overall campus storage and budget constraints, DTS is working on a process to give select user groups the ability to pay for additional storage space for their own personal or shared Google Drive.
Continue reading below for more information.
What to Know
- UCLA DTS is pleased to be working on a new purchase offering for select groups that is expected to be available in summer 2026.
- Pilot Purchase Term: The initial Google Workspace storage purchase form will be available in summer 2026 during a pilot purchase term – users will not be billed for storage purchases during this pilot period.
- Official Purchase Form Launch: In the fall 2026, the enrollment period will open for the storage term beginning in January 2027. Storage fees will apply for this term and all subsequent terms.
- In the interim, DTS is offering an intent to purchase form.
- If your storage currently exceeds your Permanent Baseline Quota and/or you plan to purchase storage and wish to avoid service interruptions, you may submit the intent to purchase form.
Google Workspace Storage Purchase Eligibility
At this time, groups eligible for storage purchases will include:
- User (Personal) Drives
- Faculty
- Research
- Academic Appointees
- Staff
- Registered research shared drives – Registration required
Note: Non-research shared drives are not eligible for individual storage purchases. However, you may be able to work with your department leaders to purchase a high-volume department shared drive once the purchase process is live.
Billing
All Google Workspace Storage purchases will require a UCLA Full Accounting Unit (FAU). Storage purchase will incur a charge starting with the January 2027 term.
Start working with your department leadership now to include Google Workspace storage costs in your 2027 budget plans.
What to Do
Submit the Intent to Purchase Form
- If your storage currently exceeds your Permanent Baseline Quota and/or you plan to purchase storage and wish to avoid service interruptions, you may submit the intent to purchase form.
This form will temporarily move you to the desired storage tier until the official purchase form is live.
Plan for Google Workspace Storage Costs
- Start to work with your department leadership to discuss and plan for the future Google Workspace storage purchase costs in your budget forecasting:
- The final cost of Google Workspace storage is still under review. However, to assist with budget planning, please expect to pay around $80 per TB, per 6 months ($160 per TB annually).
Submit Pilot Purchase Form
- In summer 2026, the purchase form will be released for the initial pilot storage purchase term. At this time, you will be required to submit the purchase form to secure your desired storage tier, but you will not be billed for this purchase.
Submit Official Google Workspace Storage Purchase
- In fall 2026, the enrollment period will open for the storage term beginning in January 2027. Storage fees will apply for this term and all subsequent terms.
Support & Resources
- The Google Workspace Service Adjustments webpages will be updated with the latest updates, news and support resources for this initiative; bookmark and visit the site regularly to stay up to date.
- Visit the How Am I Affected? page for the most current information on how you are impacted by this change. Also, visit the Tips for Data Hygiene page for instructions on reducing storage usage in compliance with your Permanent Baseline Quotas.
- For any further assistance or questions, please contact help@it.ucla.edu.
