Secure Cloud Storage

Overview

skillSYMS provides enterprise-grade cloud storage for all evidence files and documents. Files are securely stored with encryption and accessible only through authenticated requests.

Key Features

Feature	Benefit
Global infrastructure	Fast access from anywhere
Unlimited scaling	No storage limits
Encryption	AES-256 at rest, TLS in transit
Audit logging	Complete access tracking

Security Model

Files are protected by multiple security layers:

• Authentication: All access requires valid API credentials
• Authorization: Role-based access to files
• Time-limited access: Download URLs expire automatically
• Audit trail: All file access is logged

URL Format

https://r2.skillsyms.com/{bucket}/{key}
  ?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256
  &X-Amz-Credential=...
  &X-Amz-Date=...
  &X-Amz-Expires=3600
  &X-Amz-Signature=...

Storage Limits

Per Tenant

Plan	Storage Limit
Pilot	5 GB
Standard	50 GB
Enterprise	Custom

Per File

File Type	Max Size
Documents	25 MB
Images	10 MB
Video	100 MB
Archives	100 MB

API Integration

Upload Evidence

POST /api/v1/tenants/{slug}/evidence
Content-Type: multipart/form-data

file: [binary data]
learnerId: "learner-uuid"
moduleId: "module-uuid"
evidenceType: "practical"

Get Download URL

GET /api/v1/evidence/{id}/download

Response:

{
  "url": "https://files.skillsyms.com/...",
  "expiresAt": "2024-12-01T11:30:00Z",
  "filename": "assessment_task.pdf",
  "contentType": "application/pdf",
  "size": 1234567
}

Bulk Download

POST /api/v1/evidence/bulk-download
{
  "evidenceIds": ["uuid1", "uuid2", "uuid3"]
}

Returns ZIP archive URL.

Data Management

Retention

Files follow tenant retention policies:

• Default: 7 years after programme completion
• Configurable per organization
• Automated cleanup after retention period

Backup

skillSYMS provides enterprise-grade durability with built-in redundancy. Additional backup options available for enterprise customers.

Deletion

When files are deleted:

1. Marked for deletion
2. 30-day recovery period
3. Permanently removed
4. Audit record retained

Monitoring

Storage Usage

View storage consumption:

• Dashboard: Settings → Usage
• API: GET /api/v1/usage

Alerts

Configure alerts for:

• Approaching storage limit (80%, 90%)
• Large file uploads
• Unusual upload patterns

Troubleshooting

Upload Failures

Error	Cause	Solution
File too large	Exceeds limit	Compress or split file
Invalid type	Unsupported format	Convert to supported format
Storage full	Quota exceeded	Upgrade plan or clean up

Download Failures

Error	Cause	Solution
URL expired	Signed URL timeout	Request new URL
Access denied	Permission issue	Verify user permissions
File not found	Deleted or moved	Check audit log