Data Archiving
Data Archiving
Data Archiving definition
Data archiving is the practice of transferring information that is not regularly engaged with to a dedicated storage system for prolonged safekeeping. Stored content is maintained intact and safeguarded for eventual retrieval or to meet legal retention requirements. Distinct from backups, which serve the purpose of restoring lost information, archiving is designed to house material that is valuable but infrequently consulted.
See also: cloud archiving
Use cases of data archiving
- Compliance storage. Keeping older files in a secure digital vault to meet legal and industry rules, holding onto them just as long as the law requires.
- Historic record-keeping. Saving past information systematically to help with looking back at trends, research, and guiding future decisions.
- Performance tuning. Moving rarely looked-at files off the main computers to make them run smoother and quicker when accessing recent information.
- Dispute protection. Stashing away old documents to defend against future legal issues or to have proof in case of disagreements.
- Cost savings. Transferring dated files to more affordable storage solutions to cut down on the expense of digital space.