Best Practices for Long-term Data Storage and Preservation

This white paper presents current best practices in long-term digital data storage and preservation. Although we primarily address digital archives held within or on behalf of an enterprise, the discussion is equally applicable to digital archives for public use. The general requirements and attributes of digital archive systems are presented, and comparisons are made with systems designed for other purposes, such as data backup, that are quite different. Several technical challenges are discussed, along with strategies and tradeoffs commonly made for cost and performance optimizing a digital archive system for a particular use. Finally, some examples are presented which that show how different industries have specific requirements (e.g. data security, multi-site archives and regulatory compliance) which, along with size, cost and performance requirements, affect choices in digital archive system selection.