​If you're interested in storing a lot of data, the term "data archiving" was created just for you. It is the process of moving files that are no longer being used into a long term storage area. This does not mean that the stored data is of no importance it just means it's not as important as it once was.
With personal data archiving, the process of archiving is very different than creating backups. A backup involves simply making copies of data and is primarily used for disaster recovery. With data archiving there are no copies made and its intended design is for data that has become inactive.
​Personal Data Archiving
​ Tape Storage This may come as a bit of a surprise but tape storage is still largely in use to this day. Why? Magnetic tapes can be used to store large amounts of data and the best part is it doesn't cost much and it can be reused over and over again. You can squeeze in up to 6TB of information per tape.The only real disadvantages to storing data on magnetic tape is that it only lasts about 15 years before showing signs of deterioration and the data retrieval time can take awhile. If properly care for though data can last anywhere between 10-20 years at best
Optical Media
Disks that can be read by laser (like CD-RW and DVD-RW) are a great way to store data. They last longer than tape before showing signs of decomposition and are not very expensive. However the cheaper the disks, the lesser the quality. Avoid bulk stacks and invest in disks designed especially for archiving. Data on these disks are said to be able to last 30-300 years if properly cared for and can store up to 700MB per CD and 4.7 GB per DVD. Hard Drive Store between 1-3TB of data on each drive and can last between 3-4 years. Hard drives are preferred over Cloud Storage because it provides a tangible means to accessing stored data. It's also more secure than Cloud Storage which can be hacked into by any criminal. This is better designed for temporary data archiving and it's best to search for something better when the opportunity presents itself. ​ Cloud Storage Currently all the rage with data archiving, cloud storage takes a copy of all of the data that needs to be stored and places it in a third party database in some far away location offsite. It's considered a more risky venture for companies or individuals to use but it is growing in popularity. Some of the services that offer Cloud Storage are: iDrive, Amazon, and Microsoft Azure. The retrieval speed is instant (as you haven't forgotten your password) and the lifespan is purely dependent on the provider. No matter what type of data archiving you choose, be sure to regularly check up on your stored data. Keeping all of your data in one place is never a good idea. Spread data storage out. It will help keep your information from stolen.
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