6.3.2 Archival Storage basics

6.3.2.1  Archival Storage provides the means to store, preserve and provide access to archived content. In small systems the storage can stand alone and may be manually operated, but in larger systems storage is usually implemented in conjunction with cataloguing applications, asset management systems, information retrieval systems and access control systems in order to control and manage archived content and provide a controlled way to access them.

6.3.2.2  Archival Storage must be connected to equipment that ingests and creates the digital asset to be archived, and it must provide a secure and reliable interface that can be used to import assets to the storage system.

6.3.2.3  A system that is used to store archival content must be reliable in several ways: It must be available for use without any significant interruptions, and it must be able to report to the system or user who imports content whether the import was successful or not, thus enabling the importing party to delete the ingest copy of the of the archival file if appropriate. Archival Storage must also be able to preserve the content it manages for a long period of time and be able to protect the content from all kinds of failures and disasters.

6.3.2.4  An Archival Storage system should be built according to the needs of its functional owner: it must be correctly-sized to carry out the tasks that are needed, and manage the capacities that are required in every day operations. In addition, Archival Storage must provide controlled access to the content it manages for the users who have permissions or rights to access the content.