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Archive

lastmod 2025-12-14created 2025-03-185 edits

An archive (recommended native Korean equivalents: data digitization, data repository, data storage, record keeping) is a collection of records or documents of historical value or worth preserving long-term[1], and also the place, facility, or institution that keeps such records or documents.

Digital archiving

Digital archiving is the activity of managing digital objects worth preserving over the long term so that their later use is guaranteed. In records management, the term archiving means the process of handling the preservation of public records, whereas in computing it can also mean a temporary backup collection of computer files. To avoid this confusion, the term ‘digital preservation’ is sometimes used instead of archiving. The core concepts of digital archiving are long-term preservation and enduring/ongoing values.

Cloud Services

  • Amazon Glacier - Can cut costs for long-term storage, but data retrieval costs are high
    • Storage cost: $10,900/year
    • Retrieval cost: $49,550 (for 1PB)
    • Total cost: $60,950
    • Lock-in period: 50.0 months
  • Google Archive - High storage and retrieval costs → inefficient for long-term storage
    • Storage cost: $13,200/year
    • Retrieval cost: $210,810 (for 1PB)
    • Total cost: $224,510
    • Lock-in period: 175.6 months
  • Microsoft Archive - Low storage cost, but high data retrieval costs
    • Storage cost: $22,000/year
    • Retrieval cost: $40,100 (for 1PB)
    • Total cost: $62,200
    • Lock-in period: 20.0 months

Amazon Glacier has the cheapest storage cost and relatively low retrieval costs

Backup vs Archival

Differences between backup and archival

Backup
A copy of data used to restore or recover data when it is damaged or lost.
  • Backups are needed to recover to a recent state after a disaster
  • The useful life of backup data is determined by the time from the last backup to recovery
  • The lifespan of the storage media for backup data does not matter
Archive
Long-term data storage, usually used to meet information retention requirements or compliance.
  • Over time, data moves down the storage hierarchy
  • Archive data = data whose upkeep cost in operational storage can no longer be justified
  • The main goal of an archival storage system is cost reduction, accepting slower access

See also

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