The longer a business or university has been operating, the greater the amount of data collected during normal operation. This information could be vital customer data, sales records, transcripts or catalog information, for example. Did you ever wonder just how safe this information remains as time goes by? You may be surprised how vulnerable you really are to data loss and how important information management really is.
Data stored in an analog format, such as film (VHS) and video tape, is less secure than you may realize. Over time, analog media degrades and can take your information with it in the process.
In addition, libraries of analog media become a nightmare to manage as they grow. The format has a limited storage capacity, as a result, a large number of tapes are required to store data. Sheer volume alone complicates the steps involved to manage this data, let alone access it when needed.
Media archiving is the process of migrating analog-based media to digital format. Common digital formats include DVD, hard drives, Flash, Windows Media, Quicktime, Realplayer or podcasts for use on the web. In addition to the transfer of data, media archiving also includes the creation of database-driven information management.
So when should media archiving be a consideration? If your data is currently stored in an analog format, difficult to access on an as-needed basis, taking up too much storage space or if you lack an information management system, media archiving can very well be the solution you need.
Tags: film, information management, media archiving, VHS, video tape