Digital storage

Storing your digital archive

Just like paper and other materials from your physical archive and collections require specific storage conditions, your digital archives and collections also need attention. There is after all a chance that files which you created years ago can no longer be opened, appear differently, or respond in a different way.

This applies for files on your computer and server, but also for files which you save on external carriers, such as CD-ROMs, USB sticks or external hard drives. Storing the carriers in good conditions does not guarantee that the saved files will still be readable. Data can disappear as the carrier ages, and hardware and software also become obsolete as technology evolves. New laptops can’t even read CDs or USB sticks without the use of peripheral equipment anymore.

In this section, you can learn what precautions you need to take to ensure your digital archive remains readable and usable in the long term. It’s important to save files in a sustainable format when you create them. Regular testing to see if your files have not become damaged and no information has been lost is also essential. Good storage and making back-ups complete this good practice.

Archiving websites: how and why?

Your organisation may have changed its website, or the content of the website may have been significantly modified, but the old version of your website can have historical value, so it makes sense t...

When managing your digital archive, there are specific risks that can endanger your information. Mapping these risks can help you to act in time and avoid unwelcome surprises. In this article, you’l...

Validating digital files allows you to check whether they meet their file format’s quality standards. For TIFF files, you can use a DPF Manager to do this. In this article, you’ll learn: Why should...

To keep your digital archive readable in the long term, it’s important to store your files in a sustainable file format. Some file formats may make your documents unreadable over time. In this artic...

The first step in keeping your digital archive readable in the long term is to determine the file formats in which your digital documents are stored. You can then take further actions based on this...

DROID (Digital Record Object Identification) software is a useful tool for identifying file formats in your digital archive, as well as creating checksums and detecting duplicate files. In this art...

Digital files are vulnerable and can be lost or subjected to unwanted changes in the short term, but you can use checksums to detect this loss of information and verify whether your files still matc...

Cloud services offer many options for storing your digital archive without needing a hard drive or server. There are pros and cons to this. In this article, you’ll learn: What is cloud computing an...

CDs and DVDs are simple and inexpensive carriers for storing your digital files, but they also have a relatively short lifespan. It is therefore recommended to make copies of them using disk images ...

Emails often contain important or useful information. To keep this information accessible, it is therefore important to archive your emails and store them together with the rest of your digital docu...

Preserving your digital archive

A few basic rules can ensure that your digital archive is preserved in a more sustainable way. In this article, you’ll learn: What actions can you take to better preserve your digital archive? A f...

Something can always go wrong with your digital archive, so it’s important to regularly make backups and store them in a safe place. In this article, you’ll learn: Why is it important to make back...

Your archive may still contain digital carriers such as USB sticks, CDs or floppy disks. But these carriers are vulnerable and the information on them can be lost, so it’s best to transfer this info...

Many websites and computers are secured with a password, but not everyone handles passwords safely, which creates security risks. In this article, you’ll learn: How do you handle passwords securely...