Back-up vs. Archive
The difference between backing-up your data and archiving your data is subtle, but important. Backing-up data is usually done on a regular basis, to account for any changes that may have been made. Archiving is a more permanent solution – ideally, you archive data once and it remains safe for years to come.
Different types of data storage products can assist with these processes in different ways. USB drives are great for small data backup or file transfers. However, they use flash chips, which can only retain data for up to ten years. Hard drives can be great for system backups, but the large number of mechanical parts mean they are susceptible to failure. Backing-up data to the cloud means you can access the data anywhere in the world. But the cloud is susceptible to security breaches and if you don’t have internet access, you can’t access your data.
Optical media is the ideal media for archiving, being durable enough to last for years without bulky, mechanical parts. And Verbatim Archival Grade media is one of the most durable of all, designed to last for up to a hundred years when properly stored.