Should You Worry About Data Rot?
Long-term digital storage is a problematic concept. There are many different options available for deep data storage, but most of them are subject to hardware malfunctions, environmental conditions, and other failure points that preclude them from being true long-term storage solutions. The propensity for data storage to degrade or become obsolete is data rot, and if you are interested in keeping your digital files longer than five years, it is something you will need to keep in mind.
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Data Rot
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Data can "rot" in a number of different ways. Hardware or software failures can wipe out data in the blink of an eye, but in many cases, data rot is a gradual process. Optical discs like CDs and DVDs can pick up scratches with repeated use, or can degrade due to improper storage, rendering the data on the discs completely unreadable. In other cases, obsolescence can render data unrecoverable when users abandon storage formats for more advanced technology. For instance, Iomega stopped production of its Jaz cartridge drives in 2002, making it extremely difficult to recover any data that might still exist on users' cartridges.
Storage Lifespan
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Between magnetic drive failures and optical disc degradation, the two most common storage options available to computer users tend to last around five years. Drives and discs can last much longer than that if properly stored, but once data hits the five-year mark, you should consider longer-term storage options. You should also recover any data from discontinued specialty hardware as soon as possible, because the longer that data remains on obsolete storage media, the harder it can be to recover.
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Online Solutions
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There are many online data storage companies, and these services can be a good choice for long-term data protection. These companies spend a great deal of money in maintaining the data they protect, with regular off-site backups and other features designed to keep your stored files in good condition. Unfortunately, these services can be costly, and if your storage company's business fails, it may endanger your stored data. If you have the funds for it, keeping identical backups of your files in two separate online storage facilities is a good way to protect them from data rot.
Upgrade
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Of course, you can also handle the data storage yourself. The ever-expanding nature of storage media means that larger and larger hard drives, flash drives, and data discs are available to users each year. Copying your archival data each time you upgrade your hardware will keep it on fresh media and prevent the likelihood of catastrophic loss. Pairing this technique with a data verification tool like Quickpar and regular off-site backups can prevent your data from rotting away for years or even decades, as long as you keep abreast of new technology advances.
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