"File archiving" refers to the process of storing files in a secure and organized archive to free up space on primary storage media while ensuring long-term access to the files. This process typically involves moving or copying files from primary storage media such as hard drives or network storage to an archive where they can be efficiently managed, searched, and restored as needed. File archiving helps optimize storage usage and enables effective data management throughout its lifecycle.
Typical features of software in the area of "file archiving" include:
Automatic archiving: Automatically identifying and archiving files based on predefined criteria such as file type, age, access frequency, etc.
Compression and deduplication: Compressing archived files to save storage space and deduplicating identical files to reduce redundant data.
Encryption: Securing archived files through encryption to ensure data confidentiality and integrity.
Metadata management: Capturing and managing metadata such as file attributes, creation date, author, etc., to facilitate easy search and organization of archived files.
Search and retrieval capabilities: Quick and reliable search for archived files and the ability to quickly restore or retrieve needed files.
Access control: Controlling access to archived files through permissions and access rules to ensure security and data privacy.
Long-term archiving: Support for long-term archiving of files, including migration to new storage technologies and long-term data retention according to legal requirements.