Research data must often remain available and traceable for decades for the purposes of replication, publication, and auditing.
Preserving research data over the long term
How institutions and laboratories securely archive data over decades
Long-term archiving in academia
Why Sustainable Research Data Preservation Is Critical
Research data are valuable results of experiments, measurements, and simulations. They must not only be available in the short term but also be archived in a traceable manner for years or even decades—for example, for replication, publication, or auditing. Without proper long-term archiving, institutions risk data loss, compliance violations, and financial losses.
Long-term preservation, maximum security
Research institutions face the challenge of securing a wide variety of data formats for the long term—from CAD and CAM files to lab measurements, simulations, videos, images, and emails. At the same time, they must meet strict compliance requirements, including the GDPR, national archiving laws, funding conditions, and ISO guidelines that mandate audit-proof storage.
The loss of valuable research data can not only jeopardize the progress of individual projects but also impact funding, publications, and the institution’s reputation. Therefore, it is crucial that archiving systems are compatible with existing IT infrastructure while ensuring the availability, security, and compliance of the data.
Did you know?
- Diverse formats: Laboratory measurements, video and image data, simulations, and emails must be preserved for the long term.
- Compliance requirements: GDPR, national archiving laws, funding conditions, and ISO guidelines require audit-proof storage.
- Data growth: Large projects generate enormous amounts of data every day, which must remain available for decades.
- Risk minimization: Data loss can jeopardize the progress of research projects and affect funding.
- IT complexity: Long-term archiving must be efficient, scalable, and compatible with existing infrastructure.
Challenges in Long-Term Archiving
Why Simple Storage Solutions Are Often Insufficient
The growing volume and diversity of scientific data present organizations with the challenge of managing information in a structured, discoverable, and legally compliant manner—especially given distributed systems, missing metadata, and increasing compliance requirements.
Outdated formats
Without migration, digital material may become unreadable.
Risks of Tampering
Standard file systems allow for modifications and accidental deletion.
Security Requirements
Backups must be protected against cyberattacks.
Traceability
Every change or access must be documented.
Your questions - clearly answered
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know
Here you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our solutions, products, and applications - from security and archiving to data management.
Why is long-term preservation so important for research data?
What data formats are supported?
Scientific data such as microscope files, DICOM data, and genome sequences.
How does GRAU DATA protect against data loss?
With WORM technology, audit-proof archives, and scalable archiving solutions, data remains unalterable and secure.
How can we ensure that the solution is a good fit for our environment and our needs?
We offer you a hassle-free trial installation.
Can large amounts of data be archived efficiently?
Yes. XtreemStore and MetadataHub process millions of files and enable fast searching, analysis, and access.
