Archiving
In general terms, archiving can be defined as the storage of data for a certain period of time.
The term can be divided into three concepts: Electronic archiving is the database-protected, unchangeable, secure, long-term, and at the same time reproducible storage of data. Long-term archiving refers to the retention of data for periods of more than 10 years. With audit-proof archiving, business-relevant data must be protected against subsequent changes and manipulation. The guidelines are defined, for example, in the GoBD or GDPR.
The protection of data from undesired incidents which could endanger the integrity and availability of the data during the entire retention period is a fundamental part of archiving. The definition of this protection against unauthorized access, modification, deletion, manipulation, or data loss depends strongly on the respective industry and regulatory requirements (laws, internal guidelines, compliance principles).
Audit-proof archiving is not only about the pure storage or backup of data. Companies must meet a complex list of requirements which are defined by regulatory authorities, the legislator, or the companies themselves. This form of storage is crucial in order to be able to prove during inspections or audits that the required regulations are being observed.