Abstract: A method that builds a chain-of-custody for archived data is disclosed to ensure the integrity and reliability of the archived data. In one implementation, by using a certified Time Stamp Authority (TSA), an indelible record of each time the archived data is touched (e.g. created, stored, retrieved, accessed, tested, moved, or transformed) is generated to build verifiable links between events to ensure the custody of the data can be audited and verified that it has remained intact throughout its lifetime. The chain-of-custody, in combination with the storage architecture that ensures archive data has not changed through various software and hardware means (e.g., multiple hash signatures to ensure integrity, timestamp authorities to pinpoint each time the archived data was touched, location information to pinpoint physical location, and coordinated chain of custody on multiple replicas of the digital artifact) validates that the archived data has not changed since it was archived.

Abstract: A method that builds a chain-of-custody for archived data is disclosed to ensure the integrity and reliability of the archived data. In one implementation, by using a certified Time Stamp Authority (TSA), an indelible record of each time the archived data is touched (e.g. created, stored, retrieved, accessed, tested, moved, or transformed) is generated to build verifiable links between events to ensure the custody of the data can be audited and verified that it has remained intact throughout its lifetime. The chain-of-custody, in combination with the storage architecture that ensures archive data has not changed through various software and hardware means (e.g., multiple hash signatures to ensure integrity, timestamp authorities to pinpoint each time the archived data was touched, location information to pinpoint physical location, and coordinated chain of custody on multiple replicas of the digital artifact) validates that the archived data has not changed since it was archived.

Abstract: A method and system to store and retrieve archival data and indefinitely storing the data is disclosed. By using caches and large volumes of commodity disk drives controlled in a dynamic or scheduled way, power consumption of the archive system is reduced. Archive data is transferred to the archive facility via a channel, such as electronic or physical transportation, depending on a set of customer service level parameters. Archived data is replicated to a second facility to guard against multiple device failures or site disasters. The archived data is protected from erasure by both keeping the media predominantly unpowered and disabling writing to the media once it has been filled to capacity. The system provides access to indexable host and customer-specific metadata across the entire infrastructure without powering the media. All customer archive data is segregated from all other data by residing on per customer dedicated media.