Digital preservation: A four step process
To preserve digital records, the National Archives uses its digital preservation software to convert proprietary file formats to openly-specified preservation file formats.
There are four steps in this process:
- Manifest – A list is created of all digital records to be preserved.
- Quarantine – Records are checked for viruses and integrity.
- Preservation – Records are converted to preservation file formats.
- Storage – Records are stored in the digital archive.
The Archives digital preservation software:
- captures the essential elements of digital records
- allows digital records to be retrieved from the digital archive at any time
- continually checks the integrity of records in the digital archive.
Dissecting the Digital Preservation Software Platform, details the methods employed by the Archives to ensure the effective preservation of digital records. It covers our approach to preserving digital records, how we develop our software, what the software does to preserve digital records and how we maintain the integrity of the digital records in our digital archive.
