Storage requirements continue to double every two years and more than ever before, storage concepts that differentiate between primary and secondary data are in demand. A very large proportion of secondary data is data that cannot be changed (fixed content). However, fixed content - i.e. data that is no longer subject to change and should or must be retained in the long term (compliance) - is particularly suitable for a hybrid storage approach. In a hybrid storage system, the data is stored on data storage devices of different technologies. This provides greater security and is also much more energy-efficient, because data that needs to be stored over the long term can be backed up permanently and cost-effectively on optical media.
The characteristics of an optical system offer many advantages: long durability of the media reduces migration costs; the low power consumption reduces heat generation and thus the necessary costs for air conditioning; optical media (stored correctly) are insensitive to magnetic fields, water ingress and vibration, cannot be manipulated because they are unchangeable (when using WriteOnce media) and can be stored in a very space-saving way. Automated systems for optical data storage and storage management are widely available on the market.
It is of course no wonder that the storage giants EMC and Co. agree that storage technologies that are not to be found in their own product portfolio are useless. For example, providers deliberately spread false reports and claim, for example, that there are no longer any maintenance offers for optical speaker systems. Mechanical components in removable systems are described as prone to errors and storage media as unreliable. It is often concealed that hard disk failures are much more problematic than the failure of an optical drive (in case of a drive defect, the optical media is not destroyed). Overall, the acquisition and operating costs for an optical system are significantly lower than for pure hard disk systems. It is therefore worth taking a close look when selecting storage systems for your own data storage.