Data Archiving or content archiving as it is often referred, is a computerised system that enables an organisation to retain critical information including documents, databases, financial data and any other data that may well be required for use or inspection at some point.
It is similar to the generic term of archiving, such as a library might implement but naturally instead of archiving book and papers, allowing the general public and academics the ability to search and retrieve articles according to their requirements, it allows computer users to access information in order to do their jobs. The key rationale for doing so is to comply with corporate governance or to save money on storage.
The aim of the data archive is to allow an organisation to store and quickly retrieve information that is vital to the running of that company.
The retention of data records in business is a requirement in law. In order to maintain business system efficiencies this data is archived [and retrievable] should retention be required. Vendors like Symantec, CA, Iron Mountain, Risc Group, EMC, CommVault and Data Barracks operate in what is a very competitive field.