Secure Long-Term Data Storage

This question asks whether long-term storage media (like archive tapes or drives containing years of historical data) are kept in a physically secure location with proper environmental controls - protected from theft, fire, flooding, and temperature extremes. Think of it like storing valuable historical documents in a climate-controlled vault rather than a basement.

Poor archival storage can result in data loss from environmental damage or theft, potentially destroying years of business records needed for compliance, legal defense, or business intelligence. Proper storage ensures long-term data integrity, meets regulatory retention requirements, and protects valuable historical assets. This affects your ability to respond to audits, lawsuits, and long-term business analysis needs.

Companies often focus on protecting active data while neglecting archives, storing them in basements prone to flooding or areas without temperature control. Another mistake is securing the storage area but not tracking who accesses archived media or when.