Many people ask about the difference between using a repository or platform with backup and preserving content in an archive like CLOCKSS. While repositories and backups are essential for day-to-day access and recovery in case of technical issues, they don’t guarantee long-term preservation. CLOCKSS, on the other hand, is a trusted dark archive designed specifically for long-term digital preservation. It ensures scholarly content remains accessible for future generations, even if the original publisher can no longer provide access. See below for more details on these differences.
| Backup | Preservation | |
| Primary Purpose | Data recovery | Long-term accessibility |
| Timeframe | Short-term | Long-term (potentially indefinite) |
| Focus | Ensuring data can be restored | Maintaining authenticity and usability over time |
| Technology | Standard storage systems | Dedicated preservation systems with higher redundancy, integrity checks, and disaster recovery |
| Management | Often automated, with defined schedules and retention policies | Requires ongoing management, monitoring, and eventually migration |
In essence, backups are a crucial part of good practice in managing information, and preservation ensures the long-term availability of digital heritage and information. Both are vital to a healthy information ecosystem!