System managers and computer users increasingly have to re-examine their long-term archiving and data storage policies as hardware prices fall and organizational needs evolve. In the 24x7 business environment, organizations want information which is instantly available, however storing this data online on the server takes up valuable storage space and could impact the operation of the business should the server experience any downtime.

There is also the requirement to store or archive large amounts of data for long periods of time, and the related need to ensure that data stored is legally admissible, i.e.: tamper-proof.

As such, organizations are turning to technologies such as optical, CD recordable (CD-R/RW) or DVD (DVD-R/RW/RAM) to solve their storage needs. CD/DVD and optical disc technology offers cost effective, long-term storage of valuable computer data. DVD-R/RW/RAM technology offers much larger capacities than CD-R/RW, which means that the cost per Megabyte of storing data is reduced further.

Automated Library Technology (or Automated Jukeboxes Technology) automates the control of the discs - providing quick and easy reading and writing of the data. They can be used to store anywhere from hundreds of Gigabytes of data up to several Terabytes. Access times are typically very fast, with data being retrieved in a matter of seconds.