I suppose you could obtain one, maybe two, CD readers and prepare them for long-term storage as well, along with their documentation. This would eliminate the cost of having to migrate, QA etc. I seem to recall that NARA - and probably other organizations like Iron Mountain - maintain older technologies in the event of having to access variously formatted legacy data. Michael Sharpe Records Retention Manager / Legal & Compliance Department Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency 1200 N. Seventh Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102 Direct: 717-720-2820 [log in to unmask] From: Jesse Wilkins <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Date: 05/16/2017 12:14 PM Subject: [external]Re: Storing CD's Sent by: Records Management Program <[log in to unmask]> Don't. Not only the issues that Robert and Teresa identified, but it will become increasingly difficult to find CD readers. Yes, plenty exist today, and DVD and Blu-Ray are backwards compatible. But I'd guess 50/50 at best as to being able to find a device capable of reading them in 10 years; moreover, depending on the file formats of the data on the CD, that is likely to be an even bigger issue. That said, NIST has guidance for optical media storage at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.itl.nist.gov_iad_894.05_docs_CDandDVDCareandHandlingGuide.pdf&d=DwIBaQ&c=9ut6RcAKs8AF_YMM4QH5hA&r=_6PbLM0te6ENLXpFkcs0gshBoLRfaIKHjf7hL15siJY&m=ArXWwVZ-nHEvP82iMY78U50PiVTBPuO7JU_NbqkMwO4&s=w2YFpvPx1Zhazl3700PwomLZdQT4v6XjXhxVcOvWlKU&e= . But better idea: copy it to better media (read: RAID/backed up magnetic/solid state (Flash)) while the media and data on it is still readable. -- Regards, Jesse Wilkins, CIP, CRM, IGP Denver, CO [log in to unmask] blog: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__informata.blogspot.com&d=DwIBaQ&c=9ut6RcAKs8AF_YMM4QH5hA&r=_6PbLM0te6ENLXpFkcs0gshBoLRfaIKHjf7hL15siJY&m=ArXWwVZ-nHEvP82iMY78U50PiVTBPuO7JU_NbqkMwO4&s=hDg90iFsnC-iTinyVhgOWaXiZ-JUIwwzZRfbHxbegfA&e= Twitter: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.twitter.com_jessewilkins&d=DwIBaQ&c=9ut6RcAKs8AF_YMM4QH5hA&r=_6PbLM0te6ENLXpFkcs0gshBoLRfaIKHjf7hL15siJY&m=ArXWwVZ-nHEvP82iMY78U50PiVTBPuO7JU_NbqkMwO4&s=iBws6CbqEcgJNzYPrhlXXIoRQUmS1YS2XLAvrb3QJSw&e= List archives at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.ufl.edu_archives_recmgmt-2Dl.html&d=DwIBaQ&c=9ut6RcAKs8AF_YMM4QH5hA&r=_6PbLM0te6ENLXpFkcs0gshBoLRfaIKHjf7hL15siJY&m=ArXWwVZ-nHEvP82iMY78U50PiVTBPuO7JU_NbqkMwO4&s=KKWjlCq0RkMYorLLLIpRkbi9Eo6YZA8QhEGMcAjLs6Y&e= Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message. mailto:[log in to unmask] ====================================================================== This message contains privileged and confidential information intended for the above addressees only. If you receive this message in error please delete or destroy this message and/or attachments. The sender of this message will fully cooperate in the civil and criminal prosecution of any individual engaging in the unauthorized use of this message. Code:PHEAA List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message. mailto:[log in to unmask]