Archive storage is defined in general terms as storage of records or data, paper based or digital, which is not required on a regular basis. Consider a long list of clients contact information dating back several years. A lot of these clients might not be active at all and more than those active after very long intervals. Having ready access to such a long list is space consuming, both physically and digitally.

In the current environment, the modern computer has taken over most of these functions, storing data on electronic media. Most Newspaper publishers now do not require to store yesterday's paper edition, physically, since almost all of them are now produced digitally. Keeping a digital copy on any of a number of various forms of digital media is both space saving and, more importantly, cost effective.

Modern businesses can appreciate archive storage for any number of reasons, ranging from client data, financial data, statistical analysis, simulations, etc. Financial data storage is considered the most important for businesses as nearly all businesses today utilize some form of software to record financial transactions. These transactions can range from hundreds to many thousands. Keeping all transactions ready for immediate access will start to slow down the most modern of computers. Almost all financial software used today has built in archiving functions.

For home users, archiving is increasingly becoming important. For those people who download a lot of software, TV shows or movies, etc., have gradually migrated to hard disks of large capacities, some to regular burning of storage DVDs. These are the first steps into the general direction of archiving. An increasing number of people now collect digital music for a music player or to temporarily shift to a USB stick for listening on the go. High fidelity music will take up a lot of space and requires that we start learning about systematic storage or it starts to become un-manageable.

Email is another area which has benefited from archiving. People who receive a considerable number of useful emails in a day can relate to the archiving functions built into all modern email software today. Once an email has been read and enacted upon, storage of such an email is always useful for possible future reference. Once your inbox becomes overloaded with information, you must deploy some form of archiving in order to work effectively. A number of online solutions, free and paid, are available for online storage, in case you travel a lot and need access from anywhere.