Store Component of ECM Cycle

Yesterday, I talked about "Manage" component of ECM cycle. Today, I will talk about "Store" component.

"Store" components store information that has been captured. The "Store" components can be divided into three categories: Repositories as storage locations, Library Services as administration components for repositories, and Storage Technologies. These infrastructure components are sometimes held at the operating system level, and also include security technologies that work together with the "Deliver" components.

Repositories

Among the possible kinds of repositories are: file systems, content management systems, databases, data warehouses.

File systems are used on data storage devices such as hard disk drives, floppy disks, optical discs, or flash memory storage devices.

A content management system (CMS) is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage documents work flow in a collaborative environment. In a CMS, information can be defined as nearly anything: documents, movies, pictures, scientific data, etc. CMSs are used for storing, controlling, revising, and publishing documents. Serving as a central repository, the CMS controls the version level of documents updates. Version control is one of the primary advantages of a CMS. The main objectives of CMS are to streamline access, eliminate bottlenecks, encourage collaboration, optimize security, and maintain integrity of documents.

Databases administer access information, but can also be used for the direct storage of documents, content, or media assets.

Data warehouses are complex storage systems based on databases, which reference or provide information from all kinds of sources. They can also be designed with global functions, such as document or information warehouses.

Library services

Library services are the administrative components of the ECM system that handle access to information. The library service is responsible for taking in and storing information from the Capture and Manage components. It also manages the storage locations in dynamic storage, the actual "Store," and in the long-term Preserve archive. The storage location is determined only by the characteristics and classification of the information. The library service works in concert with the Manage components' database to provide the necessary functions of search and retrieval.

Storage technologies

Among the possible kinds of storage technologies are magnetic online media, magnetic tape, digital optical media, cloud computing.

Magnetic online media is usually hard drives which may be local or part of a storage area network (SAN).

Magnetic tape data storage, in the form of automated storage units called tape libraries, use robotics to provide nearline storage. Standalone tape drives may be used for backup, but not online access.

Digital optical media includes CD, DVD and other specialized optical formats like magneto-optical drives for storage and distribution of data. Optical jukeboxes can be used for nearline storage. Optical media in jukeboxes can be removed, transitioning it from nearline to offline storage.

In cloud computing, data can be stored on offsite cloud computing servers, accessed via the Internet.

Stay tuned...