Imperial War Museums Digital Archive Case Study

This case study details the digital preservation solution implemented by Imperial War Museums (IWM) using Spectra Digital Archive technology. The document outlines the challenges faced by IWM in preserving a vast collection of digital assets, which includes hundreds of thousands of films, audio recordings, and photographs. The need for a reliable and scalable storage solution was critical due to the growing data storage requirements and the limitations of existing media. The Spectra Digital Archive solution was selected for its capacity and reliability, enabling IWM to preserve approximately 5PB of content across its data centers. The case study describes the components of the solution, including Spectra StorCycle, BlackPearl Nearline Gateways, and Spectra Tape Libraries, and explains the workflows established for data management. Additionally, it highlights the benefits of using Spectra technology, such as ease of use, product longevity, and efficient data migration, which collectively support IWM's mission to preserve historical records indefinitely.