Government use of cloud-based long term digital preservation as a service: An exploratory study

Research conducted as part of the “Records Retention & Disposition in a Cloud Environment” work group of InterPARES Trust began examining cloud-based services in fall 2013. At the time, 3 basic cloud service models were prominent: Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Since then, additional models have emerged, among them Long Term Digital Preservation as a Service (LTDPaaS), a solution particularly attractive to government agencies that are responsible for public records that have permanent retention requirements. This paper assesses the current state of the art for cloud based, long-term digital preservation services and examines digital preservation standards and their applicability to cloud-based long-term digital preservation. Two cloud services based on the OAIS model are introduced, and rationale for adoption of digital preservation services from the point of view of Government agencies is provided. Ongoing research into the development of specifications for cloud based services that are neutral with respect to the party or parties providing Long Term Digital Preservation-Preservation as a Service for Trust (PaaST)-is introduced.