Website archiving is the selecting and storing of websites and their digital assets. The collected information is preserved for people to access in the same way as traditional archiving. There are many different types of website archiving, but the three main methods of collecting and storing digital information include client-side, transaction-based, and server-side web archiving. Businesses use one or more of these methods to archive their websites.
Now that we’ve covered the basic building blocks of website archiving, we can focus on covering topics like what website archiving is and why it’s so important.
Read on to learn more about website archiving.
What is Website Archiving?
Web archiving can be thought of as forms of digital storage. Archives keep a record of digital information in related files that serve the business it represents. The on-page content that viewers see when they visit sites is only a small component of the additional digital content that is woven within the site. Secondary content is captured and recorded, and much of this information ends up in the digital archive.
Importance of the website archive
A website archive allows for proper harvesting and access needs that businesses and organizations are looking for from their websites. In addition to supporting traffic flow and gauging viewer interactions, website archives also exist to meet requirements that regulate a vast range of different industries. Website archives ensure that legal requirements regarding compliance are met to satisfy industry standards. Web archives keep information as is, and the storage process makes it impossible for the content saved to change. Therefore, the permanence of this information can act as evidence in an investigation because it cannot be altered in any way. Screenshots are not an example of archiving because they can be altered and changed. Website archives also include timestamps and digital signatures that highlight the record’s authenticity. Since website content is constantly changing, information is capable of disappearing. Businesses want to obtain concrete records of content as it is published. The need for record-keeping is particularly important for financial firms that need to track content changes over many different websites. Money is a legal matter, so website archiving makes it possible to record these interactions to prevent illegal activity.
Web archiving is essential because it assists with branding. Brand archiving has become popular because it tracks communication with customers. Digital records can also be displayed, creating inspiration for future posts. This web archiving is a portfolio that viewers can click on to review older content. We see this on blog sites frequently. The essence of website archiving is to persevere digital legacy. As brands change, understanding when changes were advocated for influences future decisions.
Website archiving serves legal purposes and promotes business growth. The need to archive information through files has evolved into a digital format, but the needs are the same as they were when traditional archiving was more prevalent. Businesses need to keep active records for security and expansion.