The concepts of data storage and archiving are influenced by a set of fast-moving technologies, which continuously incorporate new developments and approaches to the challenges associated with the management of corporate data.

This is the view of John Hope-Bailie, technical director of Source Consulting. He says some examples of new technologies to appear are disk-to-disk (D2D) and disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T) backup, as well as "tiered storage" which forms the basis for the introduction of a new generation of information lifecycle management (ILM) practices and disciplines.

"For today`s executives, be they technically orientated or not, knowledge of these and many other developments is critical, as they will have an impact on the future architectures of their corporate-wide computer systems - and the budgets required to support them," he says.