Is Optical Storage Viable Today for Data Archiving?

High prices for hard drives and solid-state drives have led to renewed interest in alternative data retention methods. This overview examines whether utilizing Blu-ray discs and M-DISCs provides a practical option for long-term file retention.

The analysis weighs various factors including financial efficiency per gigabyte, media durability, writing speeds, and the logistical challenges of handling physical discs relative to traditional alternatives like tape systems or hard disk drives.