Introduction
As enterprises move toward modern, cloud-first strategies, traditional on-premises archiving systems are increasingly replaced by cloud-native architectures. These architectures leverage object storage and serverless computing to enhance scalability, resilience, and cost efficiency, while meeting compliance requirements. This blog explores how these technologies are transforming enterprise archiving.
Object Storage in Archiving
Object storage is the foundation of most cloud-native archives, providing scalable, durable, and cost-effective storage for massive volumes of data.
Key Benefits:
- Scalability: Supports petabyte-scale archives without complex infrastructure management.
- Durability: Cloud providers often guarantee 11+ nines of durability.
- Cost Optimization: Tiered storage (hot, cool, cold) reduces costs for long-term retention.
- Metadata Richness: Allows advanced classification and indexing of archived data.
Use Cases:
- Storing immutable WORM data for compliance (SEC 17a-4, FINRA, HIPAA).
- Centralizing diverse datasets across geographies.
- Enabling multi-cloud redundancy for resilience.
Serverless in Archiving
Serverless computing enables dynamic scaling and event-driven workflows in archiving pipelines.
Key Benefits:
- Elasticity: Automatically scales based on ingestion, indexing, or search demands.
- Cost-Efficiency: Pay only for compute resources consumed, not idle capacity.
- Faster Innovation: Developers can focus on logic (e.g., classification, enrichment) without managing infrastructure.
- Event-Driven Processing: Serverless functions can trigger actions like applying retention tags, encrypting data, or initiating legal holds.
Use Cases:
- Automating ingestion from SaaS and communication platforms.
- Real-time enrichment of metadata and classification.
- DSAR workflows that automatically search and export personal data.
Best Practices for Cloud-Native Archive Design
- Adopt Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Strategies: Balance compliance needs and avoid vendor lock-in.
- Integrate Security by Default: Apply encryption, KMS/BYOK, and zero-trust controls to protect sensitive data.
- Optimize Storage Tiers: Use lifecycle policies to move data across hot, cool, and cold tiers.
- Automate Compliance: Encode regulatory requirements directly into serverless workflows.
- Monitor and Audit: Use observability tools to ensure performance, availability, and policy enforcement.
Outcomes of Cloud-Native Architectures
- Scalability: Seamlessly handle data growth without infrastructure sprawl.
- Cost Efficiency: Pay-as-you-go models reduce CapEx and optimize OpEx.
- Compliance: Enforce WORM storage, retention, and auditability at scale.
- Resilience: Multi-zone and multi-region redundancy protect against outages.
- Agility: Faster adoption of new tools and features with minimal overhead.
Conclusion
Cloud-native archive architectures built on object storage and serverless technologies redefine how enterprises preserve, secure, and access historical data. By embracing these approaches, organizations gain scalability, resilience, and compliance — all while reducing costs and increasing agility.