Datenveralterung

Datenveralterung, also known as data rot or bit rot, refers to the gradual degradation or loss of data over time. This phenomenon can occur due to various factors, impacting the integrity and accessibility of stored information. One primary cause is the physical decay of storage media. Magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, and even optical media can deteriorate over extended periods, leading to unreadable sectors or complete data loss. Environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature fluctuations, and exposure to magnetic fields can accelerate this process.

Beyond physical decay, dataveralterung can also stem from technological obsolescence. File formats and the software required to read them can become outdated, rendering previously accessible data unreadable. Similarly, the hardware used for storage may cease to be supported or available, creating barriers to data retrieval. Furthermore, human error, such as accidental deletion or improper storage procedures, can contribute to data loss. The cumulative effect of these factors means that digital information, unlike well-preserved physical artifacts, requires active management and migration strategies to ensure its long-term survival. Proactive data archiving, regular backups, and format migration are crucial countermeasures against Datenveralterung.