Storj-Decentralized Cloud Object Storage for Digital Preservation

Storj-Decentralized Cloud Object Storage for Digital Preservation

On moving ahead on the lines of my topics on cloud computing like “Cloud computing and its applications in libraries”, “Emulation as a service for digital preservation” and Blockchain technology and its potential use in libraries, here is new topic of Decentralized Cloud Storage, the technique which incorporates both the technologies: Cloud computing and Blockchain technology.

    In this digital era, the libraries all over the world are engaged in finding various ways and technologies of storage and preservation of digital materials. The technologies that make data storage and retrieval easy, fast, safe and secure are the motto of our library leaders, technology developers. Again the Decentralized Cloud Storage technique is going to buzz in the data storage field.

Storj- Decentralized Cloud storage Technique: It is the first cloud storage technique which is decentralized providing end to end encryption of files stored on clouds and uses Blockchain technology and Cryptography to secure the online files.

Features:   

1. It allows users to store data in a decentralized manner without any need of third party or storage provider,  just like in blockchain technology in which files are globally distributed in segmented form.

2. Provides end to end encryption to files, that means only the owner of the files have that encryption key to encrypt the unencrypted files and see the content and thus safe and secure.

3. Fast access to files as the data storage  and retrieval is not dependent on one server.

4. Storj labs are continuously working on the data security features with their own developed apps like MetaDisk (Web app) and DriveShare (Client app).

5. Storj builds the trust of the user in data storage by removing the dependency on vulnerable servers or any organization or employees dealing with the storage of users’ files.

6. Storj claims to be cheaper than traditional cloud storage because there is no need of data centres so the cost lowers the ⅓ the price of centralized cloud storage providers.

7. It is simple in implementing and scale along with the users’ needs.

8. Data on the network will be resistant to censorship, tampering, unauthorized access, and data failures.

   As this technology is in its premature stage, so to discuss its use in libraries and how much extent it can be useful to the library storage and preservation purpose is very early. But in future, it can be used as the tool for long-term storage and preservation of large volumes of various resources in libraries like research data, scholarly articles, thesis, presentations and for archival purposes. The technology is cheaper than the traditional centralized cloud storage, so the library leaders and researchers can think about this technology to be used in libraries after depth analysis and finding the pros and cons of the technology.

To know more: https://storj.io/

                            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STORJ