Digital Assets Discussion Group: Learning About Digital Assets - Management - Preservation

Preservation of digital material is fundamentally different than preservation of physical objects. Digital assets may exist in the form of files and code, but can one actually touch a digital file? After realizing digital assets are intangible the focus of preservation for digital information can shift from traditional thinking to more abstract concepts. However, it is a small step to the abstract world of digital preservation.

Essentially, one’s attention on what to preserve shifts from the physical media carrying the information to the information itself and the context(s) in which it originally existed. Additionally, the mutability of digital objects amplifies the need to preserve not only the digital object’s intellectual content, but also it’s authenticity. Proving that a digital object has not been altered since it’s inception necessitates planning for proving that authenticity. When a digital object is created it is necessary to digitally sign it to prove in the future it has not be altered. This digital notarization is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of digital assets.