Unstructured, Unsecured, Unprotected: Why Your Old File Systems Urgently Need Professional Archiving
By Emanuel Böminghaus, Legacy Systems Expert and Managing Director, AvenDATA
By Emanuel Böminghaus
Legacy Systems Expert and
Managing Director, AvenDATA
Managing Director, AvenDATA
A frequently overlooked risk:
While many companies make the effort to archive legacy ERP, payroll, or CRM systems, their old file systems are often left untouched. Yet these unstructured files often contain the most sensitive information: contracts, financial calculations, presentations, emails, or process instructions.
What was once “just” stored on shared drives can quickly become a serious issue in the event of an audit, legal dispute, or data privacy request.
What You Don’t See Can Still Be Needed
When shared drives and file systems are shut down, countless files are quickly forgotten. Yet many of them still contain personal data, tax-relevant records, or sensitive business reports. Think about Excel spreadsheets with customer data or Word documents with labor agreements — even if the drive hasn’t been touched in years, the risk remains.
What You Don’t See Can Still Be Needed
The Benefits of Archiving Unstructured File Systems
- Audit-proof storage in line with compliance requirements
- Full-text search across millions of files
- Access without relying on the original system
- Protection against data loss during server migrations or shutdowns
- Reduced risk in audits, lawsuits, and compliance checks
Conclusion
Files don’t simply disappear — they age, get forgotten, and then suddenly become critical. By archiving unstructured data early and in a structured way, companies protect themselves against unpredictable risks and ensure long-term security.
Act Now Before It’s Too Late
Professional long-term archiving is not only a legal requirement — it’s also a strategic advantage, especially in times when data protection, compliance, and IT security are top priorities.
Planning to archive a legacy system?