Data stored in glass could last over 10,000 years, Microsoft says

Compliance adds a further dimension. Data encoded as permanent optical modifications cannot be overwritten, reducing ransomware exposure. But “compliance is a system property, not a substrate property,” Gogia cautioned. “Enterprises must still ensure encryption key rotation, metadata indexing, and audit trail completeness. A 10,000-year medium does not remove the obligation to demonstrate governance discipline.”

No commercial product yet

Microsoft said in a separate blog post that the research phase of Project Silica is now complete. “We are continuing to consider learnings from Project Silica as we explore the ongoing need for sustainable, long-term preservation of digital information,” the company said, without disclosing a commercialization roadmap. If commercialized, glass storage is unlikely to displace tape.

“It is more likely to emerge as a specialized ultra-long retention rather than a replacement for tape-based cold storage,” said Gartner’s Divya. “Any new medium would have to compete on the full-stack equation — economics, hardware, software, and operational model — not just on media longevity.”

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AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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