"A risk assessment of the Piql Services" by FFI

computer prepares the data according to the option chosen by the data owner. The original data is also, for the time being, kept in the Piql computer system.

Now, the data writing process can begin. Using a closed internal network, the prepared data is sent to the piqlWriter, an especially developed high resolution writer of the piqlFilm. After an additional integrity check, the file is ready to be written. Loading the piqlWriter with the piqlFilm and preparing the writing process must be done manually by a Piql Preservation Services operator, one which does not have the necessary access to the computer and thus the original file. Once the piqlFilm is written it is sent to a separate location to be developed or processed using a special mix of chemicals adapted to the qualities of the film. It is then sent back to the production site where it is fed into a piqlReader, a high resolution film scanner, which reads back all the data on the piqlFilm to verify its contents frame by frame against a checksum created when the original files were received from the data owner. Only when the piqlReader verifies the integrity of the newly written piqlFilm is the original file of the data deleted from the computer system. The finished piqlFilm is then assembled and packed in the protective piqlBox and finally, if the data owner has chosen to store the data with a Piql partner, it is transported to a secured automated offline storage facility. Metadata from each individual piqlFilm is stored in an online database. The data owner can use this to search for a specific file within a piqlFilm and request its retrieval from the piqlVault. After the file on the piqlFilm is read back on a piqlReader and its identity and integrity is confirmed, the file can be delivered to the data owner either electronically or by a physical storage medium (e.g. hard drive). To read the piqlFilm reel in its physical form, in theory, all one needs is a light source and magnifying lens, if the preservation method is visual. If the data is preserved with the digital method, one would also need a camera and a computer. Each film begins with a series of frames which contains information in human readable format on how the data stored on the film can be read or retrieved. If the data is discernible to the naked eye, i.e. in the format of text or pictures, it can be read immediately. If the data is encoded into binary form, the first frames will outline instructions on how to decode the frames back to files. In this way, the information on the piqlFilm is self-contained, or without need of non-accessible equipment or software to read it back.

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FFI-RAPPORT 16/00707