Widen Enterprises First Cloud-Based DAM Provider to Offer Digital Asset Archive

MADISON, WI--(Marketwired - Dec 18, 2013) - Widen Enterprises announced today that digital asset management (DAM) provider has become the first to integrate a searchable Digital Asset Archive into a web-based DAM system. Introduced in Media Collective 7.0, the latest version of Widen's flagship DAM system, the new asset archive has made long-term storage of multiple terabytes of data cost-effective and convenient for organizations that choose to preserve a large digital record. 

Powered by Amazon Glacier, a highly secure, reliable and low-cost storage solution, the Asset Archive makes it possible to save photos, videos, graphics, PDFs and many other digital assets without disconnecting them from the DAM system. Unlike tapes, hard-drives and other cold storage systems where assets are invisible, archived assets can still be managed, searched, previewed and retrieved within Media Collective.

Previously, organizations with high asset storage needs were trapped. On-premise DAM solutions required a heavy investment, ongoing maintenance and direct support from internal IT while cloud-based systems promised high storage costs over the long-term, putting the total cost of ownership out of reach for many organizations. Industry analysts recognize that a cloud-based service with integrated cold storage solves this dilemma.

"In today's world, organizations across the spectrum are increasingly being challenged to manage and archive their ever growing digital information repositories efficiently and in a cost effective way," said Mukul Krishna, senior global director of digital media at Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting firm. "This is especially true for educational institutions, SMBs, houses of worship and non-profits. Widen Media Collective 7.0's use of Amazon Glacier cold storage to enable managed archive, full search and download of assets is a very cost effective method that goes a long way to help fill a vast void that has emerged in the market."

For pennies per gigabyte, Digital Asset Archive can store historical content, old versions, RAW video, or zip files that are not needed every day. Although users can still search these files by metadata and view previews, they are kept separate from active assets, will not appear in standard search results and are only accessible to users with permission. This ensures that data files will not clutter regular searches or confuse users. Securely and redundantly stored in multiple data facilities, archived assets can still be retrieved in a few short hours if necessary.

"By combining Media Collective and cold storage, we've made it possible for organizations to build a long-term legacy of digital assets without sacrificing accessibility or incurring high costs," said Deanna Ballew, Widen manager of development and infrastructure. "We're proud to be the first web-based DAM provider that offers this capability, and we're excited to pass the convenience and savings on to our customers." 

About Widen Enterprises, Inc.

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Widen has honed its more than 60 years of experience in premedia services and color management specifically for assisting customers with building brand equity and supporting consistent brand representation across print and Web communications. Through its inventive suite of Web-based digital asset management applications, Widen software services provide marketing networks with real-time, Web-based access to clients' digital asset libraries, subsequently eliminating manual search and file preparation time, costs related to replacing images and videos that cannot be located, and added costs for hardware, software and upgrades. For more information, visit: http://www.widen.com.