What happens to your data when the cloud is switched off?
By Emanuel Böminghaus, Legacy Systems Expert and Managing Director, AvenDATA
By Emanuel Böminghaus
Legacy Systems Expert and
Managing Director, AvenDATA
Managing Director, AvenDATA
Even the most advanced cloud solutions must be archived, whether due to a system change, contract termination or to comply with legal requirements. AvenDATA archives cloud systems such as SAP BTP, S/4HANA Cloud, Salesforce or Workday in a legally compliant manner using the ViewBox.
Cloud does not automatically mean forever
Many companies assume that data in the cloud is permanently available. However, this is a dangerous misconception. Even the most modern cloud solutions have an end, often during a system migration, corporate consolidation or when a SaaS contract expires.
What is often overlooked: cloud systems are subject to the same retention obligations as traditional on premises systems. For tax, legal and audit purposes, data must remain accessible for years, even when the original system has long been decommissioned.
Why cloud systems need to be archived
The reasons for cloud archiving are varied and continue to grow with increasing digitalisation:
- System migration: Moving to a new cloud or on premises solution.
- Corporate consolidation: Merging multiple systems after acquisitions or mergers.
- Contract termination: Expiry of the cloud contract or strategic provider change.
- Cost reduction: Avoiding ongoing licence and hosting costs.
- Insolvency or site closure: Archiving despite lack of personnel resources.
- Compliance: Meeting legal requirements such as GoBD, HGB, AO, GDPR, SOX or GDPdU.
- Audit capability: Ensuring auditable access to historical data.
- Data portability: Complete export during provider changes or contract termination.
- Risk management: Protection against data loss during provider or technology changes.
Our solution: The ViewBox also archives cloud systems
With AvenDATA ViewBox, companies archive their cloud systems in a legally compliant and audit proof manner, independent of the original provider.
Whether SAP BTP, SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP SuccessFactors, Salesforce, Workday, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle Fusion Cloud or other SaaS solutions, the ViewBox provides a central platform for long-term retention and research of historical data and documents.
Our cloud archiving enables:
- Web based access without additional installation
- Long-term archiving in accordance with GoBD and GDPR
- Intuitive search and filter functions for auditors, tax consultants or internal audits
- Simple migration of cloud data into an independent archive format
Conclusion
Cloud offers flexibility, but not freedom from responsibility. Anyone decommissioning or switching systems must ensure that all data remains traceable even years later.
With AvenDATA ViewBox, we offer a solution that supports companies at every stage of the cloud lifecycle, from migration through to legally compliant archiving.
Planning to archive a legacy system?