The developer behind the enterprise-scale, immutable archive solution that delivers breakthrough cost, margin, and sustainability benefits, Folio Photonics, is debuting breakthrough archival technology at low cost, high security, sustainability, and capacity. Folio’s innovation, the multi-layer optical disc, redefines archival technology and leverages patented advancements in materials science for dynamic multi-layer read/write abilities. Its low-cost, paired with its high-capacity disk storage, presents a breakthrough both in materials science and data storage, according to the vendor.
“Our talented engineering team—under the leadership of founder and CIO Dr. Kenneth Singer— has pioneered a fresh approach to optical storage that overcomes historical constraints and puts unheard of cost, cybersecurity, and sustainability benefits within reach,” said Steven Santamaria, Folio Photonics CEO. “With these advantages, Folio Photonics is poised to reshape the trajectory of archive storage.”
Today’s primary data storage mediums are magnetic tape, magnetic hard disk drive, and magnetic semiconductors or SSDs. These data storage options vary in their advantages, and, in their disadvantages; whether it be cost, capacity, longevity, or maintenance, today’s data storage mediums cannot cope with the ever-increasing data generation. Folio is positioned with a great opportunity and a great challenge: to innovate a highly beneficial data storage solution that is better than what is already on the market.
Folio’s technological breakthrough tackles key pain points that affect both the user and the world, leading its impact on the data storage market. Their innovation is a multi-layer disc made via film; imagine a sheet of saran wrap, with eight layers already built into it. It’s then lasered, cut, and adhered to the Blu-ray disk substrate.
“Folio Photonics is on a path to engendering far greater data densities than was thought possible several years ago,” said John Monroe from Further Market Research. “Using next-generation materials, patented polymer extrusion, and film-based disc construction processes (distinct from mere optical layering), in concert with customized optical pickup units (OPUs), Folio Photonics appears poised to deliver a new optical technology that enables eight or 16 film layers per side per disc, as opposed to only three optical layers per side per disc for archival discs today, with a roadmap to add additional layers over time.”
The advantages of Folio’s technology are expansive. While this is an announcement of breakthrough technology, it is also an announcement of its ability to be manufactured at scale. The enterprise emphasizes their multi-layer optical disk as a solution not only efficient, but widely accessible. Compared to other storage solutions, Folio’s technology is extremely affordable, citing that the product will start at $3-5 per terabyte. This greatly benefits an enterprise’s TCO, as Folio multi-layer optical disks’ affordability paired with its longevity (viable for one hundred years, and backwards compatible) can usher in huge savings for an enterprise or data archivist. Folio disks are resistant to salt water, heat, cold, and humidity; in areas of the world that can’t invest in the infrastructure to keep their storage dry and temperate, Folio multi-layer optical disks become a necessary solution, according to the company. Sustainability is also a large focus for Folio; data storage requires a lot of power to maintain, draining money and increasing CO2 production. The technology aids in greatly reducing carbon footprints, solidifying its place as environmentally friendly. In terms of security, Folio multi-layer optical disks employ an air-gap system which disconnects archival data, making it more difficult to attack. Also, the enterprise employs WORM (write once read many) which prevents potential hacking into the data.
“Folio’s next-generation storage media will radically reduce the upfront cost and TCO while making data archives active, cybersecure, and sustainable—an ideal combination for data center and hyperscale customers,” said Santamaria. “We believe that it will disrupt and re-energize the multi-billion-dollar data storage industry with its breakthrough financial and sustainability upside.”
Looking toward the future, Folio would like to increase capacity for more storage capabilities. By 2024, the enterprise hopes for wide-spanning disc availability.
For more information about this breakthrough, please visit https://foliophotonics.com/.