Digital preservation policies

The scientific journal Sinapsis, uses the LOCKSS digital preservation system (http://www.lockss.org/), from Stanford University, which offers digital preservation services, in open source, seeking the objective of providing and permanently preserve access to digital content generated through our publication, regardless of the platform used at any given time. In addition, it allows digital content to be shared safely among participating libraries.

The computerization process that is followed continuously and uninterruptedly in the Instituto Superior Universitario  Portoviejo in general and in the Sinapsis Magazine in particular, seeks, for digital preservation, to guarantee access both in the present and in the future to the archives and assets regardless of whether they are digital or digitized versions. This is a process of managing digital assets and ensuring that they can be used in the long term. The process must ensure usability even as file formats and technologies evolve.

The digital preservation process in the magazine includes different processes with all the material that enters, such as:

 Evaluation of the value of preservation.

  • Identification and classification
  • Verification of the integrity of the materials
  • Content characterization
  • Sustainability assurance
  • Verification of authenticity
  • Access and income allocation
  • Adding metadata about the preservation process

There is a whole strategy to guarantee the security and integrity of the information stored by the synapse journal, taking into account three aspects (hardware, software and others), it can be argued that at present, the access service to the Synapse journal guarantees a expected monthly service level (SLA) approaching 99.9%.

Hardware. 

  • Use of high-performance professional servers, equipped with redundant systems in both energy and storage devices.
  • Use of virtualized servers and services to make optimal use of existing hardware and guarantee expected performance.
  • Electrical backup that gives autonomy to the systems of more than 12 hours of operation in the event of failures in the electrical power supply.

 Software 

  • Use of operating systems and applications based on free software with a GPL license.
  • Design of a security system that includes the existence of firewalls (firewalls), intrusion detectors and automated and crossed backup systems that ensure the preservation of information in the event of natural disasters or computer catastrophes.
  • Constant update of operating systems and applications.
  • Policies defined for updating the platforms used by the journal (OJS)
  • Strict policies for safekeeping systems.
  • Use of defined text editors based on free software.
  • Control and policies for the definition of system administrative users and passwords
  • Use of secure protocols (https).

 Others

 

  • Guarantee of adequate electricity supply to the data center that houses the magazine as well as physical security of the premises.
  • Strict measures regarding the climatic conditions of the data center premises.

 For digital preservation purposes, Sinapsis recommends the deposit of documents with easily readable formats (such as PDF). In general, open JPG formats, files compatible with OpenOfiice, etc. are preferred over proprietary formats (Word, GIF, etc.). In the event that it is not possible to maintain the usability of all existing formats, Sinapsis technical support will return the files to their authors.