Piql Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Level 42, Menara TH Perdana, 1001 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur (2026)

11/07/2025

Part 2: Why Organizations Keep Failing at Digital Preservation

Most organizations today are sitting on digital time bombs. Hard drives fail silently. Bit rot creeps in unnoticed. Cloud storage is mistaken for permanence. And archived data, assumed to be "safe," becomes unreadable just when it is needed most.

The problem is not a lack of storage capacity. It is a lack of strategy, planning and foresight. Even with growing IT teams and expanding budgets, many organizations continue to treat digital preservation as an afterthought rather than a long-term responsibility.

Storing is not the same as preserving. Hard drives fail. SSDs degrade. Files silently decay through bit rot, often without visible warning. By the time critical data is needed, it may already be corrupted, incomplete, or entirely lost. Google's disk failure study highlighted just how often storage media can fail without obvious signs.

Few organizations run full operability tests on their storage systems (Digital Preservation Coalition). Backups are often inconsistent (Veeam). Metadata may be incomplete or missing entirely (UNESCO PERSIST and National Archives of Malaysia). Dependencies such as fonts, codecs, or proprietary viewers may no longer exist. Entire digital collections can become compromised without anyone realizing it (DPC Handbook).

One of the most overlooked challenges is data migration. As systems evolve, formats become obsolete and software platforms change. Many organizations have no formal process for verifying data integrity through these transitions. The Library of Congress outlines this risk clearly in its sustainability framework.

What remains is often large volumes of archived data that are, in practical terms, useless.

The deeper issue is one of mindset. Too many organizations view digital preservation as an operational task for IT to manage quietly in the background. But real preservation requires intention, foresight, and tools built specifically for long-term authenticity and readability.

This is exactly the problem Piql was designed to solve.

Unlike conventional storage providers, Piql delivers true preservation. At the heart of its offering is piqlFilm, a high-resolution photosensitive medium tested to last for over 1000 years. It stores data in open, documented formats, along with metadata and viewer instructions, all written in human- and machine-readable form. The film is fully offline, making it immune to bit rot, cyber threats, hardware failure, and software obsolescence. And it remains readable long into the future without the need for constant migration or upgrades.

Files stored with Piql are digitally searchable and can be accessed through PiqlConnect, a secure, preservation-focused platform that combines offline longevity with modern accessibility.

This technology is already trusted by national archives, space agencies, research institutions, and the Vatican Library. It is just as essential for businesses, universities, government bodies, and NGOs, as all organizations face the risk of losing digital assets to time, decay, or neglect.

As data volumes grow and systems age, the risks and recovery costs of neglect continue to rise.

Long-term preservation requires more than storage. It demands intention, urgency, and purpose-built solutions designed to ensure lasting access and authenticity. With the right partner, organizations can move beyond temporary fixes and into genuine long-term stewardship.

Because preserving information is not just about technology. It reflects an institution’s duty to safeguard its critical data.

Sources and Further Reading
Global Standards and Research

Google – Disk Failures Groundbreaking study analyzing over 100,000 drives to show how silently hardware can fail.
Digital Preservation Coalition – Bit List Identifies at-risk digital content types and points out poor testing practices.
DPC Digital Preservation Handbook A go-to resource outlining preservation risks, including incomplete metadata and software dependencies.
UNESCO PERSIST Guidelines A global framework for sustainable digital preservation, covering formats and metadata.
Library of Congress – Sustainability of Digital Formats Explains which formats are most likely to remain accessible over time.

Backup & Recovery

Veeam CXO Study (2021) Reports that 58% of enterprise data backups were failing, underlining how many organizations still struggle with basic data resilience.
Storage Newsletter on Backup Failure Further coverage of Veeam’s findings that over half of backups fail, highlighting widespread issues in data protection.

Regional Insight (Malaysia)

National Archives of Malaysia – Metadata Research Supports improved metadata handling in Malaysian public agencies, aligned with global guidance.

Preservation Technology

Piql Overview Piql is a purpose-built digital preservation provider with innovative long-term storage solutions.
piqlFilm Future-readable, ultra-durable medium for offline data preservation.
PiqlConnect Secure access platform for digital content stored on piqlFilm.
Piql Case Studies Real-world implementations across national archives, space agencies, and cultural institutions.

11/07/2025

Part 1: Why We Let the Past Fade. The Human Psyche and Our Archiving Blind Spot

We live in a time where our lives are more documented than ever. We take more photos, write more documents, and store more digital memories than any generation before us. Yet ask someone where their childhood photos are, and the answers are often vague: “on an old phone” or “somewhere in the house.”

Files sit on forgotten USB drives. Emails vanish with a crashed laptop. Printed photos fade in dusty boxes.

Our digital and physical past is quietly slipping away. Not because we don’t care, but because we are wired to overlook it.

This isn’t just forgetfulness. It’s psychological. Human beings are wired to focus on the present. Our brains prioritize what is urgent and visible. Archiving, by contrast, requires planning, effort, and foresight, often with no immediate reward.

That birthday video you meant to back up? That journal you promised yourself to digitize someday? They get buried under the noise of everyday life.

We also tend to overestimate the durability of our digital world. We assume “the cloud has it” or “it must be saved somewhere.” But digital data is fragile.

Files become corrupted. Platforms shut down. Devices fail.

And unlike a torn photograph, digital decay is silent and invisible until it is too late.

There is also a broader cultural disconnect. In many societies, individuals do not see themselves as stewards of history. We assume museums, libraries, and archives will safeguard the past. But these institutions can only preserve what was consciously kept in the first place.

Every lost story, every unread file, every overlooked recording is a fragment of heritage that disappears quietly. Not because it was unimportant, but because no one thought to preserve it.

The good news is that we are not powerless. With the right awareness and tools, anyone can take real steps to protect their legacy. It begins with a shift in mindset. Preservation is not just for historians or institutions. It is for anyone who values their story.

This is where Piql offers a path forward.

PiqlConnect gives individuals a secure platform to store and manage their most valuable digital files, not just for access today but for integrity tomorrow. Unlike typical cloud storage, PiqlConnect is built specifically for long-term preservation. It applies archival-grade standards to protect against file corruption, bit rot, and platform dependency.

And for those seeking true permanence, Piql offers piqlFilm, a self-contained offline medium that stores digital files in both human and machine-readable formats. It does not rely on electricity, proprietary software, or regular migrations. It is built to last for generations.

Whether you are preserving family photos, personal writing, research, or cultural records, PiqlConnect gives you a secure foundation to ensure your story is not lost to time or technology failure.

Preservation begins with awareness. And today, the tools exist for anyone to act.

24/06/2025

Disaster Resilience for Archives: What Happens When the Flood Hits the Server?

In 2022, the Bukit Kepong Emergency Gallery in Muar was hit by severe flooding. Military artifacts, including a boat and two armored vehicles, were damaged. Recovery cost over RM250,000.

RTM experienced archival losses due to 2 fires — 1983, and 2015.

These may seem like isolated incidents, even man-made. But collectively, it exposes the fragility and risk of the nation’s artifacts and records to natural disasters and human mismanagement.

Malaysia has frameworks in place. Arkib Negara has a disaster plan (PTB), and MS 2223-3:2009 outlines the right procedures. But most of these focus on recovery — what to do after something goes wrong.

What’s missing is pre-emptive resilience.

Digitisation Is Not Preservation

Many assume that once an object or record is digitised, it’s safe. But storing a digital file on a hard drive, in the cloud, or on a server does not make it permanent.

Hardware fails. Formats become unreadable. Power is not always guaranteed. And in a disaster, access systems are often the first to go offline.

We need to move beyond backup and think seriously about long-term protection — because digitisation alone is not preservation.

What Piql Brings to the Table

Piql offers an offline, tamper-proof storage solution built specifically for long-term digital preservation.

Your data is written onto piqlFilm, a future-proof medium that:

Withstands fire, flood, heat, and EMP
Requires no electricity or software to remain readable
Lasts more than 1000 years
Migration-free
It is already trusted by archives, governments, and even GitHub, which preserved a snapshot of its public open-source repositories in the Arctic World Archive.

In short, this is preservation that still works when everything else fails.

Why This Matters Now

Every year, archives, cultural institutions, and government agencies across Malaysia digitise more records, oral histories, manuscripts, and audiovisual content. But unless we take the next step to preserve that data properly, all that effort and investment remain at risk.

We do not need more backups. We need real preservation.

If you are thinking about how to protect your organisation’s memory, Piql Malaysia is ready to show you what long-term preservation can look like.

04/06/2025

Why Bit-Rot is a Time Bomb for Digital Archives

Imagine discovering, decades from now, that your most valuable digital files—historical records, legal documents, or priceless heritage archives—have silently decayed. No alarm bells. No notifications. Just unreadable data. This is not science fiction. It’s bit-rot—and it's already happening.

Bit-rot refers to the gradual degradation of data stored on digital media. It’s invisible, irreversible, and inevitable if not addressed. Magnetic tapes demagnetize. Hard drives fail. CDs and DVDs degrade. Even cloud storage, if left unmanaged, isn't immune. The longer we store data, the higher the chance it becomes corrupted or lost.

This isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a cultural, legal, and economic time bomb.

The Silent Saboteur of Our Digital Future

Governments, libraries, corporations, and NGOs are rapidly digitizing everything from court records to cultural heritage. But without a long-term digital preservation strategy, they’re building archives on a ticking clock.

What’s worse? Bit-rot doesn’t announce itself. A corrupted photo, a missing byte in a legal contract, or an unreadable archive may only be noticed when it’s too late. And by then, the damage is permanent.

The False Sense of Security

Many organizations think uploading data to a server or cloud is “enough.” But digital preservation isn’t just about storage—it’s about integrity, longevity, and active management. Backups aren’t preservation. RAID systems aren’t preservation. Even the cloud needs preservation-grade protocols.

Why This Demands Urgent Action
1. Legal Liability – Missing or corrupted records can open institutions to legal challenges.
2. Cultural Loss – National memories and identities stored in digital form can vanish silently.
3. Economic Risk – Businesses risk compliance failures, audits, and brand damage.

This is a call to every stakeholder—from CIOs to archivists, from policymakers to IT heads. Bit-rot isn’t just an IT issue. It’s an organizational risk. And the time to act is now.

How Piql Can Help

At Piql Malaysia, we offer proven solutions to protect your digital assets against bit-rot:
• Long-term Digital Preservation: Using durable, secure, and offline storage media that resist decay over decades.
• Integrity Assurance: Data is encoded on high-quality physical film, ensuring readability and verifiability even after 100+ years.
• Hybrid Solutions: Combining physical preservation with secure digital access, enabling organizations to meet compliance and accessibility needs without risking data degradation.
• Tailored Services: Customized preservation strategies for government archives, cultural institutions, legal records, and enterprises.

Don’t wait for bit-rot to silently destroy your digital legacy. Protect it now with solutions designed to last generations.

Bit-rot is a time bomb. But it doesn’t have to explode—with Piql, your archives can survive the test of time.

05/05/2025

Cybersecurity in Malaysia: Are You Ready for the New Reality?

Cyber threats are no longer distant dangers — they’re here. Just last week, Bursa Malaysia was hit by a cyber breach involving unauthorized trades through compromised brokerage systems. And it’s not the first — from large-scale data leaks to silent ransomware attacks, Malaysia’s digital landscape is increasingly under threat.

This is why the Cybersecurity Act 2024 matters more than ever.

Organisations under the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) category are now legally required to:
– Conduct formal risk assessments
– Implement robust security controls
– Coordinate with NACSA during cyber incidents

But legislation alone isn't enough. Many businesses still rely on conventional cloud solutions that leave them vulnerable to:
– Ransomware and malicious encryption
– Data corruption that goes undetected
– Vendor lock-in and unexpected service failures

At Piql, we take a different approach to digital resilience.

Our solution provides:
– Offline, tamper-proof storage that cannot be hacked
– 1,000+ years readability, no matter how technology evolves
– No dependency on electricity or recurring maintenance
– Full independence from software ecosystems and file formats

This isn’t about simple backups — it’s about ensuring digital continuity. Your most important data deserves protection that lasts.

Let’s discuss how Piql can support your organisation in meeting the demands of Malaysia’s new cybersecurity landscape.

29/04/2025

Long-Term Data Preservation — Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

Digital storage may feel secure — until it isn’t.

Hard drives fail. File formats become obsolete. Cloud services change terms or go offline. And worst of all, digital corruption can happen silently over time — leaving priceless data unreadable or permanently lost.

A case in point:
In 2023, Malaysia's MySejahtera app experienced a significant data breach due to vulnerabilities in its digital storage system — exposing personal data to unauthorized access.

This isn’t isolated. Across Malaysia, digital preservation failures are affecting institutions:
• Microsoft Cloud Outage Impacting Malaysia (2024)
• KiplePay/iPay88 Data Breach (2023)
• File format obsolescence remains a risk, even without a headline — a quiet threat to long-term access.

From legal archives and corporate IP to scientific research and cultural records — the cost of poor digital preservation is real.

Piql offers a secure, future-proof solution:
• Offline, immutable storage
• No reliance on electricity or ongoing maintenance
• Format-independent and future-readable
• Proven to last 1000+ years
• Trusted globally by institutions and enterprises

If your data truly matters, it deserves more than standard storage.

It deserves long-term preservation.

Let’s talk about how Piql can help protect your organisation’s most valuable digital assets.

18/09/2024

: In September 2021, the Arctic World Archive proudly welcomed its first Malaysian deposit—an collection of artworks celebrating South-East Asian’s vibrant art culture from Artemis Art Gallery ().

Thanks to its co-founders U.C. Loh and S. Jamal Al-Idrus, a selection of pieces from young Malaysian artists like Ajim Juxta, Michael Chuah, and Umibaizurah Mahir, alongside other Asian talents, were preserved digitally on piqlFilm. This deposit was part of the launch of Piql Malaysia’s digital Art Provenance Archival Solution.

Managing Director Rune Bjerkestrand celebrated the deposit as a significant addition to their global repository, noting that vibrant art collection is a wonderful first deposit from Malaysia and around Asia, representing the diverse and rich cultures of the region.

Artemis Art’s commitment to promoting young artists and safeguarding cultural heritage has now reached a new level, with their collection becoming a permanent part of world history.

Here’s to preserving our cultural treasures for future generations!

Source: AWA. (24 September 2021). AWA welcomes first Malaysian deposit. https://arcticworldarchive.org/blog/awa-welcomes-first-malaysian-deposit-%E2%80%93-celebrating-emerging-artists/

Pic credit: Sebastian Moss

30/06/2023

We are proud to have partnered with the National Library and Archives ( ) of the UAE🇦🇪 to provide preservation services for both NLA and other institutions in the UAE and the GCC region.

NLA will become a distinguished and unique center of expertise in digital preservation, combining their archive expertise with Piql's sustainable, , unhackable and permanent storage technology.

This partnership will safeguard the authentic culture, history, tradition, and legacy of the UAE and contribute to the global effort of safeguarding history, knowledge and information.

30/05/2023

AWA - ARCTIC WORLD ARCHIVE

The Arctic World Archive on Svalbard, opened in 2017, safeguards vital cultural, political, and literary works from any possible destruction, be it natural or human-induced.
You might be familiar with the Arctic World Archive's older counterpart, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. This well-known and established vault stores seeds from worldwide sources, ensuring food production in case of a catastrophic loss of plant life.

The two archives share similarities, with the World Archive located within a former coal mine, previously housing the seed vault. While the seed vault focuses on crops, the Arctic World Archive serves as a remarkable testament to the innovative utilization of old technology for preserving cultural heritage.

The Arctic World Archive's standout feature is its electricity-free operation. Situated in an extremely cold northern location, the facility benefits from naturally low temperatures year-round. This cold climate is ideal for preserving documents, making the archive an environmentally sustainable and efficient long-term storage solution.

All digital data information stored in the facility is preserved on microfilm; Piqlfilm.

PiqlFilm can last over 1000 years without corruption, surpassing the longevity of digital files. Additionally, the film format ensures the archive's independence from the internet, guaranteeing its survival even in the face of major catastrophes disrupting web capabilities.

The Archive is expanding, housing films of notable works like Edvard Munch's The Scream, Dante's The Divine Comedy, and government documents from various countries such as Norway, Brazil, and the United States. Its growth reinforces its role as a secure sanctuary for preserving global cultural heritage, highlighting the enduring advantages of older technology over newer counterparts.

Our next deposit is 29th June 2023. We look forward to continue to preserve human history.

17/02/2023

We are proud to be working with Paul Augustin, renowned researcher and archivist of Malaysia's music heritage.

Paul's passion in researching and documenting the social and intangible history of Malaysian music genres and legends extends to ensuring the safe and secure preservation of this invaluable archive for posterity. Penang House of Music

Let us explore how our services can help you preserve your indispensable data.

13/02/2023

ABOUT US 🎞🔦

Piql is a Norwegian technological company specializing in secure long-term archiving of digital data. Its technology is based on storing digital data on a 35mm photosensitive polyester film, which is purpose built to ensure your invaluable data stays authentic, reliable and secure to last over 1000 years with guaranteed accessibility in the future.

That means 3 things:
1) Longevity/Future Proof: Archival & Digital Preservation - Proven longevity of 1000 years.
All info on how to retrieve the files from the film is written on the film in human-readable text. It is vendor independent, decoding software is open sourced, which means your data in software and hardware can never be obsolete; guaranteed future access.

2) Dependable – Business continuity: unique offline and secure storage medium. Cannot be hacked, deleted, manipulated, or erased by electromagnetic pulses.

3) Sustainable/cost effective – A green solution; lowest carbon footprint of any storage tech, with a complete passive storage tech. No servers, no migration, no electricity needed.

💡 Join us in our mission to safeguard the future.

Piql Malaysia Sdn Bhd

11/07/2025

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