As content consumption shifts primarily to digital platforms, media companies are realizing that their content libraries—whether it’s classic films or the latest streaming hits—aren’t just creative portfolios; they’re essential business assets. In the past, content libraries were important for traditional distribution channels like television broadcasts, physical media sales (DVDs, Blu-rays), and syndication.
However, with the rise of digital platforms and streaming services, these libraries have become even more critical as they now generate continuous revenue through streams such as licensing, on-demand access, and global distribution. Additionally, the need for uninterrupted access to this content has become more important than ever—any disruptions can lead to major financial losses and harm a company’s reputation.
Managing these expanding content libraries also brings new challenges. Media companies aren’t just focused on creating new content; they must also ensure that their vast archives remain easily accessible, securely stored, and protected from potential threats. Whether it’s an on-demand blockbuster or a live-streamed event, audiences now expect seamless access at all times. This places additional pressure on companies to protect their digital assets from technical failures or external threats like cyberattacks.
Dan Goman, CEO of the cloud-native media supply chain company Ateliere Creative Technologies, emphasizes the critical role of cloud-based disaster recovery strategies in the media industry. As content libraries continue to grow larger and more valuable, cloud-native disaster recovery helps media companies stay resilient by protecting their content from disruptions caused by operational threats. Goman compares a good disaster recovery plan to an “insurance policy” that ensures essential assets are always available, even when primary systems fail.
Traditional Disaster Recovery: Limitations and Risks
Traditional disaster recovery systems, which rely on physical, on-premises infrastructure, were once the standard for media companies. However, as the industry has evolved, the drawbacks of these systems have become more obvious.
One of the biggest issues is cost—maintaining backup data centers and extra hardware requires a lot of money, and the upkeep of these systems adds to the expense. Plus, since many of these backup systems are in the same region as the primary ones, they are at risk from the same natural disasters, like floods or earthquakes.
Physical risks are another major concern. For instance, when Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in 2012, it knocked out power and data centers, causing delays in content distribution for days. Similarly, server crashes at major media networks have caused hours of downtime, interrupting broadcasts and costing companies both money and trust.
With on-premises disaster recovery, any technical glitch or natural disaster can cause major disruptions.
In today’s world where audiences expect constant access to content, these traditional systems just don’t cut it. They aren’t flexible or scalable enough to handle the growing size of content libraries and the need for global access. Media companies need more reliable, modern solutions that can quickly adapt and keep things running smoothly, no matter what happens.
The Shift to Cloud-Based Solutions
Switching to cloud-based disaster recovery solutions has completely changed how media companies protect their digital content. Unlike their older, on-site counterparts, cloud-based options are much more flexible and scalable. These solutions allow companies to easily adjust as their content libraries expand, without needing to invest in expensive physical equipment.
As a result, cloud-based recovery becomes more cost-efficient because companies only pay for what they use, cutting down on the big upfront costs for hardware.
One of the biggest advantages of cloud-based solutions is remote accessibility. Since the data is stored in the cloud, media companies can access their content from anywhere, ensuring smooth recovery if a disaster strikes. This global access means that even if one area is hit by a natural disaster, hardware failure, or cyberattack, operations can continue with minimal disruption. Plus, cloud systems can automatically back up data, further reducing the risk of losing important content and minimizing downtime.
Cloud-based disaster recovery also makes operations more resilient by protecting against both external threats, like natural disasters and cyberattacks, and internal issues, like technical failures. Because data is stored in multiple secure locations, it’s better protected from localized risks, ensuring that content is always available when needed. That approach not only protects a company’s assets but also helps maintain revenue and audience trust by keeping content accessible.
Dan Goman’s Approach to Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery
Dan Goman’s approach to cloud-based disaster recovery at Ateliere Creative Technologies focuses on providing media companies with a reliable, cloud-native platform that keeps their digital content safe and accessible, even during unexpected disruptions. Instead of relying on expensive physical infrastructure, Ateliere’s platform uses the cloud to offer a more flexible and scalable solution that can grow with a company’s content library. By doing so, it becomes easier for media companies to protect their assets and recover quickly when needed.
Goman’s disaster recovery philosophy is built on three core principles: speed, scalability, and flexibility. Speed is critical in the media world, where even brief interruptions can lead to lost revenue and frustrated audiences. With Ateliere’s cloud-native system, companies can achieve rapid recovery, minimizing downtime and maintaining access to their valuable content.
Scalability is another key component, as traditional systems often struggle to keep up with the demands of growing content libraries. Ateliere’s platform, however, can easily expand to accommodate larger libraries without the need for additional hardware investments. Flexibility ties it all together, offering companies the ability to adjust their disaster recovery solutions as their needs evolve, whether they’re expanding operations or responding to specific disruptions.
A key part of Goman’s strategy is real-time data replication and instant recovery. Ateliere’s platform constantly updates backups in real time, so companies always have the latest version of their content ready if something goes wrong. This real-time backup means they don’t lose valuable data, and the instant recovery feature ensures they can get back online almost immediately after a disruption.
Additionally, Ateliere’s FrameDNA system offers a highly cost-effective solution for media companies by using advanced deduplication technology to significantly reduce storage requirements. By identifying and eliminating duplicate content within a company’s digital library, FrameDNA ensures that only unique data is stored, significantly reducing the amount of cloud storage required—and consequently, lowering costs.
For media companies, this makes disaster recovery far more economical, as they no longer have to pay for storing redundant files.
Future-Proofing Media
Ultimately, disaster recovery solutions are about more than just restoring data—they are essential tools for enhancing operational resilience and safeguarding revenue. Robust disaster recovery strategies ensure that companies are not caught off guard by unexpected failures.
Looking ahead, the dominance of cloud-based disaster recovery solutions in the media industry seems inevitable. Cloud-native disaster recovery solutions are uniquely equipped to address emerging risks like sophisticated cyberattacks and climate-related disruptions.
As artificial intelligence and machine learning become more integrated into these systems, they will enhance disaster recovery by offering predictive analytics to identify vulnerabilities and automate recovery processes. Integration of this technology will ultimately make disaster recovery not only more efficient but also more proactive, allowing media companies to respond to threats before they cause significant disruptions.
As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital data, cloud-based disaster recovery will become a defining element of operational resilience for media companies. With the rapid growth and complexity of digital content, relying on traditional recovery methods is no longer sufficient.
Companies that proactively adopt these systems will not only survive but thrive, while those that lag behind may struggle to keep pace. Safeguarding digital assets is not just about protecting content—it’s about securing the future of the entire business.