Given the "lifecycle" of data as the period covering its creation, utilization, storage, and annulment, DLCM is a means of data management that transfers data to the optimum storage at each of these lifecycle stages, thereby reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) while maintaining the optimum service level. As regards the background to the appearance of DLCM, although various bits of information were conventionally stored in forms like paper and film, they are increasingly being stored and utilized as electronic data. Accordingly, the need to efficiently manage such a multitude of data has arisen. Moreover, it is necessary to ensure that storage management keeps pace with the changing utility value of data with the passage of time. DLCM can satisfy these needs and, in doing so, optimize the total inventory cost of storage.
