7 Strategic Archiware P5 Solutions to Safeguard Your Media Assets in 2026
- Feb 14
- 12 min read
In New Zealand's dynamic Media and Entertainment sector, managing vast volumes of high-resolution footage, project files, and finished assets is a critical challenge. Standard IT backup often fails to grasp the nuances of production workflows, leading to costly storage overruns, slow asset retrieval, and the ever-present risk of data loss. This is where a specialised data management strategy becomes essential. Archiware P5 offers a modular suite designed specifically for M&E, providing robust backup, long-term archiving, and site synchronisation.
This article explores seven distinct examples of Archiware P5 solutions, moving beyond a simple feature list to analyse the strategic 'why' behind each deployment. Making informed choices about your storage infrastructure is a key part of this process; understanding the differences between Cloud Versus Traditional Backup Systems is a foundational step. We will dissect how these solutions are implemented, from on-premise LTO tape to hybrid cloud models, and provide actionable takeaways to help you build a resilient, cost-effective, and TPN-compliant data lifecycle for your creative assets.
1. Archiware P5 Solutions
Wisely's offering for Archiware P5 solutions stands out as a comprehensive, end-to-end data management suite tailored specifically for the demanding workflows of Media & Entertainment (M&E) organisations. It moves beyond a simple product listing, presenting a fully integrated service that combines Archiware’s powerful software with expert implementation, support, and managed services. This approach makes it a robust choice for studios, production houses, and creative agencies needing to protect, manage, and archive large media assets with confidence.
The platform is built around Archiware P5’s four core modules: P5 Synchronize, P5 Backup, P5 Archive, and P5 Archive DLM. Each addresses a critical stage of the data lifecycle, from replicating active project files to creating secure, long-term archives on LTO tape or in the cloud. When evaluating data protection strategies, it's vital to understand the distinct differences between Cloud Backup vs Cloud Sync to ensure Archiware P5 solutions meet your specific media asset safeguarding needs. This modularity allows businesses to start with what they need and scale as their requirements grow.
Strategic Analysis
What sets this solution apart is its media-centric design combined with Wisely’s delivery model. Archiware P5 is inherently project-aware, capable of indexing metadata to create searchable archives, a crucial feature for M&E teams. Wisely enhances this by providing the necessary expertise to design and configure these complex policies, ensuring the solution is optimised for real-world production environments and aligns with business continuity planning for resilient Kiwi SMEs. The platform’s vendor-agnostic nature is a significant advantage, as it integrates with existing storage (disk, NAS, SAN) and cloud providers, preventing vendor lock-in and allowing for cost-effective, tiered storage strategies.
Actionable Takeaways
Modular Adoption: Start with the module that solves your most pressing issue, such as P5 Backup for production data or P5 Archive for finished projects, and expand later.
Leverage Expertise: Engage with Wisely’s professional services for initial policy design and migration. Their expertise can prevent common configuration pitfalls and accelerate your return on investment.
Tiered Storage Strategy: Use the broad support for disk, LTO tape, and cloud object storage to create a cost-efficient data lifecycle management plan, moving less active data to cheaper, long-term tiers.
2. Archiware (official)
The official Archiware website is the definitive starting point for anyone exploring Archiware P5 solutions. It serves as the central hub for detailed product information, official documentation, and the tools needed to scope a potential deployment. Rather than just a marketing front, the site is a functional resource designed to guide prospective users from initial research to procurement.
Strategic Analysis & Actionable Takeaways
What makes the site indispensable is its interactive Product Configurator. This tool demystifies the complex licensing model, allowing you to estimate costs by inputting your specific requirements for capacity, media drives, and desired modules like P5 Archive or P5 Backup.
Actionable Takeaway: Use the configurator to generate a baseline configuration and PDF summary. This document is invaluable for internal budget discussions and provides a clear starting point when you engage a local reseller for a formal quote.
The platform also features a reseller finder, which is crucial as Archiware does not sell directly to the public. For businesses in New Zealand, this tool quickly connects you with local partners who can handle purchasing, implementation, and ongoing support.
Unique Features and Considerations
Free Trial Access: You can request a 5-day or 30-day trial license directly from the portal, allowing for a thorough proof-of-concept before committing.
Procurement Path: All purchases are channelled through authorised distributors and resellers. The configurator’s pricing is indicative and excludes local taxes or service fees.
Authoritative Resource: It's the best source for the latest product updates, security bulletins, and official video tutorials.
3. AWS Marketplace (Archiware P5 AMI — BYOL)
For New Zealand organisations committed to a cloud-native strategy, the AWS Marketplace offers the fastest deployment path for Archiware P5 solutions. It provides a pre-configured Archiware P5 Amazon Machine Image (AMI) that can be launched on an EC2 instance in minutes. This route bypasses the need for on-premises server hardware, allowing teams to stand up a P5 environment entirely within the flexible and scalable AWS ecosystem.
Strategic Analysis & Actionable Takeaways
The key advantage here is speed and architectural flexibility. The Bring-Your-Own-License (BYOL) model means you can apply an existing or newly purchased license to the cloud instance, including temporary evaluation keys for proof-of-concept testing. This makes it an ideal sandbox for experimenting with different object storage back-ends like Amazon S3 or other compatible services.
Actionable Takeaway: Deploy the P5 AMI using an Archiware trial license to test a cloud-based archive or backup workflow. This allows you to validate performance, connectivity to S3, and data transfer costs before committing to a full production license and architecture.
This approach is particularly relevant for businesses leveraging the local AWS regions in New Zealand and Australia, as it helps ensure data sovereignty and low-latency performance. Administration is handled through the familiar P5 web interface, accessed remotely via a browser.
Unique Features and Considerations
Quick Deployment: Launch a fully functional P5 server on EC2 without manual installation or configuration.
Licensing Model: The AMI is free, but you must bring your own license (BYOL) purchased via an authorised Archiware partner.
Infrastructure Costs: Standard AWS fees for EC2 compute, storage (EBS/S3), and network data transfer will apply.
Cloud Integration: Natively integrates with AWS networking and storage, making it perfect for hybrid or fully cloud-based data management workflows.
Website: https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace
4. Wasabi (Archiware integration)
For businesses looking to implement cloud-based Archiware P5 solutions, Wasabi's integration partner page is a crucial resource. It details how P5 can use Wasabi's S3-compatible Hot Cloud Storage for both backup and archive, offering a high-performance, low-cost alternative to major cloud providers. The platform is particularly relevant for New Zealand businesses due to Wasabi's APAC region data centre in Sydney, which reduces latency and addresses data sovereignty preferences.
Strategic Analysis & Actionable Takeaways
Wasabi's primary advantage is its predictable and affordable pricing model, which eliminates egress fees and complex tiered charges common with other cloud services. The website provides a dedicated solution brief and configuration guides, simplifying the process of connecting P5 to a Wasabi storage bucket. This makes it an ideal target for offsite archival and disaster recovery copies.
Actionable Takeaway: Before committing, use the provided documentation to configure a test P5 Archive or Backup plan targeting a trial Wasabi account. This allows you to validate performance and configuration steps, ensuring the solution meets your specific RTO/RPO needs without initial financial outlay.
The platform also offers joint webinars and resources that explain the combined benefits, providing valuable insights for IT managers needing to justify the move to a cloud storage workflow. The combination of local performance and straightforward costs makes it a compelling option for media and enterprise data.
Unique Features and Considerations
Cost-Effective Storage: Provides a simple, low-cost pricing structure that makes cloud storage budgets predictable and manageable.
NZ-Friendly Latency: The Sydney data centre offers significantly better performance for New Zealand users compared to US or European regions.
Simple Configuration: While it requires setting up S3 endpoints and keys in P5, Wasabi provides clear documentation to streamline this process. For expert assistance with this, you can learn more about platform integration services.
5. Backblaze B2 (Archiware P5 Companion integration)
Backblaze provides vendor-maintained integration guidance for connecting Archiware P5 solutions to its B2 cloud storage. This resource is essential for organisations looking to leverage affordable, S3-compatible object storage for backup and archive workflows. The documentation specifically covers both the main P5 platform and the lightweight P5 Companion app, offering a clear pathway for implementation.
Strategic Analysis & Actionable Takeaways
The key advantage here is simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Backblaze B2’s pay-as-you-go model, combined with its well-documented integration guides, lowers the barrier to entry for adopting cloud archiving. The step-by-step instructions demystify the process of configuring P5 to treat B2 as a storage target, making it accessible even for teams without deep cloud engineering expertise.
Actionable Takeaway: Before committing, use the Backblaze B2 documentation to scope the technical requirements. Pay close attention to data region selection, as this cannot be changed later. For New Zealand-based businesses, this means planning for potential latency from US or EU data centres.
The resources also detail the P5 Companion app workflow, which is ideal for ad-hoc archiving directly from a user's desktop. This streamlines the process for creative professionals needing to offload project files without navigating the full P5 server interface.
Unique Features and Considerations
Cost-Effective Storage: B2 is known for its competitive pricing, making it a strong candidate for long-term archiving where retrieval costs are a concern.
Data Regions: The main data centres are located in the US and EU. NZ users must account for this during setup, as it impacts data transfer speeds and sovereignty.
P5 Companion App Support: The dedicated quickstart guide for the Companion app is perfect for studios wanting to empower artists to archive their own work securely.
Vendor-Verified Steps: The documentation is maintained by Backblaze, ensuring the integration steps are current and reliable.
Website: https://www.backblaze.com/docs/cloud-storage-integrate-archiware-p5-companion-with-backblaze-b2
6. BackupWorks (e‑commerce reseller - P5 Desktop LTO Edition SKU)
For teams needing a straightforward, off-the-shelf purchasing experience, US-based reseller BackupWorks provides a direct e-commerce path. Their platform lists a specific SKU for the Archiware P5 Desktop LTO Edition, bundling P5 Backup and P5 Archive with the necessary media drive licenses. This productised approach is ideal for small studios or freelancers who have clear requirements and want to avoid a lengthy consultation process, opting instead for a simple add-to-cart transaction.
Strategic Analysis & Actionable Takeaways
The key advantage of a site like BackupWorks is the transparency of having a public-facing price and SKU (AWB501). It turns the abstract concept of Archiware P5 solutions into a tangible product that can be quickly added to a budget or purchase order. This is particularly useful for smaller businesses that operate with less formal procurement cycles and need to acquire software licences fast.
Actionable Takeaway: Use the listed price (approx. US$2,030) as a concrete budget figure for the P5 Desktop LTO Edition. Even if you ultimately purchase through a local NZ reseller, this public pricing provides a strong, justifiable benchmark for your internal financial approvals.
The site simplifies the buying decision for a common use case: a small production house needing to backup and archive data to a single LTO drive. The clear product page removes the ambiguity often associated with enterprise software licensing.
Unique Features and Considerations
Standardised Bundle: Offers a pre-packaged solution that includes both P5 Backup and P5 Archive modules, covering the most common LTO workflows.
Procurement Path: Provides a direct online purchase flow with electronic fulfilment, offering a faster alternative to the traditional reseller quote process.
Regional Considerations: As a US-based reseller, New Zealand buyers must account for currency conversion, international taxes (GST), and confirm support arrangements. The site also encourages calling for the "best price," indicating the listed price may be negotiable.
7. Tura Scandinavia (retailer/distributor — P5 maintenance/reactivation SKUs)
Tura Scandinavia, a European distributor, offers a rare public glimpse into the specific costs associated with maintaining Archiware P5 solutions. While not a direct purchase point for initial licences, its website is an invaluable resource for organisations planning their long-term operational expenditure. It transparently lists stock keeping units (SKUs) and EUR pricing for Archiware P5 Workgroup Edition maintenance and reactivation plans.
Strategic Analysis & Actionable Takeaways
The key value of this site lies in its transparent pricing for support renewals, which is often difficult to find publicly. This allows IT and finance teams to accurately forecast budgets for software assurance and avoid unexpected renewal costs. It demystifies the SKUs associated with 1-, 2-, and 3-year support plans, providing clarity before engaging a local reseller.
Actionable Takeaway: Before your current Archiware P5 support contract expires, use the SKUs and EUR pricing on this site as a benchmark. This information empowers you to have a well-informed discussion with your local reseller, like Wisely, ensuring you receive a competitive and transparent quote for your renewal.
This data is especially useful for businesses whose support has lapsed, as it details the "reactivation" SKUs required to bring a licence back under a valid maintenance agreement.
Unique Features and Considerations
Budgeting Reference: It is one of the few public sources for concrete pricing on P5 Workgroup Edition support renewals, making it ideal for financial planning.
Regional Specifics: As a European retailer, the listed prices include VAT. New Zealand businesses must account for currency conversion and consult their local reseller for NZD pricing.
Focus on Renewals: The site specialises in maintenance and reactivation SKUs, not initial P5 software licences.
SKU Identification: It helps you identify the exact product codes needed for multi-year support plans, simplifying the procurement process with your local partner.
Website: https://www.turascandinavia.com/en/products/professional-graphics/software/archive-backup/227152
Archiware P5: 7-Solution Comparison
Option | Complexity 🔄 | Resources & Cost ⚡ | Expected Outcomes 📊 | Ideal Use Cases 💡 | Key Advantages ⭐ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archiware P5 Solutions (Wisely) | 🔄 Medium–High — policy design & integration often requires services | ⚡ Moderate–High — multi‑module licenses, integration, optional managed services | 📊 End‑to‑end lifecycle control, faster restores, reduced storage costs, compliance | 💡 M&E teams with large media estates needing project‑aware archiving and tiering | ⭐ Media‑focused features, modularity, cross‑platform, Wisely implementation/support |
Archiware (official) | 🔄 Low–Medium — configurator aids sizing; procurement via resellers | ⚡ Low (info) — trials available; licensing purchased through partners | 📊 Accurate license/capacity estimates, authoritative docs and trials | 💡 Evaluators, procurement teams and implementers seeking official specs/trials | ⭐ Authoritative product hub, configurator, reseller finder, trials |
AWS Marketplace (P5 AMI — BYOL) | 🔄 Low — quick EC2 deployment; license BYOL management required | ⚡ Cloud OPEX — EC2, storage, network costs plus separate license purchase | 📊 Fast cloud deployment for testing or production without on‑prem servers | 💡 Teams wanting rapid cloud‑hosted P5 or flexible object‑storage testing | ⭐ Fast deployment, familiar AWS tooling, flexible backend connectivity |
Wasabi (Archiware integration) | 🔄 Low–Medium — S3 endpoint and key configuration in P5 | ⚡ Low cost storage — predictable pricing; APAC region reduces latency | 📊 Cost‑efficient object storage with improved latency for NZ/APAC | 💡 NZ/APAC customers needing economical, region‑close object target | ⭐ Simple provisioning, targeted integration docs/webinars, APAC presence |
Backblaze B2 (P5 Companion) | 🔄 Low — step‑by‑step guides and companion app quickstart | ⚡ Very cost‑effective (pay‑as‑you‑go); lacks APAC region options | 📊 Affordable archive/backup with streamlined ad‑hoc archiving workflows | 💡 Small studios or teams wanting low‑cost offsite archive and quick restores | ⭐ Well‑documented integration, easy companion app workflow, low price |
BackupWorks (e‑commerce reseller — Desktop LTO SKU) | 🔄 Low — off‑the‑shelf SKU and add‑to‑cart purchase | ⚡ Fixed bundle pricing shown (US$2,030) — account for shipping/tax | 📊 Immediate availability and simple procurement for a common LTO bundle | 💡 Small studios needing quick LTO + license bundle without custom quoting | ⭐ Simple online purchase, clear SKU/pricing for fast quotes |
Tura Scandinavia (retailer/distributor — maintenance SKUs) | 🔄 Low — public reactivation/maintenance SKUs listed | ⚡ Transparent EUR pricing (VAT shown) for budgeting; EU fulfillment notes | 📊 Clear multi‑year maintenance pricing to support budgeting/renewals | 💡 Teams planning reactivation/support renewals and EUR budgeting | ⭐ Public reactivation pricing, multi‑year options, SKU validation |
From Strategy to Execution: Building Your Resilient Media Data Framework
Throughout this guide, we have explored the multifaceted landscape of Archiware P5 solutions. We've dissected everything from the core software modules like Backup, Archive, and Synchronise, to the diverse deployment pathways available, whether on-premise, in the cloud via the AWS Marketplace, or as a cost-effective hybrid model with partners like Wasabi and Backblaze B2. The key takeaway is that P5 is not a one-size-fits-all product; it's a strategic framework for data resilience and workflow optimisation.
The real power of Archiware P5 is unleashed when it's tailored to your specific operational needs. For media and production houses, this means building a TPN-compliant infrastructure that secures your most valuable assets. For other data-intensive businesses, it involves creating an automated, long-term archive that frees up expensive primary storage and ensures business continuity. Making the right choice requires a clear understanding of your data lifecycle, security requirements, and long-term growth strategy.
Your journey towards a robust data management system involves several critical decisions:
Choosing the right P5 modules: Do you need simple backup, long-term archiving, or real-time synchronisation?
Selecting the optimal storage target: Is the security and longevity of LTO tape your priority, or does the flexibility and accessibility of cloud storage better suit your workflow?
Planning for maintenance and scalability: How will you manage licence renewals and adapt the system as your data volume grows?
Successfully navigating these considerations transforms your data management from a reactive chore into a proactive business asset. By implementing the right Archiware P5 solutions, you build a foundation that not only protects your digital legacy but also enhances operational efficiency and enables future growth. This strategic approach ensures your creative and business teams can focus on what they do best, confident that their critical data is secure, accessible, and intelligently managed.
Ready to move from planning to implementation? The team at Wisely specialises in designing, deploying, and supporting customised Archiware P5 solutions for New Zealand businesses. Let us help you build a resilient, efficient, and secure data management framework tailored to your unique workflow. Contact Wisely today to start the conversation.
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