The formulation and annual review of a preservation policy for the UK Data Archive are essential steps in fulfilling its strategic aims and responsibilities: it gives strategic direction both to initiate any measures which are necessary for the protection of its collections, and to meet, or extend, nationally and internationally agreed standards for the preservation of digital materials. A preservation policy helps the Archive meet legislative and accountability requirements and its user communities’ expectations. The Archive ensures that it is at the leading edge of technical advances by taking a strategic approach to long-term digital preservation, and by monitoring hardware and software developments and migrating its collections accordingly.