OMERO makes an exact copy of the original files and metadata files recognized by BioFormats and stores them in the OMERO managed repository. The data is structured exactly as it was found when originally imported. As files are copied into the managed repository file hashes are computed and stored allowing for later verification that the files have not been altered. All subsequent interaction with the data is mediated by the OMERO system. The OMERO managed repository is stored on the HMS IT Isilon cluster. Like all other files on the HMS file server the data are protected with multiple levels of redundancy and filesystem snapshots. 

Images and datasets can be downloaded from OMERO in their original format as well as in other common formats such as jpg and OME-TIFF. Time series images can be exported as movie files.