Compared to disk or cloud backups, tape backups can be considered a highly affordable option when it comes to its cost per gigabyte. Moreover, tape drives allow you to create an offline data storage, which costs less in terms of support and maintenance.
In some cases, tape backup is considered the most cost-efficient way of storing large amounts of legacy data. In terms of time and money, it would be impractical to first convert legacy data into an appropriate format and then transfer that information from the tape cartridge to a new medium. Another tape backup advantage worth mentioning is scalability.
You can easily scale the tape backup infrastructure through buying new tape drives and adding them to the tape library. On the other hand, if you want to grow the capacity of disk-based storage, you will have to buy additional hardware, which can be quite expensive. Longevity of tapes is the main reason why tape backups are still widely used by large enterprises.
If maintained properly, tape drives can store required data for 30 years or even more. As a result, tape backups can offer long-term retention of critical data and ensure high archival stability. Disk or cloud storage devices are normally used for storing data which needs to be accessed frequently and rapidly. Due to this, disk storage is considered one of the primary sources of energy consumption in modern data centers. Tape backup storage, on the other hand, is primarily used for data archiving due to its capability to store data offline.
Tape drives operate only when data is being read or written to them. Thus, tape drives run on an as-needed basis, meaning that they consume less power and generate less heat than disk storage devices.
The next important tape backup advantage is portability. After writing data to tape cartridges, you can simply pick them up and transport these tape backup units to an offsite location. In case of any potential threat to your tape storage facility, you can easily collect tapes and transport them to a more secure location. To secure data from cloud or disk storage spaces, you will have to transfer large amounts of data over the network to a new backup site. Such operations can take a lot of time, which is extremely valuable during a disaster recovery DR event.
What makes tape backup a lucrative option for many organizations is that it can protect data against ransomware or malware. Tape backups are stored offline, meaning that the tape storage device gets disconnected from the system once the backup operation is complete. Thus, if the tape cartridge is not connected to the system, attackers cannot get hold of data and corrupt it. In this case, tapes are more effective than cloud storage, which operates online and is constantly exposed to outside attacks.
Just as with any other form of technology, tape has evolved over the years. Even though its role as the main backup medium has largely been taken over by disk and cloud storage, tape backup is still actively used in modern data centers. Considering the tape backup advantages we have just listed, it is clear why tape storage has managed to do so. Due to continuous innovation and development, tape has managed to not become an obsolete form of technology. Tape has successfully evolved from being the main backup medium to providing long-term storage of large data volumes as well as data archiving.
To ensure that your tape backups are securely stored, you should deploy the following tape backup practices:. Moreover, it is important to take care of tape cartridges in order to ensure that they remain in an operational state as long as possible.
Even though some tape cartridges can last up to thirty years, their state may significantly deteriorate without proper care and maintenance. If a tape gets damaged, you will not be able to retrieve the data it contains.
The biggest value of the magnetic tape is that it can store huge amounts of data in a relatively compact format—some tapes are capable of holding several terabytes of data. Despite the age of this technology, these benefits lead many companies to back up their important information using magnetic storage tapes.
Companies that are required to backup large amounts of data: hospitals, universities, the government, IT companies, non-profit organizations etc.
Magnetic tapes are convenient, secure, and affordable, and companies across the world still rely on this technology to keep their records safe. They can also be hacked remotely, where a thief would need to break in and physically steal a magnetic tape from a secure offsite storage vault to compromise your magnetic data. To protect personal and private information, organizations and individuals alike are encouraged to routinely backup their data. Magnetic tapes have withstood the test of time and remain one of the best ways to safely backup large volumes of information.
At Record Nations, we take the hassle out of finding a tape vaulting service that works for your company. We will help you find a solution, put you in touch with secure local tape rotation and storage experts, and make sure that you have the access to your backups whenever you need it.
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