Magnetic tape was once the favouritesolutionfor data backuppurposes–and evenin the wake of cloud and hybridbackup,it remains so among traditionalists.
Yet while tapebackupsolutionsdefiantlyendure,theymay also be holding your business back– not least if you’re vulnerable to a few of its operating risks…
First, let’s cover the advantages–starting withtape’s backupcapacity. Racksupon racksof tape reels can hold huge amounts of data, so it’stechnicallyfeasible to keep aphysicalarchive of old backups. It doesn’t requireyousharing data with anyone else, so encrypted tape storage can satisfy very strict security and privacy requirements. It’s not an attached volume like a disk driveeither, so it isn’t vulnerable to ransomware and other malware that affects the file system.
Yet tapebackupsolutions aren’tstandardised, andeach relies on proprietarysystems. If a particular kind of tape drive stops being supported, then a huge tape librarypotentiallybecomes obsolescentwith it.Users would be forcedto migratethat aged hardwaretoanother form of storage,beforeitbecomesobsolete.
Obsolescence isn’t the only time-critical threat to tape backup, either:tapealsodegrades over time. If not stored properly,it’ssubject to oxidation, and uneven stresses could stretch or distort it.Itsmagnetic propertiesaresusceptible todeclinetoo.
Even when stored under optimal conditions,however,anymedium has a finite lifecycle. It should be migratedregularly,even if the hardware isn’t currently at risk.Yettape data doesn’t make thisprocessseamless, andcopyingseveralreels is a time-consuming taskthat’s easy to neglect.
There’salso the proprietary drives to consider.Over the years, it’s not uncommon for these todevelop subtle problems,if not failoutright. This, combined with degradation in the tape,makes tape storage significantly more susceptible to read errors or worse, complete data loss.
When it comes towhetheryou should usetapestorage, you may need to consider your wider business needs. Can your business sacrifice preservation, migration and ease-of-access? Are therenoother ways to safely share data between sites?
Don’t forget the matter of that pandemic-sized elephant in the room. Covid-19 necessitated cloud solutions for our storage and backup purposes, illustrating that in times of emergencyor immobilisation, physical solutions just aren’t possible. With the ability to move or store physical storage severelyhindered by the rules and regulations that keep us safe, we risk running over our data capacities or–in the worst-case scenario–limiting our data access altogether.
For some organisations, magnetic tape backup remains a necessity; especially for those with strict or bespoke security logging.Formost,however, its drawbacks are eliminated, and itsbenefits replicated, by a modern cloud or hybrid backup solution.As well askeepingthe backup safely remote, itminimises the risk of hardware failure and makes data recoverysignificantly moreconvenient.
Similarly, a hybrid system couldallow you tokeep thattape dataandback it upto a secure cloud, where it can be retained in the event of any corrupted or damaged drives.With a respected provider and adequate security provisions, it shouldn’t be too difficult to approach a level of security comparable to your own physical protections.
Thinking of moving away from tape storage? Get in touch with Mirus IT today. Our Data Backup and Disaster Recovery solutions help you move safely and securelyto a more expansive solution.
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FAQs
Obsolescence isn't the only time-critical threat to tape backup, either: tape also degrades over time. If not stored properly, it's subject to oxidation, and uneven stresses could stretch or distort it. Its magnetic properties are susceptible to decline too.
What are the challenges of tape backup? ›
Recovering data rapidly from tape storage may be more challenging because it typically has slower access times than disk-based storage. This can be particularly difficult when accessing data immediately during a disaster or outage. Tape storage is susceptible to physical harm when exposed to heat, moisture, or dust.
What are the disadvantages of a tape drive backup? ›
On the flip side, there is a limited amount of space on a tape drive. Once the drive is full, you need to buy additional tapes. Furthermore, locating information on the tape drive can take some time. It doesn't work as fast as a solid state drive, and while it is not slow by any means, it isn't instantaneous.
What is the major problem of tape drive? ›
One major challenge is the slower data access speeds compared to disk storage. Retrieving data from tapes can be time-consuming due to the sequential nature of tape reading, which requires winding and unwinding the tape to locate specific data.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a tape-based system? ›
- The biggest disadvantage is that magnetic tape is a linear storage, which means that when you want to retrieve data you'll need to advance / rewind the tape to the storage location. ...
- The advantage is that magnetic tape can store a lot of data in a small format, at a relatively low cost.
If not stored properly, it's subject to oxidation, and uneven stresses could stretch or distort it. Its magnetic properties are susceptible to decline too. Even when stored under optimal conditions, however, any medium has a finite life cycle.
What are the disadvantages of tape? ›
Disadvantages of Tape Storage
One of the significant downsides of tape storage is its low speed. Since data is sequentially written on tapes, backing up large amounts of data can be time-consuming. Restoring backed-up data also takes a long time.
Why are tape drives no longer used? ›
While tape itself is very affordable, a business would still have to invest in backup tape drives. And tape also fell out of favor in the 1980s because the speed of hard disk drives surpassed it, and now cloud storage. Recording data to tape also takes time and needs to be done by a technician.
Are tape drives reliable? ›
This technology ensures an incredibly low bit error rate of 1 in 10-19 bits, making LTO approximately 10,000 times more reliable than hard disks and 1,000 times more reliable than Solid State Drives (SSD).
How often do tape drives need to be cleaned? ›
The average number of uses expected from a cleaning cartridge is 50, the minimum is 27, and the maximum is 70. The maximum recommended time between preventive-maintenance cleaning is 50 tape motion hours. Tape motion hours are defined as the time that the tape drive is moving tape.
Unlike hard drives or SSDs, there are no active parts on tapes, so they have a lower risk of damage. In addition, tapes can be stored in optimum conditions that may extend their lifetime. Tapes last up to thirty years, which is a significant advantage in the long-term archiving of data.
What is the difference between disk backup and tape backup? ›
Generally speaking, disk systems back up much faster than tape, in part because they can do data de-duplication, which means they won't copy data already stored on the backup appliance. Disk backups are also much easier to access.
What is the capacity of a tape backup? ›
The typical storage capacity of a magnetic tape is from 1 to 16 terabytes (TB).
What are the cons of tape ins? ›
Potential for Damage During Removal: improper removal and refitting mean that tape ins, just like other hair extensions, can cause damage to your natural hair – including pulling and tugging. This is why it's essential that you always leave this job to a qualified salon professional!
How durable is tape backup? ›
As was mentioned, tapes have a life expectancy of up to 30 years. They are an ideal solution for storing data that must be kept for long periods. Likewise, tape backup is very cost-effective if you need to archive large amounts of data.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a magnetic tape backup? ›
Magnetic Tape Storage: Advantages and Disadvantages
- Magnetic Tape Storage: Advantages. Cost Effective – Low Overall Costs. Magnetic Tape Portability. Less Susceptible to Online Threats. ...
- Magnetic Tape Storage: Disadvantages. High Initial Investment – Costly Equipment Required. Slow to Find Data.
Find your tape backup solutions
Tape backup is a viable, affordable, and reliable way to back up data, even in 2024! Using tape backup can reduce the high costs of storing data for compliance and provide a safe and secure buffer to protect data against cybercrime and natural disasters.
