Tapes have been around for almost a century and, although they have seen many different uses, today they are primarily used by companies for enterprise backup. Data is backed up to tape, which are often stored off-site to use in the event of data loss. The most recent backups are used to restore as much of the system as possible to minimize the effects of data loss. As the landscape of IT changes and with the rise of the cloud, are tape backups still relevant? Here are a few of the facts you’ll need to decide if a tape-based backup system is relevant to include in your backup and disaster recovery strategy.
Wise organizations know that data should exist in several locations on different storage technologies to ensure security, high recovery rates, and overall data confidence. We cannot see what new type of cybercrime is waiting around the corner. The cost of lost data can be devastating for much longer than the time it takes to recover data. In many cases the cost is far greater than the price tag of implementing a robust data protection plan. To protect your company's data, tape may be an integral part of any data protection plan.
Besides being designed specifically for critical data backup, some benefits of tape backup include:
Although it is considered an antiquated method, with the rise of ransomware, tape should still be considered a valid tool to have in your belt because it can provide a cold backup offsite that will protect your data if your system is breached. Tape is also extremely durable and very helpful with data compliance laws. As modern technologies develop and new backup best practices emerge, tape will most likely fade away. However, it will be many years before the cloud displaces tape and until then, it will be a reliable component of disaster recovery planning for many businesses.