Editor's note
A tape backup system is still a data protection staple for many organizations. But the prevalence of tape in storage also depends on its reliability, resilience and evolution.
Tape storage technology has seen improvements in recent years. For example, increased capacities have made tape a dependable option for tackling big data.
While some users find the cloud to be an adequate replacement, and other backup technologies offer better features such as quicker access, tape is sticking around. In fact, many experts believe it's best to use a combination of a tape backup system for long-term storage with other technologies such as cloud and disk.
Read on and see if tape makes sense for you.
1Advancements and benefits
One of tape's major strengths has always been cost. When compared to flash or disk, there's no competition concerning price. A tape backup system can be a cost-effective place to store large capacities, as data volume continues to grow. In addition, tape is offline, and thus safe from cyberthreats such as ransomware.
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How is tape backup doing in 2019?
Industry experts say tape isn't going away and the technology is actually improving. The problem, they say, is vendors aren't talking enough about this 'old-school' backup method. Read Now
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The evolution of backing up to tape and where it stands
Tape backup continues to have a cost advantage over disk, and there are still some use cases where the medium makes sense and will do so for the foreseeable future. Read Now
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Tape capacity ready for zettabyte-level storage
Along with a lower cost than disk and flash, tape's ability to store huge quantities of data reliably has some companies regretting stepping away from the medium. Read Now
2Tape backup system products and uses
There aren't as many vendors working with tape as there were in years past. However, some companies have improved and added tape-based products. It's also important to understand best practices for your tape backup system, for optimum security and use.
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Vanderbilt books Spectra tape library for research data
Research data can accumulate fast. A Spectra Logic tape library stores petabytes for Vanderbilt's research center, and the university plans to use far more backup storage space. Read Now
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New Quantum backup appliance brings Veeam to tape
Integrated disk backup appliances are now common, but Quantum and Veeam have taken the converged architecture to tape backups to eliminate the need for a dedicated external server. Read Now
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XenData introduces magnetic tape backup migration service
XenData now offers a service to move magnetic tape backup data to either a newer tape format or to cloud, allowing customers with old tapes to get rid of legacy systems. Read Now
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When it comes to the role of tape, don't count it out just yet
Tape data storage is very much alive as a means of seeding clouds with local data and as the main method for storing and archiving the tsunami of data facing all of us. Read Now
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How can I ensure that my tape backup technology is secure?
With the portability of tapes and the ability to store terabytes of data on a single cartridge, appropriate security of tape backup storage is imperative. Read Now
3Tape with other technologies
Tape backup systems are resilient and reliable, but they don't need to and probably shouldn't do the job alone. Learn which other technologies you can use alongside tape backups to take them that extra mile.
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Tape storage capacity plays important role as data increases
There's a long runway for tape, with hundreds of terabytes of storage capacity soon available on a single cartridge. Flash, disk, the cloud and tape will all be key for storage. Read Now
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Your enterprise data protection strategy should include cloud and tape
The cloud generally makes sense for shorter-term data retention, but find out how it can also play a role in keeping data for longer periods of time. Read Now
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Tape archives get some help from active archiving
To facilitate access to data stored on tape, cloud, disk and flash technologies are being used to avoid the delays that can occur when collecting data from a tape archive. Read Now
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Can flape technology sustain its momentum?
Flape, or flash plus tape, uses elements of tape and flash storage to improve data backups. But is flape a long-term answer for lowering cost and increasing efficiency? Read Now
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Can continuous data protection replace tape backup?
As reliable as they may be, nightly backups to tape aren't exactly practical, and continuous data protection offers an alternative. But don't count tape out just yet. Read Now
4Test your knowledge
You've read the guide, now see what you have retained with our tape backup system quiz.