Is your business continuity strategy robust enough for your enterprise? 

Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that it isn’t. In one survey performed by CloudEndure (PDF), 71% of respondents experienced a downtime event in the previous year. Only 7% of respondents performed monthly disaster recovery drills — and 15% admitted that they never conduct disaster recovery drills. 

To avoid becoming a statistic, you’ll need a strategy that addresses your business’s unique needs. The first step: Choosing an appropriate backup medium (and if necessary, migrating your current archives to that medium). 

Below, we’ll discuss key considerations for choosing between the cloud and modern data tape formats such as LTO-9. To discuss specific solutions for your enterprise, send us a message or call (800) 460-7599.

LTO (Linear Tape Ultrium) vs. Cloud Storage

Here’s how LTO-9 stacks up against cloud data storage in several areas. These points are comparable for LTO-8 and IBM’s most recent formats (TS1155 and TS1160); we’re focusing on LTO-9 because it’s a current-generation format with wide support.

Capacity

• LTO-9 Data Tapes: Offers high storage capacity of up to 18TB native and 45TB compressed, suitable for large-scale data backup and archival needs.
• Cloud Storage: Offers virtually unlimited storage capacity, scalable to match the needs of businesses of any size, enabling seamless expansion without physical limitations.

Speed

• LTO-9 Data Tapes: Data transfer speeds are fast, particularly for sequential read/write operations, making them suitable for initial backups and large-scale data transfers. Generally, LTO provides a greater degree of availability than cloud storage.
• Cloud Storage: Data transfer speeds can vary based on internet connection and service provider, but typically offer fast upload and download speeds, enabling quick access to data from anywhere with internet connectivity.

Durability and Reliability

• LTO-9 Data Tapes: Like all physical storage media, tapes are susceptible to damage and degradation over time. They require appropriate storage conditions, and disaster recovery strategies should implement redundancy to protect against media issues.
• Cloud Storage: Data is stored redundantly across multiple servers and data centers, providing built-in protection against hardware failures, natural disasters, and other unforeseen events, ensuring high levels of data durability and reliability.

Security

• LTO-9 Data Tapes: Physical security measures are required to prevent unauthorized access or theft of tapes, and encryption techniques can be applied to enhance data security during storage and transit. Physical tape also allows for air-gapping, which can provide resilience against ransomware.
• Cloud Storage: Cloud providers implement advanced security measures, including encryption, access controls, and compliance certifications, to protect data from unauthorized access, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity. However, the security is largely dependent on the provider.

Cost

• LTO-9 Data Tapes: Initial setup costs include the purchase of tape drives and tapes, along with ongoing expenses for storage, maintenance, and replacement of aging hardware, which can become significant over time.
• Cloud Storage: Typically operates on a pay-as-you-go model, with no upfront hardware costs and predictable monthly or usage-based pricing, offering scalability and cost-effectiveness. Cloud storage provides lower operating expenses in general, though operating costs are highly dependent on the nature of the data, the frequency of data access, and other factors. 

Related: Should You Migrate to LTO-8 or LTO-9?

Legacy Tape Formats vs. Cloud Storage

There are extensive reasons to use LTO-8/LT0-9 for archives, but legacy formats have fewer benefits — and if your enterprise relies on older tapes, it’s probably time to migrate to the cloud or to a current-generation format. 

Older tape formats include:

• Older generations of LTO (LTO-1 through LTO-6).
• Older IBM formats (3590 and 3570).
• Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT).
• Digital Linear Tape (DLT).
• Digital Data Storage (DDS).
• Mammoth 8mm.

Many of these formats are still in wide use, simply because upgrading can seem prohibitively expensive. Unfortunately, relying on older tapes isn’t practical, and the cost of obsolescence can multiply over time: Sourcing functional hardware may be difficult, and compliance issues can become a significant concern. 

If you’re utilizing older tape formats, it’s time to consider an upgrade. Tape migration, when handled appropriately, can greatly reduce IT costs and drastically improve your business continuity plan.

Related: A Brief History of Tape Data Storage 

Building Business Continuity with Total Data Migration

Whether your business utilizes the cloud, data tape cartridges, or a hybrid strategy, a qualified tape partner can help you reduce costs and build resiliency. 

At Total Data Migration, we’re experts in data conversion, restoration, and catalog ingestion. Our team can help you migrate to modern formats like LTO-9 or LTO-8 or bring data into the cloud — without compromising security or creating a burden for IT staff. 

Click here for a free consultation or call (800) 460-7599 to discuss your project.