What is LTO tape?
Linear Tape-Open is a device which with the help of magnetic tape reads data, write data and store data on a magnetic tape. It is a storage device. It is available in the market with high capacity at a relatively cheap price compared to its competitors, hard disk drives. The magnetic tape is coiled up inside a cartridge. Providing this enormous amount of storage in a compact size is possible due to its compression feature.
Why would data media need to be removed from LTO tape?
Reuse the LTO tape
Reusing tape to store data can cut down the cost of storing data. Reusing the tape will also reduce the chances of data leaking.
Sell the LTO tape
Selling the LTO tape in a secondary market will even if not much but at least help in gaining a little profit in the company. Selling the tape will result in reducing the e-waste as well. The device can either be sold into bits or sold off as a whole. It is better to proceed with this step with an ITAD vendor since they will be able to provide the company better value for their devices.
Data Destruction of the LTO tape
In case, the company does not trust the process of sanitizing the data and can’t fully agree with the media destruction vendor and wants to destroy the tape drive altogether then they can choose this option. Even to go through this, media will be required to be sanitized from the device. After deconstructing, the bits or particles then can be used recycled again.
Learn more about secure data destruction of all data storage devices.
To erase media from LTO tape you can either choose from the following options:
Hire an IT professional.
If the company does not have a designated employee to perform these actions, then the company can contact IT professionals to do the procedure through them. This way the company will be at least be able to rely on a better service. Although, it will definitely increase the cost of acquisition this way there will be fewer chances of leaking data. Do not forget to maintain security while the process is ongoing.
Choose an ITAD vendor
If the company is trying to sell the tape drive completely then it is advised to first sanitize the tape drive completely since the media tape will be sold in a secondary market that will help in reducing e-waste. This is a process is referred to as ITAD where assets are disposed to a secondary market.
If the company is not willing to take the greater risk of selling the storage device as it is then the company can refer to data destruction companies. The company can either choose to deconstruct media in an onsite location or an offsite location. In case of onsite deconstruction, the vendor will come with its equipment in a mobile van. Then it performs the action to first sanitize the data completely from the tape and then will produce to deconstruct the tape devices in a machine. After the devices have been deconstructed you can choose to recycle them or not. Whereas in an offsite deconstruction service, the tape drives will be collected by the vendor and everything will be documented. In case the customer is worried about the security then the company can ask for a video that will show current positions. After this, the devices will then be taken to an industrial deconstruction site and if asked can show the whole process as well. In case the company wants to just remove data and not deconstruct the data storage device then the company may ask the vendor whether the vendor would just sanitize the data and not deconstruct the tape drive.
We created the Ultimate ITAD Checklist specifically for you.
Remove Data by Yourself
If the company is not concerned much about the security since the device will be again used by the company itself then the company can consider the following tools to erase data from the tape drive. Using this method, at least there can be a surety that data will not leak out. Even if the process is being done inside the company’s premises still do not neglect the importance of maintaining the order of removing data. It should be done by a trustable and if possible by an experienced employee to avoid problems in the future.
What are some tools to erase data?
Secure Erase™
Earlier it was introduced to erase data from disk drives but it can erase data from tapes as well.
To erase data, it can be used as it will produce a strong magnetic field that will penetrate through the magnetic tape and therefore will erase the data from the device.
When a tape is overwritten it produces magnetizations. This magnetization leads to delays and causes problems while trying to retract new data. To remove these magnetizations can be used.
If the company is considering overwriting the tape, then it will later be time-consuming in both ways. First, overwriting will take time to write on the tape and later time will be taken by the tape to retrieve data due to magnetizations.
Quick Erase™
It is a cost-effective option if time is considered.
It provides safety even at the “End of Data Mark”. Tape drives stop reading as it touches the EOD mark. Although with the help of expensive equipment, a tape drive can read data from EOD marks, still Quick Erase™, prevents these attempts from being successful at a greater rate.
Follow-up check
Even after watching the whole process of removing data from LTO tape, it may be possible that it is not cleared properly. Along with the growth of technology in the market, hackers and cyber attackers are also acing up their strategy. Nowadays even after successfully removing data from media, the erased data can successfully be retrieved from the data storing device. This is why companies to be extra cautious about their data leaking in the market. The company can remain secured in the future if it takes few further steps to ensure the successful removal of data from LTO tapes. The steps can be the following:
The company must ensure that the software that the IT professional will use is of a genuine party and not that of third-party software. Even if it may increase cost but it is better to have authentic software than using software that provides no guarantee in case of a mishap.
If you are getting the services through a vendor, then make sure to be thorough with the company. Enquire the company about its reliability and success rates. Enquire about the company in the market regarding their quality of service, timely service. Check the certificates that the company has, learn about them. Learn about the certificates you will be receiving after the service. Check whether the company’s practices comply with the company’s policy.
Be thorough with the process and be patient during the process otherwise, there can be chances to overlook steps during the process.
Check for the number of erasing phases that will be required to maintain security. If the company is not aware of the number of phases that will be required by the particular software, then later can cause havoc in the company.
Enquire how the devices will be transported to the service center in case of reusing the product. Improper handling of the tape drive will lead to further damage and may not be used any further.
Enquire what happens during a mishap like what would be their follow-up to an accident. How liable the company will be during the mishap?
Conclusion
The company must be aware of the software that will be used and the required steps to fulfill that action. Otherwise, the company or whoever is responsible during the time of the process will not be able to look out for the fraudulent activities that may occur. If it is a lengthy process, then maintain a checklist stepwise so that the whole process can occur sequence-wise and thus reducing worries to the minimum.
Whichever way the company chooses to remove data, do not try to speed up the process by telling the professionals to hurry up, instead schedule the time according to the appointment.
As per Fujifilm, recycled tape possess great risk. Risk is there, the company says that the user can never be completely sure whether the device’s data has been completely sanitized or not.
Fujifilm strictly says that to recertify and to maintain quality tape, only licensed manufacturers are allowed and Fujifilm does not provide second-hand products in the market. It also further says to restore the tape’s condition; a third-party rectifier may damage the product further.
Getting a service done from a third party will also result in making the existing warranty void.
Degaussing the tape drive will make the tapes permanently unusable.
Lastly, whichever process you choose make sure it fulfills the required purpose of this process. Do not choose ways that will add up to the unnecessary costs for the company.
