A crucial element of many business recovery plans is the backup. It may seem old-fashioned, but backing up data onto physical tapes is an incredibly robust way of keeping it safe. Backup tapes can store large amounts of data easily, making them perfect for highly regulated industries.
If your business is currently using or considering backup tape services, it is imperative they are managed correctly. To help, we’ve outlined the basics below.
What is a backup tape?
A backup tape is exactly what it sounds like: physical tapes used to periodically back up data to ensure security should there be a failure. Not only are they a great way of ensuring data is never lost, accidentally deleted or changed, but backup tapes can also be stored securely without the risk of hacking. Data breaches are minimised with backup tape rotation services, especially when there is a robust chain of custody and they are stored securely offsite.
How are they used?
Any business that needs to store a large amount of data for a period of time can benefit from using backup tape services.
You may think that with cloud storage servers, there’s no need for backup tapes anymore; however, this is simply not true. Tapes can be used alongside servers as a duplicate backup or an alternative, depending on how much data needs to be stored. The other excellent thing about backup tapes is that they cannot be hacked, and with a full audit trail, you know where they are at all times.
How are they stored?
Largely, the process of storing backup tapes and documentation is very similar. In the same way that documentation has a lifecycle, so do backup tapes, which must be managed correctly. As you would update information regarding the retention of documentation, you must also do the same for backup tapes to ensure data is not being stored for longer than necessary.
Similarly to documentation, it is also essential to consider the chain of custody for backup tapes. Best practice dictates that backup tapes should always be stored offsite in order to limit access and therefore, improve security. If you use backup tapes and store them on your premises, they are at risk if the building is compromised.
In secure offsite storage, they’re held in fire-rated vaults and can be retrieved and redownloaded when you’re ready. On the whole, the process is very similar.
By working with Archive-Vault, you get a tailored backup tape rotation schedule built around your business needs. Each tape is individually barcoded, indexed, transported in secure media containers, and stored in our fire-rated vaults.
We also understand the importance of having access to your tapes at all times, which is why we offer 24/7 delivery service. All our vehicles are GPS-tracked and our drivers are vetted.
How do I implement this?
1: Find the right hardware for you. Do some research into the most suitable backup hardware for your business; this will vary according to the amount of data you need to store. Depending on your schedule, you’ll need to work out how many tapes you need to purchase.
2: Work out your schedule. How often do your backup tapes need to be rotated? Daily or weekly? Should you have a monthly backup? Businesses usually keep their schedule on a spreadsheet, which is then shared with Archive-Vault to ensure the rotation runs smoothly. If you need some advice on a schedule to help you manage the process, get in touch.
3: Perform your backups! It is imperative to stick to your schedule to ensure backups are effective. Label your tapes to make sure the right one is used at the right time; mixing them up will reduce the effectiveness of your rotation. Monitor results, check for errors, and regularly test your backups. To ensure the process runs smoothly, you should always keep up with cleaning and maintenance.
If you’d like to find out how Archive-Vault can act as your backup tape partner with our expert backup tape services, get in touch on 01603 720722 or info@archive-vault.co.uk.
