Originally created by German scientists back in the late 1920s, magnetic tape was a revolution to the film world. It was used for both recording audio and moving film.
The tape was made from wafer-thin strips of magnetized plastic that were rolled onto a spool. Magnetic tape was incredibly popular for data storage for many years before the invention of laserdiscs took over the recording and broadcasting of information.
The early version of magnetic tape wasn’t suitable for both radio and television use because television needed more bandwidth than radio.
Many years later after more development and improvement via the likes of Sony and other leading computer companies, magnetic tape was eventually adopted by the television industry as a way to pre-record TV shows.
In the early days of television, all shows were broadcast live into people’s homes, but the development and introduction of the video cassette tape into the industry meant shows could be recorded and edited without the mistakes made on live TV.
Computer data storage revolution
The magnetic tape really came into its own within the computer world as a data storage solution when IBM brought it to the market. Magnetic tape data storage was preferred due to its great affordability and convenience. Today, LTO Ultrium and 3592 Enterprise tapes are the 2 most common tapes used globally – about 99% of use-cases.
Many companies still use magnetic tape for backup purposes and disaster control. However, magnetic tapes do leave a lot to be desired because it is a physical product that is incapable of using modern virtual memory solutions.
How magnetic tape storage works and why it endures
In our ever-evolving digital age, it’s easy to forget the power and resilience of traditional technologies – but magnetic tape data storage continues to quietly underpin the data strategies of some of the world’s most data-heavy sectors, including finance, healthcare, and public services. What makes it so enduring?
Magnetic tape stores data sequentially, using finely tuned magnetised particles to write information in a linear stream. Unlike modern hard drives that allow instant random access, tapes require data to be read in order. While this may sound less efficient at first glance, it’s actually a strength: tapes are ideally suited for storing large volumes of infrequently accessed data, such as compliance archives or backups that must be retained for decades.
Modern tape technologies have come a long way from their mid-20th-century roots. Take LTO-9, for example – it can hold up to 45TB of compressed data on a single cartridge. Even more impressively, research collaborations between IBM and Fujifilm have produced prototype tapes capable of storing an astonishing 580TB, thanks to breakthroughs in barium ferrite particle coatings. That’s enough capacity to store hundreds of thousands of high-definition movies on a single reel.
Beyond capacity, magnetic tape is beloved for its unmatched stability. Stored properly, tapes can last up to 30 years without degradation – a lifespan far beyond most digital alternatives. And because they can be physically disconnected from networks (a method known as “air-gapping”), they’re immune to online threats like ransomware.
Off-site physical magnetic tape storage
One of the most common questions our team at Restore Information Management hears from our customers is about how they can take the best care of their archived back-up magnetic tape data.
It is a shame to admit that a lot of business owners are unaware of just how delicate magnetic tapes are and how easily they can degrade and perish to become completely unusable when kept under incorrect storage conditions.
The problem is that most people think it is OK to simply store their backup tapes in a storage cupboard or even stacked on a shelf in a draughty external storeroom that is exposed to a wide range of environmental temperature changes throughout the year.
If your company stores your magnetic tape in a box somewhere, buried away in your file room, then you should remove it with some urgency and move it to a safe, environmentally stable off-site data storage centre as soon as possible.
Ensure the long-term preservation of your tapes
To ensure the long-term preservation of your precious backup tapes, you need to make sure that your chosen off-site storage provider is someone who is very well trusted in the business world and has plenty of experience and expert knowledge about looking after such important products.
With Restore Information Management’s magnetic tape storage solutions, you can benefit from our state-of-the-art long-term storage solutions that are perfect for the preservation and safety of your company data stored on magnetic tape.
We offer you very secure storage that protects your sensitive data from theft or breaches through our top-class security system with keypad entry only storerooms accessible by authorised staff. Our storage facilities are also temperature and humidity-controlled to maintain stable, ideal environmental conditions for the preservation of your tapes.
Advantages and disadvantages of magnetic tape storage
Magnetic tape data storage brings with it a unique set of strengths and a few limitations to be aware of. Understanding both sides of the coin is essential to making an informed decision about your organisation’s data archiving strategy.
Advantages of magnetic tape storage
Tapes offer one of the lowest costs per gigabyte among all storage media, especially useful for long-term archiving.
When stored properly, tapes can remain viable for up to 30 years, making them ideal for data that must be retained over decades.
Modern LTO tapes can hold dozens of terabytes, and emerging technologies are pushing capacities beyond 500TB per cartridge.
Tapes consume no power when not in use, helping organisations reduce energy costs and carbon footprint.
Because tapes can be stored disconnected from any network, they’re immune to cyberattacks like ransomware.
Disadvantages of magnetic tape storage
Accessing specific files takes longer compared to random-access systems like hard drives or SSDs, due to the sequential nature of tape storage.
Tapes need careful environmental control and physical handling, which can add operational complexity.
You need compatible tape drives and software to access the data, which may become obsolete over time if not managed.
Despite these limitations, magnetic tape remains an excellent choice for archival and backup purposes where fast, frequent access isn’t required.
Magnetic tape use cases in action
Government departments and local authorities rely on magnetic tape to store decades’ worth of citizen records, planning archives, and legal documentation. These records are critical for upholding transparency, enabling public audits, and preserving national heritage data. Tape’s longevity and offline nature provide an added layer of protection against accidental loss or cyberattack.
The legal world depends heavily on strict record retention policies. Law firms and legal departments utilise magnetic tape to safely archive everything from contracts to case notes. These files often need to be stored for years or even decades to comply with legal obligations. Tape not only offers secure storage but also helps meet regulatory requirements without excessive overheads.
Hospitals and NHS trusts use magnetic tape to securely store sensitive patient records, radiology scans, and older systems data. Given the highly confidential nature of this information, the ability to store it offline with limited access is invaluable. Moreover, the large volumes of imaging and legacy system backups are easily accommodated thanks to tape’s impressive capacity.
Banks and insurance companies use magnetic tape to archive transactional histories, audit trails, and compliance records. With strict regulations like GDPR and MiFID II requiring long-term data retention, tape provides a secure, cost-effective solution with proven resilience.
Universities and research institutions archive experimental datasets, climate research, and satellite imagery on tape. The high volume and long-term nature of this data make tape a natural fit for safeguarding knowledge for future generations.
Production companies have used magnetic tape storage since its inception for many different uses, but it still remains a huge part of how films and TV shows are stored. In modern times, digitisation is just as vital, but the process can result in loss of fidelity, especially when preserving the creator’s original intention and vision is paramount. Used in conjunction with digital storage and archiving, magnetic tape storage is integral to safeguarding and preserving stories from the past and those yet to come.
So whether you’re managing a vast digital archive or planning for disaster recovery, magnetic tape continues to offer a reassuring balance of affordability, durability and security. At Restore Information Management, we’re proud to help organisations protect their past while preparing for the future.
What Restore Information Management offers:
- GPS-tracked collections and deliveries from storage facilities near you
- Secure storage with 24/7 security entry systems and CCTV
- A stable environment with temperature and humidity control
- Inergen™ Premier fire suppression system – the ‘greenest’ of suppressant gases
- Cutting-edge VESDA smoke detection systems in our vaults
- Desktop control through online tracking software, which enables access at the touch of a button, audit trails and proof of an unbroken chain of custody
Feel confident that your magnetic tape storage is safe
With Restore Information Management’s magnetic tape storage, you can be confident that your company data is being looked after correctly. A key factor for choosing an off-site data storage company is finding someone that you can trust.
You can rely on us to be able to provide you with the exact solution that will actually meet your particular data storage needs. All data and records storage companies are not equal, so you should only trust one that understands the many intricacies involved in the safe storage and preservation of your critical data.
Unfortunately, many off-site storage facilities providers simply rent out warehousing space to store important business records in the form of paper files, discs and magnetic tapes that aren’t fit for purpose and can actually increase the risks of loss of data.
Essentially, a lot of novice or bargain-basement off-site storage companies use storage facilities that don’t protect your magnetic tapes from the possibility of your data being subject to magnetic fields, radiation, environmental contamination or static charge build-up.
Correct environmental conditions
With Restore Information Management, we operate a wide range of different off-site storage facilities that are designed specifically to house their contents. This means that we look after confidential company paper documentation in secure facilities with CCTV protection and security-checked entry in buildings that have the appropriate fire protection in place.
Magnetic and optical media are highly sensitive and susceptible to damage. For magnetic tape storage, your precious tapes will need to be kept in an environmentally controlled atmosphere in a separate facility away from paper files to help preserve their condition.
Our magnetic tape storage facilities are highly secure to ensure you meet with your data protection act obligations and are protected from other environmentally damaging elements such as dust and sunlight that can cause your tapes to deteriorate.
There are a number of important elements with regard to the climatically controlled environment that Restore Information Management takes care of that other off-site storage providers don’t factor into their services, such as maintaining the right temperature, humidity and a clean air filtration system to eliminate contamination by dust particles, corrosive gases or other airborne chemicals.
Restore Information Management offers tight security measures
One of the main worries company owners have is that their data is at risk of theft by criminals wanting to do their business harm. This is one of the main reasons why it makes sense to move the long-term storage of sensitive company data in the form of magnetic backup tapes and computer storage discs off-site to a secure facility that offers a much greater level of protection.
Restore Information Management offers an extremely high level of security prevention and detection measures in place at our off-site storage facilities. With 24/7 on-site security and CCTV coverage, no one is allowed entry to our secure facilities without proper authorisation.
This means that no one can walk in off the street unsupervised or left unattended on any of our premises. Our storage facilities, storeroom and vaults all have keypad entry as an extra layer of security, so no one wishing to steal or destroy your data will be able to gain access to your assets.
High-level fire protection systems
The main reason for removing your sensitive magnetic backup tapes from your business premises is the risk coming from loss due to fire damage. Whether your business premises suffers from a devastating fire due to an accident or through malicious intent, moving your back up tapes to our off-site secure facilities means that even if you lose everything in a fire, you will still be able to restore your computer systems as part of your business recovery plans by keeping your tapes protected.
Restore Information Management have put in place the appropriate type of smoke detectors, heat sensors and fire protection systems in each of our storage facilities. Each of our fire protection systems is purpose-built to meet the needs of the types of records stored within the facility.
It is important to realise that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution when it comes to fire safety. This is another glaring mistake that a lot of off-site storage providers make. For example, with your magnetic tape storage, you most certainly do not want to discover that the storage provider has installed a ‘wet’ type of sprinkler system inside their magnetic tape vault.
Should there ever be a fire emergency in their facilities, your magnetic tapes will be ruined. Make sure you know what you are paying for and don’t just put your trust in the cheapest off-site storage supplier!
Best practice tips for long-term magnetic tape storage
To make the most of magnetic tape data storage, a little care goes a long way:
- Store vertically: This simple habit prevents uneven tension and potential warping of the reels.
- Maintain a cool, dry environment: Aim for 15–25°C temperature and 20–50% relative humidity to protect the tape’s structure and readability.
- Keep clear of interference: Magnetic fields from motors, loudspeakers or other devices can corrupt tape data, so a clean, well-organised storage zone is key.
- Refresh and migrate: Schedule regular data migration to newer tape formats or backup methods to ensure ongoing access as technologies evolve.
Restore Information Management certifications, memberships and accreditations
Another concern for business owners is finding a storage company that is quality endorsed. It is important for you to trust in a company that has very sound quality assurance policies in place and carries the right industry endorsements issued by officially registered accreditation bodies. Restore Information Management holds a number of industry-recognised accreditations, including:
- ISO/IEC 27001: This standard highlights our commitment to effective information security. All our staff are security checked to BS7858.
- ISO 9001: This service quality standard guarantees to our customers that our service processes are based on best practice.
- ISO 14001: This standard, achieved by Restore Information Management in July 2012, is designed to help organisations minimise any negative effects their operations may have on the environment, to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and to continually improve our standards.
- ISO 22301: This business continuity management standard is the provision to protect against, reduce the likelihood of occurrence, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents when they arise.
- Cyber Essentials CEP: Certified to guard against the most common cyber threats and demonstrate our commitment to cybersecurity.
- Cyber Essentials Plus CEP: An additional certificate achieved, carried out independently by a Certification Body.
- Registered by the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office): Restore is registered by the ICO as part of the Data Protection Act.
- PCI-DSS: A security standard designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.
- FORS: An accreditation scheme for fleet operators which aims to raise the level of quality within fleet operations, and to demonstrate which operators are achieving exemplary levels of best practice.
Visit us at Restore Information Management
If you would like to personally see and inspect our off-site storage facilities for yourself, we would be pleased to invite you to visit one of our ICO-accredited storage facilities.
You will be able to see for yourself how we carefully log and store our customers’ business assets. This will enable you to put your mind at rest that your precious backup magnetic tapes are in the safest of hands.
You can book an appointment with us to visit and view a local facility via our website. We will get in touch with you and arrange a time and date that will be convenient for you.
Magnetic tape storage for great peace of mind
Every business needs to have a solid disaster recovery plan in place so that in the event of a major disaster, you can recover your backup tapes to enact your business continuity plan and get your company back on its feet again as quickly as possible.
It is very easy and quick for you to access your data from our secure magnetic tape storage facility. You should have a plan in place for the urgent retrieval of your data that includes weekends and bank holidays. You can make sure that your recovery plans go smoothly when you work with Restore Information Management for your secure tape storage.
By trusting us with your computer back-up tapes and magnetic tapes kept in our secure off-site storage facilities, you can be reassured that your precious assets are in the safest of hands.
Further insights
