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September 1, 2006
• Vol.28 Issue 35
Page(s) 28 in print issue
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The Sticky Side Of Tape Disposal
Which Option Is Right For Your SME?
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With the number of regulations now surrounding the use, security, and storage of data, companies are to be extremely careful, and highly proactive, in how they dispose of data and data storage media.
Not all data eradication, data destruction, and tape disposal services are forthright about the procedures they use in data destruction. Some companies offer data destruction by destroying the tape media, which seems straightforward; however, destroying the media alone does not erase the data on tapes. Some services claim to overwrite the data so it is unreadable but then only rewrite part of the tape. Again, this is somewhat duplicitous, as a portion of your “overwritten” data remains readable. Still others use degaussing equipment that is not strong enough to adequately erase all data on today’s high-density media. Data center managers should exercise caution and remain vigilant when they evaluate prospective data eradication services.
 Out With The Old, In With The New
As businesses adapt to different technologies, they will need to dispose of their old tapes and backups. According to Trey Wilkins, director of marketing at eMag Solutions, “This is especially true with the dynamic changes as users migrate to newer technologies more frequently than ever before.” In today’s business atmosphere, more people are becoming environmentally conscious, urging companies to embrace recycling. And, adds Wilkins, older media disposal has become more costly.
Whether they’re being recycled or destroyed, tapes must be properly handled. Not only do organizations have to protect client privacy concerns, they also have to meet compliance regulations, which often cannot be disputed. “This is specifically why we developed an erasure process (wiping or eradication) to totally remove old data while preserving continued usefulness of high-density tapes with servo tracks,” says Wilkins. “We call this process our Tier 3, Data Eradication.” Companies can oversee the work of the firms they hire to erase their tapes and actually verify each tape while it is being serviced onsite. In fact, eMag Solutions boasts that it’s the first company to offer a full data track with servo preservation, which Wilkins says is “a unique option for corporations to ensure the data is removed while still maintaining the ability to reuse or sell the tapes.”
Another dilemma arises when an organization wants to eliminate its old media in favor of higher capacity or faster media. After your company decides that tapes will no longer be used, you must be sure they are properly eradicated or “wiped” before they leave your premises. But what is the best option for your small to midsized enterprise?
Alternatives Abound
The options for tapes whose usefulness has been exhausted include data destruction, degaussing, overwriting the data, and data eradication while preserving the servo tracks. “In each of these cases the tape can be recycled as long as you don’t degauss a tape with servo tracks and destroy the servo tracks,” says Wilkins. “The other option is tape destruction, and the tape is incinerated. In either case the company should get a certificate of destruction.”
Savvy companies don’t just have their media destroyed; they can often turn a profit on old tapes. In some cases it doesn’t pay to attempt to resurrect used tapes. For instance, if the media type contains servo tracks such as LTO, 9840, 9940, 3590, 3592, or the like, the length of time needed to overwrite each tape individually is prohibitive and hence expensive. Overwriting the full length of each tape to destroy its readability can sometimes cost more than the used tape is worth at the resale market.
Alternatively, tapes can be degaussed to destroy their entire content (including servo tracks) and crushed or incinerated, but this doesn’t offer monetary return to the organization, nor is it environmentally friendly.
According to Clay Teramo, president and founder of the The Data Media Source, a media reclamation company, “Tapes cannot effectively be recycled at the component level. They are either destroyed, with negative environmental consequences, or reused.” Teramo feels that the reuse option is most preferable because of virtually no negative environmental impact and the reclaiming of maximum value for the tapes. He adds that the critical decision factor is often security and that the service provider must be able to assure that all tapes are handled properly and data is properly destroyed.
Turn To The Experts
Naturally, tape disposal companies contend that their methods of eradicating media data and then offering to purchase the newly “blanked” tapes from their clients (when they can) is the best alternative because everybody has something to gain. When this approach is feasible, it is the most attractive choice.
Teramo says, “No end of life solution, including doing nothing, is 100% risk free. Keeping tapes past their retention periods is not a good choice. Dumping and/or destroying tapes does not ensure security and is wasteful and costly.” Teramo says giving the tapes away with the old equipment is not secure and doesn’t get back the maximum value; therefore, it’s better to use media reclamation experts who can handle the project, provide security documentation, and pay you real dollars for your tapes. 
by Douglas Schweitzer, Sc.D.
Tape Disposal Services
Company: The Data Media Source
Services Offered: Secure data destruction and tape disposal
Web Site: www.datamediasource.com Company: Garner
Services Offered: Tape degaussing (erasing)
Web Site: www.garner-products.com Company: Media Recovery
Services Offered: Data eradication and tape disposal
Web Site: www.mediarecovery.com Company: StorageMedia.com
Services Offered: Secure data eradication
Web Site: www.storagemedia.com |
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