Voyage Tech Blogs

Voyage Technology has been serving the Beaver Dam area since 1999, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

6 Reasons for Tape Backup (and 1 Huge Reason to Replace It)

6 Reasons for Tape Backup (and 1 Huge Reason to Replace It)

Tape backup used to be the go-to backup solution for businesses, but it’s since lost its luster in favor of digital backup solutions. You might still find some uses for it, if you find a good enough excuse. Today, we want to examine why you might still use tape backup, even though a Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution far outshines it.

6 Admittedly Bad Reasons to Keep Tape Backup

Businesses want redundancy more than anything else, so naturally, they will implement solutions that help them reach that goal.

Digital backup has mostly taken the place of tape backup, as it’s more redundant in a lot of ways. There’s too much room for error with tape on both the technical and the user side of operations. Still, you can make a case for tape backup, albeit it is a shaky one at best.

These are the most likely culprits for keeping tape backup around, even if your business certainly doesn’t need it any longer (if you use BDR, of course).

Longevity and Reliability

Even if it’s largely been replaced by BDR, tape backup is reliable—particularly over long periods—provided it’s stored in a proper location with a very stable environment. Hard drives, especially modern SSDs, have a much shorter shelf life when literally just sitting on a shelf.

Storage Capacity

Tape backup can keep large amounts of data stored for a long time. It’s expensive to do so, but it’s less expensive than some other options.

Regulations and Retention

Tape backup complies with regulations for various industries, organizations, and entities, even if other backup solutions do it better.

Larger Data Sets

You might find bandwidth limitations get in the way of backing up large data sets if you’re using a cloud-based system. Tape backup doesn’t have this issue, as it’s backed up locally rather than online.

Older Legacy Systems

Businesses still using tape probably have more than one archaic system in their IT infrastructure. These legacy systems might not be compatible with a modern backup solution, so tape gives you more time to adjust during the upgrade process.

Offline Backups That Don’t Depend on the Cloud

Cloud backups are fine and dandy, but a physical backup might come in handy if you can’t connect to the cloud for whatever reason. They’re great for situations where you encounter a system failure, natural disaster, or even a hacking attack that targets other parts of your infrastructure. That’s why we recommend the 3-2-1 backup rule—keep your data on three different mediums in at least two locations, one of those being offsite.

BDR is Still Better, Though

We’d be remiss to actually recommend tape when a better solution is staring you in the face.

Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solutions can take incremental backups of your data as often as every 15 minutes, meaning that you don’t encounter challenges with large data sets. You’ll enjoy both off-site and on-site backups, too. When redundancy is the name of the game, you can rely on BDR to get the job done.

Learn more and get started by calling us today at 800.618.9844.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Mobile? Grab this Article!

Qr Code

Tag Cloud

Security Technology Tip of the Week Best Practices Business Computing Data Productivity Business Software Innovation Hackers Cloud Network Security User Tips Efficiency Hardware Internet Malware IT Support Privacy Google Email Computer Workplace Tips Phishing Hosted Solutions IT Services Collaboration Users Mobile Device Ransomware Workplace Strategy Small Business Quick Tips Backup Cybersecurity Microsoft Communication Passwords Saving Money Data Backup Smartphone Android Managed Service Business Management VoIP Smartphones Mobile Devices communications Upgrade Disaster Recovery Data Recovery Browser Social Media Productivity Managed IT Services Microsoft Office Windows Current Events AI Tech Term Network Remote Internet of Things Artificial Intelligence Facebook Automation Gadgets Cloud Computing Covid-19 Holiday Miscellaneous Information Remote Work Training Server Managed Service Provider Outsourced IT Compliance Encryption Spam Employee/Employer Relationship Office Windows 10 Data Management Business Continuity Government Windows 10 Bandwidth Virtualization Blockchain Wi-Fi Business Technology IT Support Data Security Apps Vendor Two-factor Authentication Mobile Office Chrome Gmail Managed Services Voice over Internet Protocol Budget Apple Networking App Employer-Employee Relationship BYOD Mobile Device Management Conferencing WiFi How To BDR HIPAA Computing Hacker Applications Information Technology Avoiding Downtime Access Control Marketing Office 365 Tip of the week Augmented Reality Retail Storage Healthcare Password Bring Your Own Device Managed IT Services Big Data Operating System Router Computers Risk Management Virtual Private Network Website Health Help Desk Analytics Office Tips Firewall Document Management Remote Workers Telephone The Internet of Things Scam Data loss Social Cooperation Free Resource Project Management Windows 7 Going Green Patch Management Save Money Microsoft 365 Remote Monitoring End of Support Vulnerability Vendor Management Solutions Customer Service Cybercrime Physical Security Display Printer Paperless Office Windows 11 Infrastructure 2FA Monitoring Excel Virtual Machines Professional Services Money Saving Time Humor Managed IT Service Safety Maintenance Downloads Antivirus Sports iPhone Mouse Licensing Administration Vulnerabilities Entertainment Data Privacy Images 101 Robot Mobility Telephone System Multi-Factor Authentication Cost Management Customer Relationship Management Settings Wireless Printing Content Filtering Hacking IT Management YouTube Meetings Presentation VPN Employees Integration Cryptocurrency Modem Wireless Technology User Tip Processor Computer Repair Mobile Security Virtual Desktop Holidays Data storage LiFi Data Storage Word Smart Technology Supply Chain Outlook Video Conferencing Machine Learning Managed Services Provider Screen Reader Writing Distributed Denial of Service Workplace Public Speaking Lenovo Gig Economy Lithium-ion battery Service Level Agreement Internet Service Provider Virtual Reality Computing Infrastructure Teamwork Hiring/Firing Evernote Paperless Hacks Server Management Regulations Compliance Entrepreneur Scary Stories Private Cloud Identity Identity Theft Smart Tech Memes Fun Co-managed IT Superfish Bookmark Deep Learning Download Net Neutrality Twitter Alerts SQL Server Technology Care Business Communications Undo Financial Data Error History Education Connectivity IT Social Engineering Break Fix Scams Browsers Smartwatch Upload Procurement Remote Computing Azure Hybrid Work Multi-Factor Security Tech Human Resources Mobile Computing Social Network Telework Cyber security Tablet IoT Communitications Search Dark Web Cables CES Application Best Practice Trends Supply Chain Management Alert Dark Data Google Calendar Term Google Apps Managed IT Customer Resource management FinTech Buisness File Sharing Regulations IT solutions Star Wars IT Assessment How To Microsoft Excel IT Maintenance IBM Legal Data Analysis Business Growth Gamification Flexibility Notifications Staff Value Business Intelligence Legislation Shortcuts Organization Travel Social Networking Google Maps Smart Devices Cortana Ransmoware Techology Fileless Malware Digital Security Cameras Alt Codes Content Remote Working Wearable Technology Memory Vendors Comparison Google Play Be Proactive Competition Health IT Downtime Unified Threat Management Motherboard Data Breach Unified Threat Management Directions Videos Hosted Solution Assessment Electronic Health Records Permissions Workforce Typing Wasting Time Threats Trend Micro Network Congestion Specifications Security Cameras Workplace Strategies Google Drive User Error Microchip User Internet Exlporer Software as a Service Knowledge Fraud Meta Username Managing Costs Amazon Point of Sale eCommerce 5G Black Friday SSID IP Address Google Docs Unified Communications Database Surveillance Experience Virtual Assistant Outsource IT Media Bitcoin Network Management Running Cable Tech Support IT Technicians Virtual Machine Environment Cookies Monitors Cyber Monday Medical IT Google Wallet Proxy Server Reviews Recovery Tactics Development Hotspot Transportation Small Businesses Hard Drives Windows 8 Laptop Websites Mirgation Hypervisor Displays Nanotechnology Optimization PowerPoint Domains Drones Shopping SharePoint Addiction Electronic Medical Records Language Employer/Employee Relationships Outsourcing Navigation Refrigeration Management PCI DSS Halloween Chatbots

Blog Archive