Tape backups aren’t dead — they’re just more specialized than they used to be. For decades tape (especially LTO-family cartridges) has been the go-to for long-term archives because it’s inexpensive per terabyte, highly durable when stored correctly, and can be air-gapped — a huge advantage against ransomware and site-wide disasters. That makes tape a strong choice for regulatory retention, cold archives, and organizations that need predictable, low-cost long-term storage.
That said, tape has trade-offs. Restores are slower and less convenient than disk or cloud (random access is limited), tape operations need physical handling and careful lifecycle management, and you must plan for media migration as tape formats evolve. Tape infrastructure also requires investment in drives, libraries, and disciplined operational processes (rotation, testing, verification, and secure offsite storage).
Best practice today is to treat tape as one tool in a hybrid strategy. Use fast disk or cloud for nearline and operational recovery, and use tape for immutable, long-term archival where cost-per-GB and air-gapped security matter. Automate verification, keep clear retention and migration plans, and test restores regularly — whether your backups sit on disk, tape, or in the cloud.
All in all, tape isn’t obsolete — it’s purpose-built. If your needs include long retention, compliance, or strong offline protection, tape still deserves a seat at the table.
