Tape Archive Audit

Given the potential implications of destroying archive data that is still within its legal retention period, it can be disconcerting it still occurs today. So, when finding poorly marked or unlabelled backup tapes it can be vital to determine the tapes' contents prior to making any archive data destruction decisions.

Kroll Ontrack can help mitigate the risk of destroying important records that should have been retained by providing an insight into tape contents, and at the same time help reduce the costs associated with keeping archive tapes that still need to be retained.

The Kroll Ontrack Archive Tape Audit Process

The tape audit process will adapt to suit your needs, but will include at least the following:

• Review of archive and backup media currently in use
• Can all the media and data be accessed using the current IT infrastructure?
• Does end-of-life data reside on the media?
• Is the media physically healthy?

Kroll Ontrack tape services can remedy archive and backup pains through simple consultation and the prescription of bespoke solutions and proprietary techniques. Dedicated project managers oversee the collection and audit of the entire tape estates and provide a detailed overview of the health of the data.

To ensure compliance with data privacy policies and restrictions, each project we undertake reflects the exacting needs of our clients' industry sectors and specific legislation.

Minimise the Legal Risk

Upon discovering some poorly or unmarked tapes, Kroll Ontrack can assist with your risk assessment by performing a tape archive audit to determine whether they need to be retained or not. Initially, if your business does not have the means to restore the data yourselves, Kroll Ontrack can either restore a select sample of the tapes or the complete set, depending on what the requirements of the project are. Once the archive tape contents have been catalogued it can be audited for its retention requirements.

If the data found on the backup tapes is deemed to be retained, Kroll Ontrack can then assist with a migration or restoration solution in the event that these backup tapes are required in the future.

Destroying Tapes – Potential Legal Ramifications

There have been several very high profile cases in recent years of large multinational organisations that have been required to produce archived records, only to find those exact tapes have been recycled. This is despite the records still being within the legally required data retention periods. As a result these companies were fined millions for not producing these documents, simply because someone made the decision to recycle tapes prior to their legal date for destruction.

Contact Kroll Ontrack today to discuss your tape audit requirements.