Offsite tape vaulting

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Cyber attacks are increasing. Is your cloud backup just another target?

Your final defense against digital threats is physical separation.

Organizations are generating vast amounts of data that need secure, long-term storage. Relying solely on cloud backups poses risks, as always-online environments are vulnerable to breaches and ransomware attacks. Additionally, storing large volumes of data in the cloud can incur high per-terabyte costs along with expensive data egress and transfer fees.

The Solution: Iron Mountain Offsite Tape Vaulting & Managed Services

Offsite Tape Vaulting ensures a physical "air gap" for your critical data. By storing backups offline and off-site, tape storage protects against remote attacks and ransomware. This approach supports the "3-2-1-0" backup rule for optimal digital resilience.

  • 3 copies of data
  • 2 different media types
  • 1 off-site copy that is physically air-gapped
  • 0 opportunity for data infiltration
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Key benefits of an air-gapped tape strategy

Key benefits of an air-gapped tape strategy

Offsite tape vaulting
Offsite tape vaulting
Offsite tape vaulting
Offsite tape vaulting
Offsite tape vaulting

Deploy flexible backup processes tailored to your IT resources

Whether your internal IT team lacks bandwidth or you don't have the necessary hardware for tape operations, Iron Mountain offers flexible service models to fit your needs:

All processes include secure transportation to Iron Mountain’s highly secure, temperature- and humidity-controlled offsite media vaults, which feature physical barriers, keycard access, CCTV, and specialized fire suppression systems.

Iron Mountain can support your operation with a portfolio of services

Offsite Tape Vaulting

Protecting critical data offsite and offline

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  • Temperature-controlled facilities with underground options available
  • Physical barriers, keycard access, monitored security, and CCTV
  • Fire suppression systems combine automatic in-rack or in-aisle inert gas based systems

Managed Services

On-site tape management services provided by trained Iron Mountain staff

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  • Free IT staff from manual processes
  • Redeploy IT resources to other mission-critical demands
  • Benefit from managed service at predictable costs

Tape Library Moves

Comprehensive media relocation and consolidation

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  • Label, log, and inventory each tape
  • Online tracking

Data Restoration Projects

One-time restoration jobs

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  • Ad hoc cataloging of tapes
  • Restoring files
  • Extraction of data to native format from backup media
  • Restoration to repair files

Data Migration Services

Move data from source to target

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  • Tape to tape / disk/ / cloud
  • Media copy
  • Disk to disk/cloud

IT Asset Disposition

End-of-life destruction for media and all other IT assets

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  • Collection, transportation, and disposition of your electronic media and IT devices

Disaster Recovery Support

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We offer 24/7 tape delivery to your data center, Iron Mountain’s, or to one of your partners. This service ensures mission-critical data is accessible for routine testing or urgent recovery after a cyberattack or system failure.

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The Iron Mountain Advantage

With over 70 years of experience managing and protecting information, Iron Mountain provides unmatched global infrastructure and scale. We operate approximately 1,400 facilities across six continents and 60 countries, supported by 27,000 employees and a secure logistics fleet of over 4,500 vehicles completing millions of stops per year. Elevate the power of your work and mitigate risk with a fixed-cost insurance policy against major data loss incidents.

We make it easy to get started.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Iron Mountain Offsite Tape Vaulting?

It is a managed service that involves transporting your backup tapes from your data center to a secure, climate-controlled Iron Mountain facility. This provides an "air-gapped" backup—meaning your data is physically disconnected from your network, protecting it from cyber threats like ransomware.

Why should I store my tapes offsite instead of keeping them in my data center?

Storing tapes offsite mitigates the risk of data loss from local disasters (fire, flood, or theft). It also ensures you have a reliable "golden copy" of your data that cannot be accessed or encrypted by hackers through your primary network.

How does the transportation process work?

Iron Mountain uses a secure, documented chain of custody. Vetted employees pick up your media in specialized vehicles. Every movement is tracked at the container or item level via barcode scanning to ensure accountability from the moment it leaves your site until it is vaulted.

Are the storage facilities environmentally controlled?

Yes. Iron Mountain vaults are designed with specialized environmental controls to maintain optimal temperature and relative humidity. This prevents media degradation and ensures the long-term integrity of your magnetic tapes.

What physical security measures are in place?

Facilities feature multi-layered security, including:

  • 24/7 monitoring and intrusion detection systems.
  • Strict access controls and vetted personnel.
  • Highly secure "Underground" storage options for maximum protection against natural and man-made disasters.
How quickly can I get my tapes back in an emergency?

In the event of a disaster or audit, you can request specific tapes through the portal for rapid transport back to your recovery site.

Can Iron Mountain destroy old or damaged tapes?

Yes. Environmentally friendly and secure shredding or degaussing of tapes that have reached the end of their retention period and useful life.

Who do I contact for help with my account?
  • General Support: 800-934-3453
  • Online Orders/Requests: request@ironmountain.com
  • Technical Portal Support: askcustomerservice@ironmountain.com (Include your Customer ID in the subject line).

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