StorageTek has announced the VolSafe feature, claimed to be the first Worm (write once, read many) tape-based technology, for StorageTek tape drives.
StorageTek tape drives incorporating VolSafe are the first to deliver the level of data security and integrity required under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amendment that allows brokers and dealers to store records electronically.
Traditionally, secure financial data was stored manually on labour-intensive and costly media such as paper or microfiche. Since February 1997, when the SEC approved electronic storage for such documents, Worm optical disc has been the only storage medium to meet the SEC`s strict security requirements.
Now, StorageTek`s VolSafe technology provides an archival alternative to optical disc. VolSafe is based on long-standing and widely deployed industry tape standards and delivers virtually unlimited capacity.
"To achieve an SEC-compliant level of security for electronic records, customers had to rely on optical Worm that is expensive, maintenance-intensive and can`t match the scalability and reliability of StorageTek`s automated tape libraries," says Gary Francis, vice VP and GM of StorageTek`s Enterprise Nearline Business Group. "StorageTek`s VolSafe tape solutions provide customers a significantly lower cost solution in many cases, and enable customers to maximise their existing investments."
StorageTek`s VolSafe is a technology implemented on both tape drives and media that delivers non-rewriteable, non-erasable archival tape. VolSafe ensures data security by preventing users from writing over or erasing any previously written data. VolSafe allows users to write additional data only onto virgin media areas at the end of the last data file. Any attempts to erase or write over data will receive a reject command.
VolSafe provides customers with both physical and logical security. VolSafe cartridges are physically equipped with a unique bright yellow notch that allows systems operators to identify the cartridge as VolSafe, and alerts the StorageTek VolSafe-enhanced RedWood tape drive to handle the cartridge as a WORM technology.
VolSafe`s logical security is provided by microcode on the tape drive and bit settings on the media itself, set by the media manufacturer at the time of tape initialisation. Another VolSafe bit is also set each time the data is written at the customer site.
"By combining the inherent cost-performance benefits of magnetic tape over optical disc, with the Worm functionality of VolSafe, StorageTek is poised to revolutionise the large volume document storage market," says Bob Williams, president of Cohasset Associates, Chicago-based management consultants.
"VolSafe delivers for the first time a level of data integrity and protection to tape previously available only on Worm optical disc. This is good news for customers looking to comply with government regulations regarding legally admissible records."
Because most of StorageTek`s high-capacity, long-term archive customers use the company`s RedWood technology, VolSafe is initially available on the RedWood tape drives. StorageTek plans to expand VolSafe to other new drive technology in the future.
StorageTek`s automated tape libraries and RedWood VolSafe cartridges provide customers the ability to store virtually unlimited capacities of information in the least labour-intensive and cost-effective manner available.
* StorageTek products are rperesented in South Africa by CMS, a company in the MGX Holdings group.
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