Tape Services

Tape restoration and data repair experts

Tape restoration services for any tape format.

We can help you restore and extract data from archive tapes to meet even the strictest of deadlines, even if your tapes are corrupted, broken or inaccessible.

We have the ability to restore and repair data from corrupted, broken or inaccessible tapes.

If you need to quickly restore information from your tape archives, we can help.

Targeted Restores

Looking for a specific file? Our granular search capabilities enable you to restore exactly the data you need to the format of your choice.

Lightning Speed

No matter how short the time frame, we can help you. We can work 24/7/365 to restore your data so you can meet even the tightest of deadlines.

Any tape type

We can recover and extract data from any tape media, regardless of the backup system that was originally used.

Cloud Migration

We can prepare the extracted data, such as email, to formats ready for importing into your cloud environment.

How tape restoration works

We use a project based approach tailored to your exact requirements. A usual tape restoration project can include:

Recovery of inaccessible data
Replication and de-duplication
Catalogue and indexing reports for future data mapping
Development of custom software and tools
Conversion of your legacy media in a secure, efficient and cost effective manner
Accurate bit for bit copy of the source data, supplied back to you in the required format

All of these steps are flexible and can be adjusted to suit your needs, particularly when the delivery deadlines for data restores are very tight.

Any tape format.

From reel-to-reel to the latest LTO tapes, we can cater for any type of magnetic storage, no matter how new or old the technology is.

Even if your media is damaged, our engineers can help using proprietary tape recovery techniques. Here are just some of the tape formats we support, in any generation. Can’t see yours? Don’t worry, we can still help you.

Reader

Tape

Tape Capacity

IBM
3500 Series

3500 MP Series

5 to 700 GB

Sony
AIT Series | SAIT Series

8mm (AIT)

35 to 500 GB

Oracle (formerly StorageTek)
9800 Series | 10000 Series

9800 Series
10000 Series

40 to 1,000 GB

Quantum
DLT Series | SDLT Series

DLT Series
SDLT Series

80 to 800 GB

Tandberg Data
DAT Series | LTO Series
SLR Series | VXA Series

4mm, 8mm (MP)
Ultrium (generation 1-5)
SLR
VXA

38 to 6000 GB

Quantum, HP, Sony
DDS Series | DAT Series

DDS 4 mm

20 to 40 GB

IBM, HP, Quantum, Sony
LTO Series

Ultrium (generation 1-6)

200 to 6000 GB

Any backup system.

Our expertise doesn’t end with tape; we also provide additional services to assist with the migration of backup systems.

We support all backup software brands, including:

ARCserve^®

Veritas NetBackup^™

Veritas Backup Exec^™

Microsoft^® Backup

Catalogic^®DPX^™

Retrospect^®

CommVault^®

Data Protector

IBM^®

TapeWare

UltraBac

EMC^®

Join over a half million people and businesses who have trusted Ontrack to recover their data.

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Your data security is our priority

We’re trusted by thousands of organisations every year with even the most sensitive data.

We can provide you with:

Full chain of custody
Strict security protocols
Data returned on encrypted media
Secure courier service
Disposal of end of life media to government standards

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Trust the tape experts

Ontrack can help you with any tape project, no matter how complex.

World leading data management services and software since 1985
International coverage with 33 office locations for multi-site / jurisdiction cases
24/7/365 availability
Over 30 years of technical experience and R&D capabilities to solve even the most challenging tape situations
Strict security policies with chain of custody if required
Twice awarded by the US Department of Defence for outstanding security participation

Tape Restoration FAQs

How are custodian extractions and restores performed from tape?

Extractions and restores for investigations and legal cases are normally performed the same way as normal extractions and restores. The content of the tapes is restored either by a full or a brick-level backup (to get access to the tapes content) or by using Ontrack PowerControls for Exchange or Ontrack PowerControls for SharePoint. Using this specialised tool, you can completely eliminate a brick-level backup for single item restore. Additionally, Ontrack PowerControls provides the ability to search, collect and extract the data stored inside a backup without changing the original data source.For further investigation and legal purposes, Ontrack Legal Technology and Computer Forensic experts offer a wide range of services for every possible legal- and compliance-related situations. They provide standardised and unique processes ranging from data identification, data preservation, data collection as well as data analysis and data processing in order to gain complete insight and more control over digital document evidence.

What is the difference between a legally compliant tape restore and a normal tape restore?

Since tape content is sensitive to legal compliance and, in some cases, to legal prosecution, it is absolutely essential that the material is original. No additions or changes to the content and its metadata are allowed to be made by the backup or restoration software in use. With this in mind, only specialised software can be used to avoid inadvertent damage to evidence.Even though it is possible to restore the tape content with your standard tape backup software, it is wise to use a forensically-sound email and content management tool, like Ontrack PowerControls. It allows IT personnel to meet all critical requests from the legal department and other external enquiries. Ontrack PowerControls software can also help administrators search, recover, restore and export data efficiently in Microsoft Exchange Server and/or Microsoft SharePoint Server environments.

How can I speed up my tape restoration time?

You can use backup inventory and catalogue files. However, it is worth noting that tape restoration time should not be underestimated and forward planning is always advised to prevent disruption to your business. In order to reduce time and money spent, it is worth knowing the structure (order, sessions and tape sets) of the backup tapes. With the possibility to create inventories and catalogue files by the backup software, a good deal of time can be saved when performing a backup extraction. Since these two files contain all the necessary information for the restore process, accessing them will dramatically speed up the backup process. Since not every source and tape storage location has to be checked over and over again, the restore just relies on the information provided and will therefore be much faster.

How do I restore archives to a new backup environment?

Simply put, you must restore your tape archives and then extract the data. Then you can either import the content into the new backup environment, after you recreated the archive structure, or if your new backup system allows it, you can copy or import the complete archives into the new data structure.There are several options available to organisations when it comes to dealing with upgrading your archive systems, each one with its own considerations. In any case, restoring and migrating an old archive structure which includes data is not an easy task. Each backup system has its own way of saving data in its tape library and onto the tapes themselves, so you must dig deep into the manuals in order to achieve a problem-free new backup environment.Additionally, problems may arise when a client software is not available or if the paths to them have changed or are not working properly. This is often the case when only snapshots or dumps were taken instead of a full backup and the source consists of database files. In such a case, getting expert help is a better way of dealing with this issue. Our specialists have all the required knowledge and equipment for all the current and old software and hardware for tape and backup solutions. They use standardised processes for tape services, meaning that it is both time and cost-effective for you.

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KLDiscovery Ontrack Limited, Nexus, 25 Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4AB, United Kingdom (see all locations)

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