Background
A rapidly expanding IT services provider based in London required a robust, secure and dependable solution for managing their LTO backup tapes. Supporting more than 400 corporate clients, their business continuity obligations demanded a reliable off‑site rotation and storage process carried out twice weekly by vetted professionals.
They got in contact with us to see how our London storage services could help them.
The Challenge
Despite maintaining a mature backup strategy, the company struggled with the risks associated with storing tapes on‑site. Their previous setup exposed magnetic media to:
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Fluctuating temperatures and humidity
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Dust and airborne contaminants
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Physical security limitations
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Elevated cyber‑risk from not having a consistent air‑gap
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Operational inefficiencies caused by internal handling
They needed a specialist off-site tape storage partner capable of handling tape rotation twice a week, securing their media in a climate‑controlled vault, and providing a fully auditable chain of custody.
The Solution: Professional Tape Rotation & Secure Off‑Site Storage
1. Twice‑Weekly Tape Rotation
Our vetted, security‑checked operatives visited the client’s London office every Tuesday and Friday. Each visit involved:
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Collection of newly‑written backup tapes
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Return of previously stored tapes
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Full scanning and documentation for end‑to‑end traceability
This ensured a reliable and consistent air‑gapped backup cycle.
2. State‑of‑the‑Art Media Vaulting
The client’s tapes were placed in a purpose‑built, environmentally regulated vault designed specifically for long‑term magnetic media preservation. The facility features:
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Precisely controlled temperature and humidity
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Clean‑air filtration to eliminate dust and contaminants
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Restricted access with keypad and authorised‑personnel‑only entry
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Specialist fire suppression designed to protect media without water damage
3. Complete Chain‑of‑Custody Assurance
Every tape movement was logged and traceable via:
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Barcode scanning on collection, transit and vault entry
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Secure transportation
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Accessible audit trails and tracking for compliance needs
4. Compliance & Risk Reduction
By moving tapes into a secure vault and removing environmental hazards, the client significantly reduced the risks associated with traditional on‑site storage, while strengthening their disaster recovery posture and regulatory compliance.
“The difference in our backup security and operational reliability has been night and day. Having vetted staff rotate our tapes twice a week gives us total peace of mind, and knowing our data is stored in a climate‑controlled, fully secure vault means we never have to worry about tape failure again. The service has become a vital part of our disaster recovery strategy.”
— Head of Compliance, London‑Based IT Services Provider
The results
✓ Stronger Disaster Recovery Preparedness
With media stored in professionally controlled conditions, the organisation achieved significantly improved long‑term data resilience.
✓ Reduced Risk of Media Degradation
Environmental regulation eliminated the risks posed by heat, humidity, dust and contaminants.
✓ Enhanced Cyber Resilience
Offline, air‑gapped tape storage provided an additional layer of protection against ransomware and malicious attacks.
✓ Full Compliance Confidence
Audit trails, documented chain of custody and secure handling supported both internal compliance and industry‑specific regulatory requirements.
✓ Improved Internal Efficiency
The twice‑weekly rotation process removed pressure from internal IT resources, allowing staff to focus on delivering services instead of managing tape logistics.
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates how secure tape rotation and specialist off‑site storage can transform an organisation’s backup resilience. Magnetic tape remains one of the most dependable long‑term storage technologies—when supported by appropriate environmental controls, secure handling processes and expert management.
By partnering with a professional off‑site storage provider, the London‑based IT company now enjoys a dependable, fully compliant and operationally efficient tape management system—ensuring their business remains protected for years to come.
Work with Shredall SDS Group today
Ready to transform your document storage? Contact us today to discover how Shredall SDS Group can help you achieve efficient security and compliance for your business.
