Data Carriers for Archiving and Backup
This guide is intended for individuals responsible for data archiving and backup in a business environment — if you are looking for reliable data carriers for archiving and backup, you have come to the right place. In the digital world, protecting critical company information requires proven, physical media with high capacity and durability. Magnetic tapes, optical media, and removable drives form the foundation of any professional backup and disaster recovery strategy. Discover the comprehensive guide to the solutions available from Senetic — from LTO tapes to blank Blu-ray discs, to accessories designed for cleaning media.
What are data carriers and what are they used for?
Data carriers are used for recording, storing, and reading digital information. There are several basic technologies: magnetic media (LTO tapes, HDDs), optical media (CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays), and solid-state (SSD drives, USB memory, memory cards).
The basic operating principles vary depending on the medium. LTO (Linear Tape-Open) — a linear open standard for tape recording — uses magnetic recording on a tape that is 12.65 mm wide. Data is recorded sequentially, which means a long access time for a single file, but allows for archiving very large amounts of information at a low cost per TB. An optical drive, on the other hand, uses a laser beam to write and read data on the surface of a disc.
The benefits of using professional media for long-term archiving include:
- Durability — LTO tapes can safely store data for over 30 years
- Resistance to external factors — shocks, magnetic fields, moisture
- Offline security — physical media disconnected from the network are resistant to ransomware attacks and encryption by malware
- Low cost per TB over a long operational period compared to other storage technologies
Types of data carriers available from Senetic
The range of media at Senetic has been tailored to specific business needs — from data archiving in data centres to transferring files between devices. Below you will find an overview of the available types of products.
Backup data carriers
LTO magnetic tapes are the best solution for companies needing to archive large datasets. The latest generation LTO-9 offers a native capacity of 18 TB (up to 45 TB with compression) and a write speed of up to 400 MB/s. There are also WORM (Write Once Read Many) tapes — media with write protection, crucial for meeting legal and audit requirements. RDX media combine the mobility of removable drives with the reliability of backup solutions — fast data transfer and ease of use make them suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and distributed locations.
Media cleaning devices
Regular maintenance of tape drives directly affects the lifespan of the equipment and the quality of data recording. Cleaning cartridges remove contaminants from the read/write heads, preventing errors and premature degradation of the media.
Blank Blu-ray discs
Optical media such as Blu-ray are used for archiving documents, multimedia data, and smaller datasets where durability and portability are required.
SIM card/memory card adapters
Adapters allow for data transfer between mobile devices, tablets, and computers. Solutions with micro USB and other standards ensure compatibility with a wide range of hardware.
Memory media labels
Labels with barcodes and RFID technology are essential in environments with a large number of tapes. They enable the automation of backup processes, quick identification of media, and efficient resource management in tape libraries.
Key technical parameters of data carriers
The proper selection of media begins with understanding key technical parameters. For corporate environments, the most important of these are:
- Native and compressed capacity — indicates how much data can fit on a single carrier; for LTO tapes, both uncompressed (native) and compressed at 2.5:1 are provided
- Data transfer speed — expressed in MB/s; determines the time required to complete a backup window; for LTO-9, this is up to 400 MB/s natively
- Backward compatibility — LTO drives support tapes from previous generations; for example, an LTO-9 drive can read and write LTO-8 tapes and read LTO-7 tapes
- Media lifespan — for LTO tapes, declared at 30 years; important when planning long-term archiving
- Number of passes/write cycles — especially relevant for cleaning cartridges; most support a specified number of cleaning procedures
- Interface standard — for memory card adapters: USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB-C, microUSB
- Label format — compliance with the tape library coding system (LTO Barcode Label Specification)
Leading data carrier manufacturers available from Senetic
The Senetic offering includes products from top brands whose solutions are used in demanding corporate environments and data centres worldwide.
- HPE — a leader in LTO technology, offering LTO-9 generation tapes with a native capacity of 18 TB and a declared lifespan of 30 years. Enterprise solutions for demanding data centre environments, including cleaning cartridges and WORM media.
- Lenovo — professional media integrated with backup systems and server infrastructure. Reliability confirmed in corporate environments, ideal complements to Lenovo ThinkSystem servers.
- Dell — a complete range of media for IT infrastructure, including LTO tapes, RDX solutions, and archiving management accessories. High compatibility with Dell PowerVault systems.
- Overland-Tandberg — a specialist in removable RDX disk media. RDX QuikStor cartridges in capacities from 500 GB to 2 TB, characterised by high shock resistance and broad compatibility with drives from various manufacturers.
Register on the Senetic B2B Portal
Companies looking for reliable media for backup and archiving can take advantage of a dedicated purchasing platform. The Senetic B2B Portal provides access to the full range of data carriers at prices tailored to the needs of business customers — with the ability to quickly place orders, manage invoices, and track delivery status in one place. The platform offers advanced filters and product comparison tools, and the promotions area allows for ongoing access to current special offers.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Data Carriers
What are the differences between LTO tape generations (LTO-7, LTO-8, LTO-9)?
Each subsequent generation offers greater capacity and write speed. LTO-7 provides 6 TB natively / 15 TB with compression. LTO-8 offers 12 TB / 30 TB. LTO-9 offers 18 TB / 45 TB and transfer speeds of up to 400 MB/s natively (1000 MB/s with compression). LTO-9 drives are compatible with LTO-8 tapes (read and write) and LTO-7 tapes (read only).
When is it worth choosing RDX media instead of LTO tapes?
RDX media is suitable for smaller data volumes when quick and easy access to backups and greater mobility are needed. LTO tapes, on the other hand, are the optimal solution for archiving large amounts of data and long-term storage at a significantly lower cost per TB.
What are WORM tapes and what are they used for?
WORM (Write Once Read Many) tapes are media with write protection or deletion prevention. They are used to create unmodifiable archives required by legal regulations, financial audits, and internal compliance policies. They are particularly important in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and the public sector.
How long is data safe on magnetic tapes?
Manufacturers declare the durability of LTO tapes at a minimum of 30 years under appropriate storage conditions: stable temperature (15–25°C), low relative humidity (20–60%), protection against mechanical damage and strong magnetic fields. Regular reviews and data migration every few years further minimise the risk of information loss.
What are barcode labels on media used for?
Barcode labels enable automatic identification of tapes in tape libraries — they speed up the search and loading of the correct media, eliminating manual handling errors. They are essential for large collections of tapes and facilitate audits and management of the media lifecycle in accordance with the company's IT policy.
How should tape drive cleaning be properly conducted?
Dedicated cleaning cartridges compatible with the drive generation should be used. Manufacturers recommend cleaning after a specified number of operating hours or write cycles — the drive typically signals the need for maintenance. The process occurs automatically upon inserting the cleaning cartridge. Cleaning too infrequently leads to degraded recording quality and shortened equipment lifespan.
