LTO TAPE CAPACITY SHIPMENTS SET A NEW RECORD

Data storage managers around the world are clamoring for more reliable long term storage as evidenced by the record setting amount of LTO tape capacity that shipped. As highlighted in a recent press release the LTO Program announced that “…152.9 Exabytes (EB) of total tape capacity (compressed) shipped in 2023, with a growth of 3.14% over 2022, driven in part by rapid data generation and the increased infrastructure requirements of hyperscalers and enterprises.”

As unstructured data continues to flourish due to recent advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence, and with the constant threat of cyberattacks like ransomware, LTO tape storage will remain an essential low cost data protection asset. “LTO tape will endure as a critical component of storage architectures across the enterprise, especially as tape technology itself continues to improve to handle even larger volumes of data and more intensive workloads.” said Tom Coughlin, Storage Analyst and President, Coughlin Associates. See the complete press release here.

EXPLORING THE RANSOMWARE EPIDEMIC

The second item on the review list is a comprehensive paper, Exploring the Ransomware Epidemic: Unraveling the Past, Understanding the Present, and Anticipating Future Threats by cybersecurity expert, David Balcar, that discusses the ransomware epidemic and data protection landscape from all sides. The threat of cyberattacks is top of mind for storage managers, as stated in the introduction of the paper, “In the dynamic landscape of digital threats, ransomware stands out as one of the most formidable and continuously evolving challenges.”

Ransomware disruptions
The paper is wide reaching in its coverage of ransomware. It begins with a review of the history and genesis of ransomware noting that it “has been around since at least 1989 when the first instance was reported.” Balcar discusses a variety of attack methods used by cyber-criminals and reviews a number of victims including the “Colonial Pipeline Attack (2021): This cyberattack targeted the largest fuel pipeline in the United States, leading to significant fuel shortages on the East Coast.”

The MITRE ATT&CK framework is explained in detail which is a globally accessible knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques based on real-world observations.  It is used to “understand adversary behavior and to better prepare for, detect, and respond to cyber threats, including ransomware attacks.”  Balcar points out that “Ransomware attacks often result in organizations paying hefty ransoms to recover their data.” Balcar notes that “organizations that leverage tape backups rarely make headlines for paying ransoms. It is of vital importance [to have] a secure and isolated backup strategy.”

Prevent and protect
The ransomware paper includes in depth coverage of preventative measures and best practices to mitigate the effects of a cyberattack. Balcar clarifies that, “A comprehensive strategy that incorporates technical defenses, organizational policies, and user education is essential.” Balcar recommends a number of precautionary measures and defensive strategies including the implementation of  a strong backup policy that includes “LTO tape backups … that can provide economical, rapid data recovery options and an offline, immutable data copy for extra ransomware protection.”

A wealth of ransomware information and strategic defense actions can be gleaned from Exploring the Ransomware Epidemic…by David Balcar, which will help IT pros identify and manage their cybersecurity defenses more effectively. Get access to the paper here.