How to Securely Destroy Sensitive Data: A Guide to Media Tape Data Destruction

Magnetic tape media — LTO, DLT, DAT, and other formats — is still widely used for data backup and archival in enterprise environments, and it stores data at densities that create significant risk if not properly destroyed at end of life. Unlike hard drives, tape media cannot be effectively wiped by software overwriting because tape read/write heads don't provide the precise positional control needed to guarantee complete overwriting. Physical destruction or degaussing is the recommended approach for media tape data destruction.

Degaussing — exposing the tape to a strong alternating magnetic field — is the fastest method for large volumes of tape media and renders the data unrecoverable by any known technique. The degausser must be rated for the tape's coercivity; LTO-7 and later tapes require high-coercivity degaussers that are significantly more powerful than older models. After degaussing, the tape cartridge should be physically destroyed (shredded or perforated) to prevent reuse and provide a visual indicator that destruction has occurred.

Physical shredding without prior degaussing is also acceptable for tape destruction — the shredder must reduce tape to particles small enough that data cannot be reconstructed, typically less than 6mm strips. STS Recycling provides certified media tape data destruction with serialized certificates documenting the volume, media type, and destruction method. Call Chicago Lamp Recycling at 866-770-2650 to discuss your tape media destruction needs.