How do I responsibly dispose of backup tapes?

Question

Our old tape drives have failed and we not using tapes for backup anymore. We still have a stack of DLT tapes with backups which may contain sensitive information like credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.

How do I responsibly dispose of these backup tapes?

If I had a working drive I would be tempted to dd from /dev/urandom to the tape device, but the drives have failed. Would this be a good method if the drive was still working? What do you recommend I do with these tapes given that I have no working drive for them?

Solution 1

You could read the Guidelines for Media Sanitization (PDF) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Reel and Cassette Format Magnetic Tapes

Clear magnetic tapes by either re-recording (overwriting) or degaussing. Clearing a magnetic tape by re-recording (overwriting) may be impractical for most applications since the process occupies the tape transport for excessive time periods. Clearing by Overwriting: Overwriting should be performed on a system similar to the one that originally recorded the data. For example, overwrite previously recorded classified or sensitive VHS format video signals on a comparable VHS format recorder. All portions of the magnetic tape should be overwritten one time with known non-sensitive signals.

Degauss using an NSA/CSS-approved degausser. Purging by Degaussing: Purge the magnetic tape in any degausser that can purge the signal enough to prohibit playback of the previous known signal. Purging by degaussing can be accomplished easier by using an NSA/CSS-approved degausser for the magnetic tape.

• Incinerate by burning the tapes in a licensed incinerator
• Shred

Preparatory steps, such as removing the tape from the reel or cassette prior to destruction, are unnecessary. However, segregation of components (tape and reels or cassettes) may be necessary to comply with the requirements of a destruction facility or for recycling measures.

Solution 2

May I suggest Thermite?

Solution 3

Fire is your friend.

Solution 4

If the number of tapes is reasonable (<100) then there are any number of ways to permanently destroy them. Be creative.

If the number of tapes is much greater (>500) then I would contact a shredding company. Even if they don't handle tape media I'm sure they would have knowledge of those who would.

Solution 5

I'll tell you what we do

1- 2 minutes on the degaussing machine 2- sharp scissors and about 20 minutes to make confetti. alternately, a good office shredder.

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Comments

[Admin]

Depending on the type of data on those tapes, are you sure you want to get rid of them immediately? You might check with accounting to ensure that they don't include data that might be requested by the IRS/[Insert Revenue or Regulatory Service]. For example you usually need to keep financials for 7 years - if you get audited, all you need to do if buy/rent a new drive to recover the data.

[Admin]

@David, thanks, but in this case the tapes haven't been used for over 4 years, and I am sure our archival data exists in other locations.

[Antoine Benkemoun]

I like that option :-)

[cop1152]

+1 to anyone who mentions Thermite for any reason.

[Chopper3]

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure :)

[Les]

Plastic emits toxic fumes when burned.

[warren]

i liked the original answer better :)

[JohnyD]

I didn't have enough characters left to hum out the theme song so..... :)

[user9517]

Edit: Can confirm this works. I used the set of magnets from an old hard drive. Strong as hell. Tested on VCR, Floppy, and Travon 20 GB Data Cartridge. All the data was corrupted.

[Bigbio2002]

+1 to both of you :-D

[MadHatter]

And sites emit radioactive particles when nuked from orbit.