LTO vs Cloud Storage

LTO tapes are usually more cost-effective than cloud storage for storing large amounts of data long-term that is accessed infrequently. The upfront cost for tape drives and libraries is higher, but the ongoing per-terabyte cost is lower. Tapes have a long lifespan, require no power while stored, and are protected from online threats. Cloud storage is easier to scale and allows immediate access to data, but monthly fees and retrieval costs can add up. For archival purposes, LTO is generally the cheaper option, while cloud storage is better for data that needs frequent access. Many organizations use both, keeping archives on tape and active data in the cloud.