How Does LTO Tape Archive Work?

LTO tape archiving stores data sequentially on high-capacity magnetic tapes for long-term backups and archival. Data is prepared, sometimes compressed or encrypted, and written in linear tracks with error-correction codes to ensure integrity. Since tape is sequential, retrieving data requires the drive to fast-forward or rewind, though indexing and catalogs make this faster. LTO tapes provide durability, large storage capacity, encryption, and WORM options. With automated tape libraries, even massive archives can be managed efficiently. Storing tapes in controlled conditions ensures they stay reliable for decades, making LTO a solid choice for long-term data storage.