RE: secure disposal of backup tapes

  Apparently not.  Just this week I read of a datacenter looking to
dispose of tapes, who brought in a used-tape dealer with a de-gausser
("strong magnetic source" specifically built for this task).  When
they found the tapes still readable, the dealer brought in a stronger
model -- but the tapes were STILL readable.
  They concluded at that point that used tapes must be DESTROYED and
not just erased.

  Literally burning them might indeed be against local codes, but 
if companies that shred paper don't also offer shredding of tapes, 
maybe they should.

David Gillett
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John R. Dennison [mailto:jrd@gerdesas.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 1:32 PM
> To: Murad Talukdar
> Cc: security-basics@securityfocus.com
> Subject: Re: secure disposal of backup tapes
>
> On Tue, Nov 22, 2005 at 10:37:35AM +1000, Murad Talukdar wrote:
> > Hi I wanted to get some ideas from everyone for secure disposal of 
> > DDS/TRAVAN/DLT backup tapes.
> > How do you burn yours?
>
>       Depending upon the local I would tend to think that destruction
>       by fire would be against local codes due to the 
> materials involved.
>
>       Would not a strong magnetic source work instead?
>
>
>
>
>                                                       John
>
> --
> "I'm sorry but our engineers do not have phones."
> As stated by a Network Solutions Customer Service 
> representative when asked to be put through to an engineer.
>
> "My other computer is your windows box."
>                                      Ralf Hildebrandt