This is the first part in a series of 4 editorials that aims to look at the need to ensure the integrity and availability of data stored on tape within YOUR organisation. Each part will take an in-depth look at the products, processes and services that are available to you to help ensure data integrity, reduce risk, improve performance and ultimately, lower cost of ownership.

Whilst it is generally understood that investing in a resilient storage infrastructure is half of the battle, the way in which the information is then managed throughout its lifecycle remains a crucial factor if it is to ever be retrieved. The implementation of Corporate Governance policies and procedures requires organisations to look at the whole process – including data archived on tape; tape issues range from the quality of the media in the first instance through to the conditions in which it is stored, the policies and processes set for backup and archive, through to the measures that are in place to ensure business continuity and third party neutrality should the data need to be extracted and presented in court.

This series of editorials will be broken down into the following sections:

The legislative Environment: Internal and regulatory compliance – what are the challenges facing UK organisations today?

The proactive approach to media management: defined product selection, management of operational performance and efficiency, post operational risk reduction. Programmes that include sample archival testing, library audits, environmental audits, performance analysis and physical tape management (through MM/TMS).

The reactive approach to media management: data recovery, tape analysis/technical support, data conversion/migration, legal restores & file restoration.

eDiscovery – why would my organisation need a third party organisation?

Part 1:

The legislative environment: Internal and regulatory compliance -what are the challenges facing UK organisations today?

The question has been asked many times: – How will my organisation cope if a regulatory requirement results in the need to produce historic company data in a specific timeframe? As imperative as this problem is, it is not the only issue facing your organisation; you also need to address the question: – how do you ensure the integrity of your data when you suspect foul play?

?Corporate Governance? is a phrase being muttered at boardroom level in recent months which has resulted in considerable strain being placed upon IT departments to achieve best practice in the management of the data held within the organisation. Placing this responsibility solely on the IT department is the fundamental mistake of so many organisations that are now running into difficulty, as the effective storage, protection, preservation and deletion (when appropriate) of company information needs to be the result of changes throughout the entire organisation including policy, process, technology and most importantly; people.

In the litigious environment, resulting from both regulatory and internal compliance, it is increasingly difficult for organisations to ensure accessibility and integrity, especially relevant if information needs to be presented in court. Data needs to be managed, stored and protected in the first instance. However, when a disclosure order relates to data needs to be extracted from tape and then presented in a readable format for further investigation, or for court, time constraints and cost implications often mean that this process may best be left to the specialists. This not only offers credence to any evidence produced, it also enables the organisation to continue with everyday operations, without disruption, whilst under investigation.

Despite the coverage corporate governance has received in the technology press, many organisations are still not giving the matter the attention it deserves. This week KPMG announced the results of its global survey and stated that only 59% of respondents said their organisation took corporate governance seriously. *KPMG Global Survey.

Therefore, whilst many companies are listening to the advice and are ready for any eventuality, there are still many who are seriously unprepared. In order for your organisation to achieve prepared status it is necessary to look at each stage of your data management lifecycle and ensure that best practice procedures are adhered to and every eventuality has been covered. To find out more about how to achieve best practice in your organisation, read part 2 of this series, where we will be discussing the implementation of a proactive approach to the management of data stored on tape.