The Backup Wrap-Up

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-Up, we look at the cloud vs tape debate for active archives. The conversation was sparked by a LinkedIn post claiming tape libraries are the only robots not making things easier in 2025, suggesting cloud is superior to tape for active archives.

We challenge this premise by pointing out that cloud vs tape is a false dichotomy since many cloud storage vendors use tape for their lowest-cost tiers. We examine key considerations including cost (where tape wins by orders of magnitude), data integrity (where tape actually outperforms disk), and access times (where expectations should align with use cases). For organizations running on-premises infrastructure, we also highlight the often-overlooked egress costs and transfer times associated with cloud storage. Whether you're managing secondary storage or planning an archive strategy, this candid discussion cuts through the marketing hype.

Here's the LinkedIn post that sparked the discussion:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7300167312144322561/

Here's a recent episode about how tape is not dead:

https://www.backupwrapup.com/is-tape-backup-dead-why-it-still-matters/

In this eye-opening episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi unpack crucial disaster recovery lessons from major events like 9/11. They discuss how companies lost both primary and backup data centers when both World Trade Center towers fell, highlighting why geographic separation is non-negotiable. The hosts break down the technical aspects of disaster recovery, comparing hot sites versus cold sites, and the realities of synchronous versus asynchronous replication across distances.

Beyond the technical, Curtis and Prasanna share often-overlooked disaster recovery lessons about human factors—where recovery teams will sleep, eat, and work during extended outages when infrastructure is destroyed. They examine a real case from a hurricane-stricken island where teams converted conference rooms to sleeping quarters and relied on satellite communications. Whether you're planning for natural disasters, power outages, or ransomware attacks, these disaster recovery lessons will help ensure your organization can recover when—not if—disaster strikes.

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, Curtis and Prasanna discuss how to choose the best password manager in light of recent security breaches. They examine the LastPass hack that resulted in $150 million of stolen cryptocurrency and what that teaches us about password manager security.

The hosts break down the critical security features to look for in the best password manager, including encryption strength, iteration counts, multi-factor authentication options, and passkey support. They emphasize that even with the LastPass breach, using a password manager is still far safer than not using one at all.

This episode provides practical guidance on evaluating password manager security beyond the standard feature comparisons, with specific recommendations for cryptocurrency users and insights into the technical aspects of password vault protection.

Here are some references for today's episode:

https://www.rubrik.com/blog/company/25/rubrik-information-security-team-update

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ransomware-gang-encrypted-network-from-a-webcam-to-bypass-edr/

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/09/experts-fear-crooks-are-cracking-keys-stolen-in-lastpass-breach/

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/03/feds-link-150m-cyberheist-to-2022-lastpass-hacks/

Tape backup isn't dead – but it's glory days are gone. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss why tape backup remains relevant despite its diminished role in operational backups. They reveal how cloud giants have become the biggest consumers of tape technology while explaining common misconceptions about tape's performance.

The hosts break down four core advantages tape backup still maintains: unbeatable cost (one to two orders of magnitude cheaper than alternatives), superior speed for bulk transfers, better data integrity with lower bit error rates, and built-in protection against ransomware through true immutability. Whether you're considering your disaster recovery strategy or looking for cost-effective long-term storage, this episode offers valuable insights into why tape backup continues to play a crucial role in modern data protection architectures.

Here are some related episodes we talk about in the show:

https://www.backupwrapup.com/ovhs-backup-service-didnt-work/

https://www.backupwrapup.com/back-in-my-day-backups-were-really-hard/

https://www.backupwrapup.com/tape-drive-designer-schools-mr-backup-on-tape/

In this episode of The Backup Wrap-up, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss critical strategies for securing your backup disk against cyber threats. They explain why the default configuration of storing backups in easily accessible directories makes your backup disk vulnerable to threat actors who specifically target backup systems before launching attacks.

The conversation covers several effective methods to protect your backup disk, including using proprietary protocols like OST and Boost, implementing Virtual Tape Libraries (VTLs), leveraging dedicated backup appliances, and utilizing object storage both on-premises and in the cloud. Curtis emphasizes that keeping your backup disk out of user space is essential for maintaining security against increasingly sophisticated attackers.

This episode provides practical advice for anyone using disk-based backup systems who wants to ensure their backup disk remains secure and recoverable when needed most.

Ever wonder why your recovery time objective seems impossible to meet? In this episode, we challenge the common assumption that a four-hour RTO is achievable for most organizations. Host W. Curtis Preston and guest Prasanna Malaiyandi discuss why these aggressive recovery time objectives often exist only on paper.

From ransomware attacks to natural disasters, we examine the real-world factors that make rapid recovery more complex than most realize. We break down the differences between recovery time objectives (RTOs) and actual recovery times (RTAs), exploring why organizations need to be more realistic about their recovery capabilities. Whether you're managing backups, planning disaster recovery, or responsible for business continuity, this episode will help you understand what's actually possible when disaster strikes.

Check out these older episodes about how a real disaster unfolds:

https://www.backupwrapup.com/real-life-hurricane-disaster-recover-story/

https://www.backupwrapup.com/disaster-recovery-after-a-hurricane-a-first-hand-account/

In this eye-opening episode about passwords vs passkeys, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi expose why traditional password protection isn't enough for your backup systems anymore. They break down the evolution from basic passwords to MFA, and explain why passkeys and FIDO compliance represent the next level in security.

Learn why hackers target backup systems first, how they exploit password vulnerabilities, and why even multi-factor authentication has its weak points. Discover why there hasn't been a single successful attack against FIDO-compliant systems, and why you should be pushing your backup vendors to support passkeys. Whether you're using a traditional backup system or a SaaS solution, this episode gives you the knowledge you need to better protect your last line of defense.

We talked about this previous episode: https://www.backupwrapup.com/how-do-you-authenticate-with-all-new-hardware/

Understanding your backup window is crucial for effective data protection, but there's a twist - it's not just about backup speed. In this episode, we explore why focusing solely on backup speed misses the point entirely. The real measure of success? Your recovery capabilities.

Join W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi as they share war stories about backup windows gone wrong, including a memorable tale involving tape drives that could write but couldn't read. Learn why traditional backup windows have evolved, how modern technologies have changed the game, and most importantly, why your recovery testing matters more than your backup speed. We also dive into deduplication taxes, recovery groups, and why instant recovery capabilities might be your best friend in a crisis.

This is the recovery failure we alluded to w/our friend Stuart Liddle: https://www.backupwrapup.com/laptop-restore-nightmare-900gb/

Artificial intelligence in backup isn't just marketing hype - it's changing how we protect our data. In this episode, W. Curtis Preston and Prasanna Malaiyandi break down the practical applications of AI in backup systems, from intelligent scheduling to ransomware detection.

Learn how artificial intelligence helps with capacity planning, especially with deduplication systems where predicting storage needs gets tricky. We discuss AI's role in asset discovery, anomaly detection, and even creating better disaster recovery plans. Plus, find out why backing up AI models themselves might become your next big challenge. This no-nonsense look at AI in backup cuts through the confusion and focuses on what really matters - making your backups better.

In part two of our disaster recovery testing series, we explore the critical steps of executing a DR test. From coordinating teams and documenting issues to maintaining communication channels during the test, this episode covers everything you need to know about running an effective DR test.

Host W. Curtis Preston and co-host Prasanna Malaiyandi share practical advice from their extensive experience with disaster recovery testing. They discuss the importance of having backup communication methods, maintaining detailed documentation, and conducting thorough post-test analysis. Learn why testing your DR plan regularly is crucial and how to build a recovery mindset across your organization.

Whether you're planning your first DR test or looking to improve your existing testing procedures, this episode provides valuable insights to help ensure your disaster recovery testing success.