Tech

US Abandons Magnetic Tapes for Data Storage: Unveiling the Risks

Tech
By Newstime community team,  published 15 April 2025 at 13h31, updated on 15 April 2025 at 13h31.
Estados Unidos deja atrás las cintas magnéticas como método de almacenamiento de datos: cuáles son los riesgos

The United States moves away from magnetic tapes as a data storage method: exploring the potential risks involved

Tl;dr

  • The US Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) digitizes 14,000 magnetic tapes.
  • Critics and experts question the move, citing tapes’ advantages over digital storage.
  • Concerns also arise about data security and environmental impacts.

    • DOGE’s Digital Leap

    This week, the United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced the conversion of 14,000 magnetic tapes into “modern permanent digital records”, touting a projected saving of a million dollars annually.

    Questioning the Move

    While the decision to modernize public service infrastructure initially appears logical, criticism swiftly surfaced, pointing out the advantages of magnetic tapes over digital storage. Cybersecurity experts, online users, and a clarifying note on a platform underlined the potential risks to data security.

    Defense for Magnetic Tapes

    Despite their perceived obsoleteness, magnetic tapes are considered superior for storing sensitive information. The note added to DOGE’s official tweet emphasized the advantages of tapes. “Despite their age, magnetic tapes are very favorable for long-term static data files.” It listed the benefits of tapes:

    • Cost-effectiveness
    • Longevity
    • Offline security
    • Large storage capacity

    Experts argue that tapes offer a physical solution and barrier, making data inaccessible to cybercriminals.

    Expert Opinion

    Dr. Nicolás Wolovick, a computer science specialist, expressed surprise at this move. “Digital records are, for example, tapes.” He elaborated on the superior aspects of magnetic tapes including their longer lifespan, less space occupancy, and enhanced physical security due to offline storage in vaults.

    He also flagged concerns about the environmental impact. “Tapes are cold storage, they don’t consume energy, whereas both rotational and solid disks consume energy permanently.” Thus, the switch to digital storage could lead to higher carbon footprints.

    Many mocked the announcement on social media, stating the savings were minor compared to the country’s annual expenditure. Some asked for more details about the digitized data while others pointed out the oxymoron in the term “permanent digital records” as digital data could be lost if cloud services or hard drives fail.