Industry-first ransomware solution creates physical block between data tapes and robotic tape system
Quantum has announced its latest innovations to protect against ransomware and other forms of cyberattacks. Quantum’s Scalar Ransom Block is an industry-first feature of Quantum’s Scalar tape systems that eliminates the risk of data being accessed or compromised over the network. This patent-pending feature creates a hardware “block” between data stored on tapes and every network-connected device including the robotic tape system.
Ransom Block can be initiated remotely, does not require any person to handle tapes, ensures data cannot be accessed over the network even if the tape library is hacked, and preserves the ability to audit the tape library so customers know their data is safe and secure.
Quantum Scalar Ransom Block employs a simple and unique concept to create a physical barrier between data stored on tapes and the network connected robotic tape system
“The threat of ransomware and other forms of cyber-attacks are one of the chief concerns of our customers,” says Jamie Lerner, chairman and CEO of Quantum. “Tape storage systems are a critical part of building cyber-resilient infrastructures, both for large archives and as part of a comprehensive data protection strategy. However, even data stored on tapes can be compromised if the tape library itself is hacked, which is why we designed these new features in partnership with a large cloud provider. Quantum Scalar Ransom Block is an industry-first solution that ensures data is protected and secure with a click of a button and provides the ultimate layer of protection for data stored on tape.”
How Ransom Block works
Tapes stored in the library sit in a magazine. Quantum’s patent-pending design partially ejects the magazine so the tapes cannot be selected by the robot until an operator physically re-inserts the magazine. Because the magazine is only partially ejected, the barcode scanner on the robot can still scan the tape barcodes, so that system administrators can perform periodic audits of the tape system to ensure tapes are still present.
The tapes are inaccessible until an operator, who must have physical access to the tape library, re-inserts the magazine. Tape systems can be stored in secure data centres that require badged access.
In addition, Quantum has introduced Logical Tape Blocking, which enables administrators to use software commands to prevent tapes from being loaded into a drive while the magazine is being filled with tapes, before it is ejected. Although still software-based and not a physical blocking mechanism, this new capability further reduces the risk window until Ransom Block is initiated.
