Meets or Exceeds HIPAA Electronic Protected Health Information Specifications for the Secure Erasure of LTO Cartridges

The Model 510 A-2 LTO Cartridge Data Eraser/Certifier is the newest solution to secure LTO data cartridge erasure. The LTO Cartridge Data Eraser sanitizes LTO-1 and LTO-2 cartridges to HIPAA specifications, restoring them to “like new” condition and allowing them to be reused. This Certifier utilizes proprietary technology and all new IBM tape cartridge drives to completely ensure perfect compatibility with your IBM computer systems.

Degaussing renders LTO data cartridges useless because it removes the manufacturer-recorded Servo Tracks. The Model 510 A-2 LTO Cartridge Data Eraser series not only enables you to erase and reuse your LTO cartridges, but it also cleans and certifies that the cartridges are in top condition. This eraser utilizes a new IBM drive and is designed to correlate exactly with software utilized on customer computer systems. Your important media is completely protected.

Features

• Save Money by Reusing Your LTO-1 and LTO-2 Data Cartridges
• Low Cost Solution
• Speedy Throughput
• Portable and Stackable
• Easy To Use
• Fast Erase and Certify: 4 Minutes Per Cartridge
• Precision Erase Head Preserves Servo Tracks
• Green Pass and Red Fail Certifier Indicator Lights

Erase
The Model 510 A-2 LTO Cartridge Data Eraser employs a specially designed 4 Data Band Erase Head that surgically applies a full saturation DC Data Erasing high density magnetic field only over the 4 Data Bands on the cartridge from the Beginning of Tape (BOT) to the End of Medium (EOM). This process eliminates 6 bits minimum to 8 bits maximum from each and every Byte that has been written on the cartridge since its first use, EOT to EOM. This renders all data ever written on the cartridge permanently unrecoverable.

Automatic operation at approximately 4 minutes per cartridge ensures that each cartridge is sanitized with the same correct steady state flux density that saturates the Data Band.

Each Data Band records two tracks per pass, so two bits of every byte stored are recorded in each Data Band. Massive losses of nearly all the bits in each byte stored renders the data completely unrecoverable. Approximately 85% to 100% of the bits of each byte are completely destroyed in one pass from BOT to EOM. The erase heads’ DC magnetic field completely saturates the Data Band area, removing any possibility of any residual dynamic flux field after the erase pass.

Clean
The Model 510 A-2 LTO Cartridge Data Eraser also functions as a cleaning unit. It removes any dust, debris or mold that has collected on the tape surface. This contamination can move on the tape and cause dropouts where least expected. Removal of this contamination dramatically reduces the possibility of read failure.

Certify
A yellow “Erase” indicator on the front panel will light up as the Erase Head is energized and follows the Read/Write Head as it moves from BOT to the EOM. If a write error is detected as the Read/Write Head moves along the tape, the red “Fail” indicator on the front panel alights. One error will cause the cartridge to be rejected for additional cleaning and evaluation. This cartridge should be removed from the library and replaced with a new one.

An important advantage of this data erasure process is the controlled manner of erasing magnetic flux application. Unlike conventional erasing units, the quality of data removal is not a function of the operator’s handling of the cartridge. The LTO Cartridge Data Eraser automatically loads the cartridge, runs the tape over the Erase Head, tests for errors, rewinds and resets the EOM to 0 to be used as a new cartridge. Thus, while the recorded data has been completely removed, the Servo Tracks, serial number and manufacturer information remain intact, allowing you to reuse the cartridges.

Easy To Use
As the LTO Cartridge Data Eraser weighs only 16 pounds, the unit is completely mobile and portable. Data centers can easily move the eraser unit to secure LTO cartridge storage locations. The eraser can easily be shipped to other locations as required. Unskilled operators can easily and speedily process large numbers of cartridges. The hardy construction and reliability specifications of the IBM Ultrium tape handler (Drive) assure long, trouble-free operation.

Meets Government Specifications for Secure Data Erasure
Department of Defense (DoD) National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) classifies Tape Cartridges having coercivity values greater than 750 Oersteads, such as LTO-1 and LTO-2 cartridges, as “Type III” media. This classification further indicates that Type III tape cartridges cannot be “sanitized” for reuse by degaussing, because this destroys the required Servo Tracks, rendering the cartridge useless. The classification further indicates that the Type III media can only be “sanitized” by destroying the media through degaussing, crushing or incinerating. This new technological innovation provides a machine that will erase the cartridge and permit its reuse.

The LTO Cartridge Data Eraser meets and/or exceeds HIPAA’s “Electronic Protected Health Information” (EPHI) security erasure specifications.

Media Erased

• LTO-1
• LTO-2