| In the business operations the tape media is | | | | number called the "initialization vector". |
| transported physically form one location to | | | | The element increases by one and on the other |
| the other. So, the LTO-4 tape media has the | | | | hand AES algorithm operates the output. It |
| security and encryption features to make sure | | | | is the requirement of GCM that at the each |
| that the data is transported safely and is | | | | record's end the initialization vector should |
| protected form unauthorized usage. So, we | | | | be created fresh again. The vector resets the |
| conclude that the encrypted data is safer for | | | | internal counter for the record that is being |
| transportation. Without the encryption, the | | | | read during the reading operation. Then |
| organizations cannot secure the backup data. | | | | afterwards the message of authenticated |
| The other security measures like key and | | | | encryption is generated by the "Galois field |
| locks are not that reliable as the encryption | | | | mathematics". Additional security is provided |
| of the backup data that the LTO-4 tape | | | | to the data record by the tag value. The tag |
| provides. The reason for the enhanced | | | | value is called by the spec. In the same way |
| capacity of the tape is because of the | | | | the AAD (Additional Authenticated Data) |
| increased length of the tape reel and the | | | | generates. The AAD works as a hook and helps |
| base films are also thin. The "head | | | | to retrieve the keys from the "key |
| technology" of the LTO4 tape cartridge is | | | | management". The AES-GCM couples with the |
| also enhanced. The (PRML) Partial Response | | | | system of "key management" and protects the |
| Maximum Likelihood encoding feature in the | | | | tapes that are in transit. So, the data |
| LTO4 tape increases the data density. In the | | | | decryption cannot be done in case the media |
| specification of the Linear Tape Open ultrium | | | | is lost. What ever the standard is, the |
| is included the encryption of LTO 4. In the | | | | encrypted data is always reliable along with |
| "formatting chip" of the tape drive is | | | | the "key management". This is the best option |
| implemented the algorithm of AES-GCM. The AES | | | | for the protection of the data from theft or |
| 256 in the LTo-4 is known as unbreakable, so | | | | any other loss. The "encryption management" |
| the valuable data stored in the LTO4 is | | | | is required for the complete system. Most of |
| protected form theft or loss. The cost of | | | | the vendors integrate the "encryption |
| encryption function in the LTO4 tape format | | | | management" with in the tape libraries. |
| is very low due to the implementation of the | | | | According to the research done by IDC, the |
| encryption AES 256 in the "buffer management" | | | | tape drives of LTO generated 883 million |
| of the LTO 4 drive. The tape cartridges | | | | dollars in the year 2007. And the IDC |
| can be interchanged among the tape libraries | | | | predicts that the revenue from the LTO tape |
| and drives by the implementation of the "key | | | | format will exceed 1.4 billion dollars by the |
| management". In the Advanced Encryption | | | | year 2009. The powerful features of the |
| Standard encryption algorithm, single key is | | | | fourth generation LTO4 tape format are the |
| used for the encryption of the four byte by | | | | WORM technology, encryption technology of |
| four byte array of data. Galois counter mode | | | | AES-GCM, reading and writing compatibility |
| is the operation mode for the Advanced | | | | with the 3rd generation LTO3 tape and the |
| Encryption Standard (AES). The GCM seeds a | | | | reading compatibility with the 2nd generation |
| counter, the counter is seeded with random | | | | LTO2 tapes. |