FAQ

Is LTO tape still relevant for backup in 2026?

Midland Information Systems sells, supports, and migrates AS400 and IBM i Power Systems hardware and software, from legacy AS400 environments through the current IBM Power 11 line, plus Managed SIEM services for IBM i shops replacing self-run Splunk.

Yes. The LTO standard is on its 10th generation, now at 40 TB native per cartridge, and tape remains the lowest-cost option per terabyte for long-term, offsite, and air-gapped backup retention, which disk and cloud storage do not match at the same cost. Most current backup strategies, including virtual tape library setups, still route a copy to real physical tape specifically for offsite/ransomware-resistant retention. See the full LTO Generation Guide for current capacity and compatibility.