Data carriers

Backup tape destruction: cost, process and proof of data destruction

3 July 2026 · 15 min read · DeSnipperaar

Having backup tapes destroyed is the only way to be sure that years of backups are really gone. A box of old LTO or DAT tapes looks harmless, but it often holds full copies of your entire business records. Wiping or degaussing leaves no visible proof and is hard to verify. With shredding the cartridge is physically ground into particles, so recovery is impossible. This article explains what it costs, how the collection service works, which level you need and what data destruction certificate you end up holding.

In almost every server room there is a cupboard somewhere with old backup tapes. They were once made as a safe copy of files, mailboxes, databases and whole systems. When the organisation moved to disk or cloud, the tapes stayed behind, because nobody knew quite what was on them or how to dispose of them safely. That is a hidden risk. A single modern cartridge holds tens of terabytes, meaning years of full backups with customer data, personnel files, financial records and passwords. As long as the tape exists, that data exists. Backup tape destruction removes that risk in one go. Below we explain what destroying tape data actually involves, why shredding is more reliable than wiping, what it costs and how to prove it was done properly.

What is a backup tape and why are old tapes a hidden risk?

A backup tape is a magnetic data carrier in a plastic cartridge, used to store large amounts of data cheaply and for a long time. The best-known types are LTO and DAT. LTO stands for Linear Tape-Open, the format most companies use for servers and backup systems. DAT is the older, smaller format that was used for years in smaller offices. The problem with tapes is exactly their strength: they are made to keep data readable for decades. A tape from 2010 can, with the right drive, still be read today. A full cartridge usually holds complete system backups, so not a few files but the whole record set of a given period. A handful of forgotten tapes can hold years of personal data with nobody paying attention to it any more. That makes old tapes one of the most underestimated data breaches in an organisation. More background on clearing such a collection is in clearing backup tapes and LTO.

Why wiping or degaussing a tape is unreliable

The first instinct is often to wipe or overwrite the tapes. That sounds logical, but in practice it is awkward. To overwrite a tape you need the right drive that supports the format, plus software that writes over the whole tape from start to finish. Old LTO drives are often already disposed of, so the hardware to wipe the tape simply is not there. Even if it works, it takes hours per cartridge and afterwards you have no visible proof that it succeeded.

Degaussing, wiping with a strong magnetic field, seems faster but has the same pitfalls. A degausser has to be powerful enough for the specific tape format, because modern LTO tapes have a higher magnetic density than older generations. If the field is too weak or the degausser is set wrongly, part of the tracks stay usable. After degaussing a tape also looks exactly the same as before. You cannot see with the naked eye whether it worked and you cannot easily verify it. For destroying tape data in a way you can demonstrate, degaussing is therefore not a watertight choice. Physical shredding leaves no doubt, because a ground cartridge is no longer a tape. We discuss the wider difference between wiping and destroying in our explainer on data destruction.

Shredding tapes physically: the certain method

Shredding means the whole cartridge is fed through an industrial shredder that reduces the plastic housing and the magnetic tape to small particles. What remains is a pile of fragments in which no continuous length of tape is left. This is physical data destruction, as opposed to logical destruction such as wiping or degaussing. With shredding nobody can read the tape any more, not even with specialised equipment, because there is no intact track left. The term data destruction is often used as an umbrella for all methods, but shredding is the most definitive form. Where degaussing depends on the right setting and the right field, a ground cartridge is simply no longer a carrier. For backup tape destruction that is the only method that delivers an immediately visible result you can photograph, record and have confirmed in a certificate.

Which DIN level do you need for backup tapes?

Like paper and hard drives, tape destruction has standardised levels. The DIN 66399 standard describes the so-called T-classes for magnetic data carriers, while the H-classes apply to hard drives. In practice tapes are often referred to by the familiar H-levels, because customers know those from their drives. We set them out here in a table, applied to tape media. The higher the number, the smaller the particles and the higher the certainty.

Level	Maximum particle size	Suitable for tape
H-3	Coarser particles	Ordinary business data, low risk
H-4	Small particles	Personal data, the workable minimum for backups
H-5	Very small particles	Social security numbers, medical and special data, years of full backups

For most businesses H-4 is the right level for backup tapes with ordinary business data. If you work with special personal data or the cartridges hold years of full backups, choose H-5. Because a tape is made precisely to hold data for a very long time, finer grinding for sensitive content is a sensible choice. More on the levels and what they mean is in DIN 66399 explained.

What determines the cost of backup tape destruction?

The question asked most is what backup tape destruction costs. The honest answer is that the price depends on a few factors. Once you know them, you can compare quotes properly and know in advance where you stand.

• The number of cartridges. You pay per item, and the price per tape falls at larger numbers.
• Per item or per volume. A handful of tapes is charged per item, while a whole tape library can also be charged per volume or per crate.
• The level. H-5 requires finer grinding than H-4, which can be slightly more expensive.
• Combination with other carriers. If hard drives, USB sticks or paper come along, that saves the call-out.
• The distance. Within 20 km of Amsterdam we charge no call-out fees.

What matters is that an honest provider charges per item by barcode or serial number and gives a fixed price in advance. That way you know exactly what you pay before anything happens. The general make-up of data destruction costs resembles that of paper, which we explain in archive destruction cost. As with having hard drives shredded, the unit price falls as more carriers come along in one go.

A price indication with three scenarios

To give a sense of it, here are three typical situations. The exact price depends on your number and level, so always request a quote for a fixed price.

Situation	Number of cartridges	What plays a part
A handful of tapes	1 to 20 cartridges	Small order, economical to collect with other carriers or paper
Decommissioned tape library	50 to 500 cartridges	Lower price per item, charged per item or per crate, one collection moment
Recurring rotation retirement	periodic, fixed numbers	A standing arrangement for retiring rotated-out tapes

If you have only a few tapes, it is often economical to have them taken along during a paper collection or together with other data carriers. That way you pay for the call-out only once. With a decommissioned library of hundreds of cartridges the price per tape falls, because the collection and the admin spread across many items. If you run a rotation schedule where tapes drop out periodically, you can set up a standing arrangement to retire rotated-out cartridges structurally.

LTO versus DAT: why the difference matters

Not every tape is the same, and that difference is relevant for destruction. LTO cartridges are the large, robust tapes used in server environments and tape libraries. They have a high magnetic density, which means a lot of data sits on a small surface. That is exactly why degaussing is awkward, because the field has to be strong enough for that density. DAT tapes are older and smaller, often used in older standalone backup drives at smaller offices. They usually hold less data per item, but are often much older, so the content can reach back to records from long ago that still contain personal data. For both types, physical shredding is the simplest and most defensible choice. You no longer have to find a matching drive or degausser, because the shredder works on any cartridge format. Whether it is LTO or DAT, for destroying tape data what counts is that the cartridge holds no readable track afterwards.

How the collection service works

Backup tape destruction need not be a hassle. The collection service works in a few clear steps.

1. You request a quote with the number of cartridges and the level you want.
2. We schedule the collection at your location, at a time that suits you.
3. The tapes go in a sealed bin, under a registered handover.
4. The cartridges are shredded to the agreed DIN level.
5. You receive a certificate with the barcodes or serial numbers of all destroyed tapes.

The whole chain is closed, from your door to the shredder. So you do not drop the tapes off yourself and you do not hand them to a random collector, because then you lose control over sensitive data. The carrier stays under sealed handover until it is destroyed.

Chain of custody: a closed chain

The value of professional data destruction lies not only in the shredder, but in the closed chain around it. That chain is called the chain of custody. From the moment your tapes go in the sealed bin, every handover is registered. The cartridges stay traceable until the moment they are ground. So nothing can disappear along the way or fall into the wrong hands. That is exactly what an audit or a regulator wants to see: not just that something was destroyed, but that your tapes in particular stayed under control without interruption from collection to destruction. How that chain works in practice is explained further in our explainer on data destruction. For backup tapes this is extra important, because a single cartridge holds so much data that losing it along the way would immediately be a large data breach.

The data destruction certificate with barcodes per cartridge

The proof that everything went well is the data destruction certificate. It states the date, the DIN level applied and the barcode or serial number of every destroyed cartridge. That barcode is the difference with a paper certificate, because it ties the proof to your specific tapes. So in an audit or an inspection you can show that exactly that cartridge was destroyed. Because tapes often carry a barcode label per item from the backup system, that fits seamlessly with your own records. You simply compare the list on the certificate with the list from your tape library. Keep the certificate with your GDPR records, so you can show it when needed. What belongs on such a certificate is in data destruction certificate explained.

Demonstrable destruction for the GDPR

The GDPR asks not only that you destroy personal data, but also that you can demonstrate it. A box of tapes standing somewhere in a server room is not destruction, even if nobody uses the content any more. Only once the cartridges are irreversibly destroyed and you have a certificate for it do you meet the requirement of demonstrability. For businesses that handle customer or patient data this is no formality but a legal duty. Backup tapes are a risk precisely because they hold complete historical copies. A shredded cartridge with a certificate is the conclusive proof that you take your duty of care seriously. If a question about old backups ever arises, the certificate shows that those particular tapes had long since ceased to exist.

Backup tape destruction in Amsterdam and surroundings

We collect data carriers within a 20 km radius of Amsterdam, with no call-out fees. Whether you are in Amsterdam-Noord, Amstelveen, Zaandam, Diemen or Haarlem, we come to you. Short lines mean fast planning. You do not have to drop off the tapes yourself or put them in the post, which is unwise with sensitive data anyway. The cartridges stay under sealed handover until they are destroyed. For anyone outside the immediate region, collection is possible nationwide via pooled routes. Give your postcode with the request, and you will know straight away whether you fall within the service area with no call-out fees.

Common situations

Backup tape destruction comes up at various moments. The most common situations are these.

• Migration to disk or cloud. After the switch the old tapes are left over, with data that now sits elsewhere.
• End of retention period. Backups past their legal or internal retention period should be destroyed.
• Decommissioned tape library. A retired backup system sometimes leaves hundreds of cartridges behind.
• Found old DAT or LTO tapes. In a move or clear-out, forgotten tapes surface whose content nobody knows.
• Acquisition or merger. When systems are combined, old backup sets become redundant.

In all these cases the same principle applies. As long as the tape exists, the data is a risk. So have the cartridges gathered and collected and destroyed safely in one go.

What do you do with the tapes until collection?

There can be time between when you retire tapes and the collection. Keep the cartridges in a safe place during that period, for example in a locked cupboard or in the original shipping boxes, where not everyone can reach them. Keep them sealed in their own packaging if you can. Make a list of the barcodes or serial numbers, so at collection you can check that everything goes along and so you can later compare the list with the certificate. Do not put the tapes with the ordinary waste and do not hand them to a random collector, because then you lose control. A sealed collection bin works well if tapes drop out regularly. That way you keep the chain closed from the moment of retirement to destruction.

On-site destruction or after collection?

Many organisations ask whether the tapes are destroyed at their own location or only later at a fixed processing site. Both models exist. With destruction on site a shredding truck comes to you and you watch it happen, which is a requirement for some sectors. With the usual collection service the cartridges go along under sealed and registered handover and are destroyed at a secure location, after which you receive the certificate with barcodes. For most businesses that second model is sufficient, because the chain is closed and every cartridge stays traceable until destruction. If you definitely want to be present, say so with the request, and we tailor the approach to that. The certainty lies not in where the shredder stands, but in the closed chain and the proof afterwards.

The shredding process, step by step

At the actual destruction the cartridges are registered one by one by barcode or serial number and then fed into the shredder. The shredder consists of heavy blades that tear apart the plastic housing and the magnetic tape. What comes out is a mix of particles in which no continuous length of tape is left. That material then goes to a processor, where the streams are separated for recycling. So destroying tape data combines maximum security with responsible processing. The difference with shredding paper lies mainly in the material, because the hard plastic of a cartridge requires a heavier machine than paper alone.

Which other data carriers can come along?

A backup tape is not the only carrier with sensitive data. In the same collection other data carriers can come along, so you handle everything in one go. Think of hard drives and SSDs, USB sticks and memory cards, CDs and DVDs through to whole laptops and phones. All these carriers are registered per item and destroyed to the right level. The advantage of combining is that you pay for the call-out only once and get a single certificate listing all the volumes. That stops a forgotten drive or USB stick with business data on it from being left somewhere. Before the collection make a short inventory of everything that holds data, so nothing accidentally goes back in the cupboard. If you only want to dispose of drives, read our separate explainer on having a hard drive shredded. Data destruction is only complete when every carrier has been taken, not just the tapes.

Environment and recycling after shredding

A common concern is whether shredding is responsible for the environment. It certainly is. After grinding, the materials are separated. The plastic of the cartridge and the magnetic tape are processed as separate streams, so as much as possible is recovered. So secure data destruction goes hand in hand with responsible processing. You do not have to choose between security and sustainability, because shredding delivers both. The tape is unreadable and at the same time the material is not simply thrown away. That is a more pleasant end picture than a cupboard full of old cartridges slowly ageing while nobody does anything with them.

Destroy tapes yourself or have them destroyed?

Some people consider destroying tapes themselves by breaking them open or pulling out the tape. It feels satisfying, but it is not a reliable method. A pulled-out tape is still a continuous magnetic track that can be read with the right equipment. On top of that you have no proof at all that the data is gone. A professional shredder grinds the whole cartridge into particles and provides a certificate with it. For an organisation that must comply with the GDPR that is the difference between a feeling of safety and demonstrable safety. Doing it yourself can at most be an addition, never a replacement for professional data destruction.

Common mistakes

• Leaving tapes because the data sits elsewhere. As long as the cartridge exists, the old copy stays a risk.
• Thinking degaussing is enough. Without visible proof you cannot demonstrate that it worked.
• Keeping no barcodes. Without a list you cannot check afterwards what was destroyed.
• Throwing tapes in the ordinary waste. Then you lose control over years of backups.
• Not keeping the certificate. Without proof you can demonstrate nothing in an inspection.

Step by step to safe destruction

1. Gather the cartridges in a locked place and note the barcodes.
2. Decide the level, H-4 for ordinary backups or H-5 for special data.
3. Request a quote with the number and type of tapes.
4. Schedule the collection at your location within the service area.
5. Keep the certificate with your GDPR records.

An example from practice

Suppose an IT manager at an SME migrates the backups to the cloud and also has a decommissioned tape library left over with some two hundred LTO cartridges. On top of that he finds a box of old DAT tapes in a cupboard from the time of a previous backup system. Nobody knows exactly what is on them, but it is almost certainly years of full backups with personal data. The manager gathers all the tapes in sealed boxes and exports the barcode list from the old system. He requests a quote for backup tape destruction at level H-5, because there is sensitive data among them. Within a working day there is a fixed price per item, with no call-out fees because the office is in Amsterdam. On the agreed day all the cartridges go along in sealed bins. A few days later the certificate is in the inbox, with each barcode neatly listed. The manager compares the list with his own export and files the certificate with the GDPR records. The cupboard is empty, the risk is gone and everything is demonstrably in order.

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to have backup tapes destroyed?

The price depends on the number of cartridges, the level you want and whether other data carriers or paper come along. You pay per item by barcode or serial number, with a fixed price in advance and no call-out fees within 20 km of Amsterdam.

Why is wiping or degaussing a tape not enough?

Wiping or degaussing a tape leaves no visible proof and is hard to verify. With a wrongly set degausser or an odd tape format, data can remain. Shredding destroys the cartridge physically, so the data is irreversibly gone.

Which level do I need for backup tapes?

For ordinary business data H-4 is the workable minimum. For special personal data or years of full backups H-5 is the right choice, because the tape is then broken into finer particles.

Do I get proof the tapes were destroyed?

Yes. You receive a data destruction certificate with the date, the level applied and the barcode or serial number of every destroyed cartridge.

Can I have a whole tape library collected at once?

Yes. A decommissioned library with hundreds of cartridges we collect in one go. The price per item is then lower, and you can be charged per item or per crate.

Can tapes come along with other data carriers?

Yes. Tapes, hard drives, USB sticks and even paper can be collected together, so you pay for the call-out only once and get a single certificate for all the volumes.

Conclusion

Backup tape destruction is the most certain way to destroy years of backups irreversibly. Wiping often no longer works because the drive is missing, and degaussing leaves no visible proof. With physical shredding at the right DIN level you know for sure no track on the tape is readable any more. You pay per item by barcode, with a fixed price in advance and no call-out fees within the service area. The data destruction certificate makes it demonstrable afterwards that exactly your cartridges were destroyed. So destroying tape data combines maximum security with conclusive proof and responsible processing.

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A price straight away? Request a quote via desnipperaar.nl or first read how best to clear backup tapes and LTO. You get a fixed price per item in advance, with no obligation.