What is most often used for backup or archival data storage?

Tape drives are most often used for backup or archival data storage due to several key characteristics that make them particularly suited for these purposes. First, tape drives have a high storage capacity relative to their cost, allowing organizations to store large amounts of data without significant financial investment. This means that they are ideal for handling vast amounts of information, which is often necessary for backup purposes.

Additionally, tape drives are known for their longevity and reliability when it comes to data preservation. Magnetic tape can retain data for several decades if stored correctly, which is crucial for archival storage where long-term data retention is needed. This is in contrast to flash drives and external hard drives, which are less commonly used for extensive, long-term archival purposes due to potential data degradation over time and limits in capacity relative to the large datasets many organizations handle.

Furthermore, tape drives support a process known as sequential access, which makes them efficient for large-scale data backup and retrieval operations, particularly when dealing with vast amounts of data that do not need to be accessed frequently.