Performing dependable backup and restore operations is a critical function. Unfortunately, many organizations do not have comprehensive strategies because open systems have been implemented in an incremental fashion. It is not unusual for IT shops to employ individuals to do nothing but change tapes.

The combination of Storage Area Networks and LAN-less backup offers a powerful solution, where backup traffic is routed onto a shared SAN which has a small number of large, high speed, high capacity tape devices. Moving to this type of environment though requires careful study to ensure details are properly addressed prior to implementation. These strategies may include off-site tape vaulting or data replication as part of a business continuance plan.