Fujifilm Recording Media has launched Tape Tracker, a wireless tool to watch the whereabouts of sensitive removable media cartridges while they're in transit - just in case they fall off the back off a truck.
The system is based on technology from LoJack, a system which tracks everything from missing cars to laptops, via their partner SC-Integrity (SCI).
Tape Tracker will provide a similar service for cartridges, offering real-time monitoring and notification at a cost of $150 (75) a month. At the moment, it's only available in the US, with global availability at the end of the year.
"The tremendous feedback we received from customers when we introduced this concept last year made it clear - there is a significant desire to maintain visibility and control over removable media during shipment from one location to another," said Daniel Greenberg, new product manager for Fujifilm Recording Media.
He added: "The Tape Tracker gives power back to the data managers to maintain a chain of custody for these assets as they move between data centre backup, vault or disaster recovery destinations."
The tracking cartridges are designed to look like any other tape media being transported. It uses geo-fencing from LoJack and SCI's InTransit, which claims it is the largest law enforcement protocol and dispatch network in the business - and lets the SCI command centre dispatch the authorities to recover missing or stolen tapes.
The associated web application offers online geo-mapping with satellite imagery. The system also allows for geo-fencing, perimeter exit notifications, and route discrepancy alerts, just in case the driver decides on a new route.
"Data assets are well-protected in the data center and within a vault or duplicate operations center - but there has been no way to maintain continual chain of custody in real time. Now, with Tape Tracker combined with the LoJack-InTransit, there is and effective solution," said Robert Furtado, chief executive of SC-Integrity. "If left unmonitored, backup, disaster recovery and archive data assets can become the Achilles heel to any business or an industry - particularly if the data is sensitive."
Tape Tracker isn't just for tracking post-incident, the firms said, but can be used for reporting, allowing for refinements to security protocols and chain of custody for efficiency.
