Used Media? Do You Know Where Those Recertified Cartridges Have Been?

The concept of recycle/reuse has entered the data storage market under the name of "recertification." Cartridges sold as "recertified" have been procured from a source and sold at a lower price than new, unused cartridges.


There are a few things to consider about "recertified" cartridges:

• "Recertification" cannot determine the useful life remaining in a cartridge.
• "Recertification" cannot detect what environmental factors the cartridge may have experienced.
• "Recertification" cannot predict if past mishandling will cause future problems.

There are many events that can happen in the life of a cartridge that could result in compromised cartridge integrity. These events range from wearing out the cartridge with normal usage to exposing the cartridge to abnormal stress conditions, damage, or debris. There is no single test that can be performed to identify if this has occurred. When it comes to your valuable data, can you afford not to know?

Imation manufactures half-inch magnetic media under rigorous process controls — over 200 individual tests — to guarantee that product specifications are met for durability and archival stability.

The Risks:

Selling Tape or Selling Out Brochure (PDF)
Why selling your used tape can cost you in the end.

Selling Used Tape May Present a Sarbanes-Oxley Related Internal Control Risk (PDF)
This paper identifies the potential risks of selling used tape in the context of government regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Recertified Media: The Hidden Risks Whitepaper (PDF)
Understand what risks associated with the use of recertified media and how your business may be impacted.