IBM Storage Deep Archive is an on-premises deep-archive storage system that exposes an S3 Glacier–compatible API over tape (IBM Diamondback / TS6000 family), providing high-density PB-scale retention and air-gap–style physical separation to lower long-term cost per TB for infrequently accessed data.
Published Oct 13, 2026
| Starting Price | Not publicly listed (configuration-based capital procurement plus support/maintenance) | Published public-cloud per-GB pricing and usage charges (archive classes; includes request/retrieval/transfer charges and minimum storage durations) | Not publicly listed (hardware + software + support vary by configuration) |
| Best For | Petabyte-scale on-prem deep archive; organizations seeking an S3 API over tape with physical-control economics | Organizations comfortable with cloud-managed storage, rare restores, and cloud-native operations | Organizations with long-standing tape commitments and specialized tape workflows, often in media/HPC |
| Key Strength | High on‑prem density and scale for deep archive; S3 Glacier–compatible API exposure over tape | Managed operations, global durability targets, and a broad ecosystem of cloud-native tooling | Mature tape specialization, media-focused workflows, and longstanding integration with legacy backup/archive ecosystems |
| Key Weakness | Upfront procurement and ongoing operational burden; tape latency and restore windows; limited public transparency on some certifications and pricing | Retrieval/egress and minimum-duration charges can add complexity; operational behaviors and cost can change with access patterns | Hardware lifecycle and refresh overhead; integration approach varies by vendor and may not present an S3-native API out of the box |