Re: Specialized Equipment
It is my understanding that 'Specialized Equipment' means:
A) Correct size/type of tape drive to use the tape
B) Correct software to read the tape.
When I went shopping a year ago for tape backup software that actually encrypted the data on the backup tape, I received lots of 'Gosh, that's a good idea, I'll pass that on.' and no 'Of course your sensitive data is protected by strong encryption'... And this was a couple of weeks after another backup tape was lost, with associated personal data.
Oh, and as an IT Professional and a State of Ohio employee (completely different area, however) (yes, my data IS on that damnable tape) I think that having any person (much less an intern) take home sensitive backup data is a stupid, shortsighted mistake. I think that anyone that thought this was a 'good' idea should be reassigned to a position they may be capable of performing (emptying the trash bin perhaps).
(But I doubt anyone at all will be held responsible.)