# Disk Archive ALTO: an LTO Tape Alternative in the UAE & GCC

> Disk Archive ALTO, a disk-based alternative to LTO tape: how it works, retrieval, offline copies, record-retention periods and sizing, from PRO TECHnology.

**Canonical HTML page:** https://www.protechnology.ae/disk-archive
**Source:** PRO TECHnology Co. L.L.C., Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Enterprise IT · Long-term archiving

# Disk Archive ALTO: an alternative to LTO tape for long-term archives in the UAE and GCC

Disk Archive ALTO is an on-premises archive system from Disk Archive Corporation, a UK company founded in 2008. It stores files you must keep for years on standard hard disks that stay spun down until a file is requested, and keeps two or more complete copies of each file on separate disks. The name stands for Alternative to LTO.

It is built for organisations whose archive has outgrown working storage: broadcasters and production companies with footage libraries, and enterprises that keep records, evidence or surveillance video for long retention periods. It addresses the cost of holding that data on always-on storage, the migrations that come with tape generations, and the retrieval delays and fees of cloud archive tiers.

PRO TECHnology partnered with Disk Archive Corporation in March 2026 to offer ALTO in the Middle East. From Dubai, it gathers archive requirements, sizes and quotes systems, and supplies, installs and supports them for UAE organisations. Organisations in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC buy through the same team, with Saudi enquiries handled by PRONEXT in Riyadh; what is done on site outside the UAE is agreed for each project.

**An archive, not working storage** ALTO holds finished material and records. Disk Archive notes that you would not edit a film directly from it.

**Replication instead of RAID** Two copies of every file by default, on different disks, which can sit in different enclosures or buildings.

**Offline copies you can shelve** A full set of replica disks can be removed and kept in a vault, tracked by QR code labels.

PRO TECHnology’s role

## What PRO TECHnology provides for ALTO projects in the UAE

PRO TECHnology has worked in enterprise storage and backup from Dubai since 1998. Its part in an ALTO project runs from your requirements to a system installed on your site, followed by local support.

### Requirements and sizing

We collect your archive volume, growth, retention period, retrieval needs and existing software, and turn them into an ALTO configuration: model, disk count, replication factor and whether a vault set of disks is needed.

### Quotation and supply

We quote and supply ALTO systems for UAE organisations. Disk Archive sells ALTO-III “diskless” if you prefer to buy qualified disks locally, which the quotation can reflect.

### Installation and support

PRO TECHnology’s engineers install and configure ALTO on site and support it locally from Dubai. Support terms are set out in the quotation, and the [partnership announcement](https://www.protechnology.ae/pro-technology-and-disk-archive-corporation-announces-partnership-for-enterprise-data-archiving-and-long-term-storage-solutions-in-the-middle-east) gives the background.

Disk Archive sells ALTO through channel partners and can monitor systems remotely through the ALTO Manager web interface ([ALTO family](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-family); [About disk drives](https://www.diskarchive.com/about-disk-drives)).

How it works

## How ALTO archives, protects and returns files

ALTO combines four ideas: whole files written to ordinary disks, several copies on different disks, disks that switch off when idle, and a catalogue that knows where every copy is, including disks taken off the system.

### Ingest

Files arrive from your media asset manager, archive software or a network share, through ALTO Connect (CIFS/SMB), the REST-based ALTO API, FTP/FXP or the S3 COLD interface. They are written as complete files, not fragments.

### Replicate

Each file is written to several disks. Replication factor 2 is Disk Archive’s default for an archive, factor 3 typically creates a disaster-recovery copy in another building, and factor 1 is intended for backup use.

### Spin down

Any disk that is not reading or writing is switched off. Disk Archive gives a figure of 0.25 W per terabyte for cold storage and states that spun-down disks last up to 15 years.

### Retrieve

A restore request looks in the primary ALTO first, then a backup ALTO, and otherwise returns the shelf location of the disk. Disk Archive quotes access in 30 seconds or less on ALTO-III, and up to 60 seconds elsewhere.

Sources: Disk Archive, [How ALTO works](https://www.diskarchive.com/how-alto), [ALTO-III](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-iii), [ALTO Connect](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-connect), [ALTO family](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-family), [home page](https://www.diskarchive.com/) and its [IBC 2026 announcement](https://www.diskarchive.com/post/disk-archive-to-drive-the-media-de-clouding-movement-and-unveil-post-lto-strategies-at-ibc-2026). Power, disk-life and access figures are the manufacturer’s.

**Files stay readable without ALTO.** Disk Archive states that ALTO disks can be opened with a standard Windows, macOS or Linux computer and that it uses no proprietary licences ([About disk drives](https://www.diskarchive.com/about-disk-drives)). It does not name the file system used on the disks.

Archive, backup and active storage

## Archiving is not backup, and neither is working storage

Active storage holds current work, backup lets you recover recent data, and an archive keeps data for years at the lowest practical cost. Each needs its own design. An archive is often the only home of older material once it leaves production storage, so it needs a second copy of its own.

|  | Active (working) storage | Backup | Archive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Hold the data people are working on now | Recover recent data after deletion, failure or ransomware | Keep data that must be retained but is rarely opened |
| How it changes | Constantly | New copies on a schedule, older copies expire | Grows steadily; files are added and seldom changed |
| What matters most | Speed and capacity for current work | Restore time, and at least one copy the network cannot reach | Cost per terabyte over years, durability and finding files again |
| Typical examples | Edit storage, file servers, [LaCie RAID](https://www.protechnology.ae/lacie-professional-storage-uae) | Backup software with disk, tape or cloud targets, [encrypted offline drives](https://www.protechnology.ae/kanguru-defender-hdd350-encrypted-backup-drive) | Disk Archive ALTO, LTO tape, cloud archive tiers |

Disk Archive lists replication factor 1 “for backup purposes”, so ALTO can also serve as a backup target. For the 3-2-1 rule, ransomware recovery and restore testing, read our [backup and disaster recovery guide](https://www.protechnology.ae/data-backup-disaster-recovery-uae-business-continuity).

Offline copies and retrieval

## What an air gap needs in practice

A spun-down disk is powered off but still sits in the chassis, under the control of the ALTO system. Disk Archive calls unmounted disks a “virtual airgap”. A physical air gap exists only when a set of replica disks is removed from the system and stored away from it.

In practice that needs a second replica set, a procedure for taking disks out and logging them, a secure vault or off-site store, and a tested way to bring a disk back or read it on another computer.

An offline copy is not the same as immutable storage. Whatever is written before a disk is shelved, including files already damaged by malware, is kept as it is. Disk Archive’s documentation mentions automatic write protection but does not describe WORM or immutable storage, and no storage makes an organisation immune to ransomware.

Sources: Disk Archive, [ALTO SX](https://www.diskarchive.com/sx-archive), [ALTO Connect](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-connect) and [Why ALTO](https://www.diskarchive.com/why-alto).

### Spun down

Idle disks are switched off inside the system. They save power, but they are still part of the system.

### Externalised

A full replica set is removed for shelf or vault storage, with QR code labels linking each disk to its shelf location.

### Retrieved

Restores normally come from the online copy. If only a shelved copy exists, ALTO Connect reports where the disk is kept. Disk Archive publishes no timing for this step, so build it into recovery plans.

### Read elsewhere

Disk Archive states that a removed disk can be read and restored using a local computer, without the ALTO chassis.

Integrations and models

## Documented integrations and the ALTO range

ALTO connects to existing workflows through standard protocols or through the media and backup software that already runs your library. Specifications differ by model, so each figure below belongs to the model named.

### ALTO Connect

Presents the archive as a CIFS/SMB file system and adds quota management for storage partitions.

### ALTO API

A REST-based API preferred by Disk Archive’s integration partners, with partial file restores.

### S3 COLD

Launched in 2025, it lets ALTO act as an S3 target for archiving, running on premises.

### Partner software

Disk Archive lists more than 60 partners, including Dalet, Telestream DIVA, Vidispine, Marquis, Axle AI, Cantemo, Archiware, Evertz, Veeam and Commvault.

| Model | Position in the range | Capacity (Disk Archive figures) | Expansion |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALTO-III | Disk Archive’s flagship enterprise archive | 60 disk slots in a 4RU enclosure: 1,320 TB with 22 TB disks. Dual 10GbE networking | Up to 10 expansion enclosures of 60 slots each per node |
| ALTO SX | Compact offline archive for space-constrained and transportable installations | 24 disks, up to 500 TB in 4U with 22 TB disks. Replication 2x or 3x | Up to 4 expansion enclosures per node, over 2.5 PB raw |
| ALTO ARX | Entry-level archive for small workgroups, supplied with disks | 50 TB or 100 TB configurations | Expand from 50 TB to 100 TB, with a migration path to ALTO-III |

Newer Disk Archive material quotes higher capacities with 26 TB and 30 TB disks; capacity depends on the disks chosen. NFS is not listed among ALTO’s interfaces. Sources: [ALTO partners](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-partners), [ALTO-III](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-iii), [ALTO SX](https://www.diskarchive.com/sx-archive), [ALTO ARX](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-arx), [S3 COLD launch](https://www.diskarchive.com/post/disk-archive-launches-new-s3-cold-interface-for-alto-at-ibc-2025-expanding-deep-archiving).

Use cases

## Where a disk-based archive fits

ALTO suits large collections that must be kept for years, are opened occasionally, and need to come back in minutes rather than hours. The customers named below are Disk Archive’s own, not PRO TECHnology projects.

### Broadcast and media libraries

Programmes and footage pile up faster than production storage can grow. A media asset manager moves finished material to ALTO and pulls it back on request. Disk Archive cites ITV running redundant ALTO systems across two data centres with Vidispine.

### Film and post-production

Finished projects leave expensive edit storage but may be needed again. Disk Archive documents Marquis Project Parking for Avid workgroups, which keeps projects in their original folder structure so they remain readable.

### Enterprise historical data

Records, project files and research data must be retained but are rarely opened. IT teams without a media asset manager can use ALTO Connect’s SMB share. Disk Archive also lists biomedical imaging, meteorology and banking data among its markets.

### Surveillance and evidence retention

Disk Archive lists legal evidence and surveillance archives, and documents Milestone XProtect integration through Tiger Technology. Storing data on ALTO does not by itself make a retention workflow compliant; access control, retention rules and chain of custody remain your processes.

Sources: Disk Archive, [ALTO references](https://www.diskarchive.com/alto-references), [Marquis](https://www.diskarchive.com/marquis), [management team](https://www.diskarchive.com/management-team), [surveillance archives](https://www.diskarchive.com/post/petabyte-surveillance-systems).

Comparison

## Disk-based archive, LTO tape and cloud archive compared

No approach is right for every archive. The table compares how each works in operation. It does not compare prices, which depend on volume, retention and contract terms.

|  | Disk-based archive (ALTO) | LTO tape | Cloud archive tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and location | Hardware on your premises; standard commercial disks | Drives, cartridges and often a robotic library, on premises or with cartridges stored off site | Storage in the provider’s data centres, paid per gigabyte |
| Retrieval | Disk spin-up; Disk Archive quotes 30 to 60 seconds for online copies | Depends on the drive, whether the cartridge is in the library and on seek time | Objects are restored first: typically within 12 hours on S3 Glacier Deep Archive (standard), up to 15 hours on Azure Archive for objects under 10 GB |
| Offline protection | A replica disk set can be removed to a vault | Cartridges removed from the library are offline; LTO-9 supports hardware encryption and WORM media | Protection depends on account security and the provider’s controls |
| Generation changes | Disk Archive states that no migration is needed and larger disks can be added | LTO-9 drives read LTO-8 and LTO-9 only; LTO-10 drives read no earlier generation | Media is the provider’s concern; moving providers means moving the data |
| Integration | SMB, REST API, FTP/FXP, S3 COLD; more than 60 listed partners | Through archive management software | S3 or provider APIs, supported by many MAM systems |
| Ongoing cost factors | Hardware, disks, rack space, power and support; Disk Archive states there are no egress fees | Drives, library, media, generation upgrades and off-site storage | Monthly storage, minimum storage periods (180 days on both services named above), retrieval and data transfer charges |

**Limitations to weigh.** ALTO needs on-site rack space, power and staff to handle disks, and it has no robotic library, so shelving disks is a manual job. Tape has the longest-established practice for offline and WORM copies. Cloud archive avoids on-site hardware but adds restore delays and per-gigabyte charges. Disk Archive itself positions ALTO as complementing the cloud rather than replacing it, and many organisations combine two of these approaches.

Sources: [LTO-9](https://www.lto.org/lto-9/), [LTO-10](https://www.lto.org/lto-10/) and [LTO compatibility](https://www.lto.org/lto-generation-compatibility/) (LTO Program); [S3 retrieval options](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/restoring-objects-retrieval-options.html) and [S3 storage classes](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/storage-class-intro.html) (AWS); [Azure archive rehydration](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/blobs/archive-rehydrate-overview) (Microsoft); Disk Archive, [home page](https://www.diskarchive.com/) and [tape library migration](https://www.diskarchive.com/post/the-end-of-life-tape-library-predicament-what-is-the-best-migration-strategy).

Buyer requirements

## What we need to size your archive

These inputs decide the model, the number and size of disks, the replication factor, whether you need a vault set or a second site, and the integration work. Together they set the scope and cost of the project.

| Input | What it decides |
|---|---|
| Current archive volume | The starting model, disk count and disk size |
| Expected annual growth | How many expansion enclosures or disks to plan for, and when |
| Retention period | How long the system and its disks must stay in service, and when disks are refreshed |
| Frequency and urgency of retrieval | Whether spin-up retrieval is enough, how many copies stay online, and how shelved disks are handled |
| Existing MAM, DAM or archive software | The connection method (SMB, REST API, FTP or S3) and the integration work |
| Number of copies and off-site requirements | The replication factor, a second system in another building, or a vault set of disks |
| Network and infrastructure | Network connections, rack space and power at the installation site |
| Installation location | Delivery, installation planning and the local support arrangement |

Retention periods

## How long records must be kept in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

Retention law sets how long an archive has to hold material, which drives its size, its replication factor and when disks are refreshed. These are minimum periods from the laws themselves; sector regulators and contracts can require longer, and none of these laws prescribes a storage medium.

| Records | Minimum period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UAE: commercial books and business correspondence | At least 5 years | [Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022](https://assets.u.ae/api/public/content/79793d384f884bccb59171817ba1e9d4?v=a51ac7b6) (Commercial Transactions), Article 29 |
| UAE: corporate tax records | 7 years after the end of the tax period | [Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022](https://mof.gov.ae/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Federal-Decree-Law-No.-47-of-2022-EN.pdf) (Corporate Tax), Article 56 |
| UAE: health information and data kept through ICT | At least 25 years from the last health procedure | [Federal Law No. 2 of 2019](https://www.ehs.gov.ae/app_content/legislations/php-law-en-77/files/basic-html/page7.html) (ICT in health fields) |
| Saudi Arabia: commercial books and supporting documents | At least 10 years | [Law of Commercial Books](https://misa.gov.sa/app/uploads/2025/07/Law-of-Commercial-Books.pdf), Article 8 |

For backup duties under the UAE Information Assurance Standard, ADHICS and NCA’s controls, see our [backup and disaster recovery guide](https://www.protechnology.ae/data-backup-disaster-recovery-uae-business-continuity#regulations).

Frequently asked questions

## Disk Archive ALTO: common questions

**What is Disk Archive ALTO?**

ALTO, short for Alternative to LTO, is an on-premises archive system from Disk Archive Corporation, a UK company founded in 2008. It stores files on standard hard disks that stay spun down when not in use, and writes two or more complete copies of each file to separate disks. The range includes ALTO-III, ALTO SX and ALTO ARX.

**Is long-term archiving the same as backup?**

No. Backup keeps restorable copies of current data so you can recover from deletion, failure or ransomware, and it changes every day. An archive holds data you must keep for years but rarely open, often after it has left working storage. An archive still needs its own second copy, which ALTO provides through replication. Our backup and disaster recovery guide covers backup strategy.

**Who supplies Disk Archive solutions in the UAE?**

PRO TECHnology, based in Dubai, partnered with Disk Archive Corporation in March 2026 to offer ALTO in the Middle East. It gathers requirements, sizes and quotes systems, supplies them, and installs and supports them locally for UAE organisations.

**Is disk-based archiving suitable for media libraries?**

Often, yes. Disk Archive designed ALTO for film, television and other media libraries, and it integrates with media asset management systems such as Dalet, Telestream DIVA, Vidispine and Marquis for Avid workgroups. It suits libraries that need files back in minutes rather than hours. It is not working storage, so editors restore material to production storage rather than editing from the archive.

**What information is needed to size an archive?**

The current archive volume, expected growth per year, how long the data must be kept, how often and how urgently files are retrieved, the MAM, DAM or archive software in use, how many copies you need and where, your network and rack space, and where the system will be installed. The sizing table on this page explains what each input decides.

**How does offline archiving work?**

ALTO keeps idle disks spun down inside the system, and Disk Archive calls unmounted disks a virtual air gap. For a physical air gap, a full set of replica disks is removed and kept in a vault, tracked by QR code labels, while the primary copies stay online. If a file’s only available copy is on the shelf, ALTO Connect reports where that disk is kept. An offline copy is not the same as immutable storage.

**Can it integrate with our existing archive workflow?**

In most cases. ALTO offers a CIFS/SMB file system through ALTO Connect, a REST-based API, FTP and FXP, and an on-premises S3 interface called S3 COLD. Disk Archive lists more than 60 integration partners. NFS is not listed, so confirm how your software connects before the system is sized.

**What is the alternative to LTO tape for a long-term archive?**

The main alternatives are a disk-based archive such as Disk Archive ALTO and a cloud archive tier. ALTO keeps files on standard hard disks that stay spun down until needed, returns online files in 30 to 60 seconds by Disk Archive’s figures, and avoids tape generation migrations; tape keeps the longest-established practice for offline and WORM copies; cloud avoids on-site hardware but adds restore delays and per-gigabyte charges. The comparison table above sets them side by side.

**Can organisations in Saudi Arabia buy Disk Archive ALTO through PRO TECHnology?**

Yes. The partnership with Disk Archive Corporation covers the Middle East, and Saudi enquiries are handled by PRONEXT, PRO TECHnology’s company in Riyadh. What is done on site in the Kingdom and what is supported from Dubai is agreed for each project and written into the quotation.

**How long must business records be kept in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?**

In the UAE, commercial books and correspondence for at least 5 years, corporate tax records for 7 years after the tax period, and health information for at least 25 years. In Saudi Arabia, commercial books and their supporting documents for at least 10 years. Sector rules and contracts can require longer.

Next step

## Discuss your archive requirements

Send us five facts about your archive and the Enterprise IT team will come back with a proposed ALTO configuration and the questions that remain.

- **Archive size:** how much data you hold today
- **Annual growth:** how much you add each year
- **Existing software:** the MAM, DAM, archive or backup software in use
- **Retrieval needs:** how often files come back and how quickly they are needed
- **Location:** where the system will be installed, and any second site

[Contact the Enterprise IT team](https://www.protechnology.ae/contact-us) Email your archive details

Or call +971 4 343 5501 or email sales@protech.ae. For the wider storage, backup and device picture, see our [Enterprise IT solutions](https://www.protechnology.ae/enterprise-and-corporate-it-solutions).