A system to facilitate secure virtual tape management with early read support options, which system comprises: at least one mainframe host processor central processing unit having a catalog storing tape related information and having an operator console communicably attached thereto; a primary virtual tape management central processing unit having an adaptor for communicating with said mainframe host processor and having software (106, 109) for facilitating remote configuration and utilization of said virtual tape management central processing unit; a virtual tape system catalog storing tape related information, said virtual tape system catalog being updated on creation of a tape image, on movement of a tape image, or on instruction from a remote security administrator central processing unit, wherein said virtual tape system catalog is communicably attached to said primary virtual tape management central processing unit; one or more remote data storage devices in communication with said virtual tape management central processing unit for receiving, storing and recalling tape images; at least one secondary mainframe host central processing unit having a catalog storing tape related information and having an operator console communicably attached thereto; a secondary virtual tape management central processing unit having an adaptor for communicating with said secondary mainframe host and having software (138, 140) for facilitating remote configuration and utilization of said secondary virtual tape management central processing unit; characterized in that the system comprises software resident on said virtual tape system catalog to monitor said tape related information and corresponding tape related activities on said primary virtual tape management central processing unit for a data set or volume serial number match with said tape related information on said virtual tape system catalog and to initiate communication and reading of data from said one or more remote data storage devices by said secondary virtual tape management central processing unit, where such initiation of communication occurs immediately upon detecting said data set or volume serial number match and prior to the mainframe host processor central processing unit completing its use of the primary virtual tape management central processing unit. at least one mainframe host processor central processing unit having a catalog storing tape related information and having an operator console communicably attached thereto; a primary virtual tape management central processing unit having an adaptor for communicating with said mainframe host processor and having software (106, 109) for facilitating remote configuration and utilization of said virtual tape management central processing unit; a virtual tape system catalog storing tape related information, said virtual tape system catalog being updated on creation of a tape image, on movement of a tape image, or on instruction from a remote security administrator central processing unit, wherein said virtual tape system catalog is communicably attached to said primary virtual tape management central processing unit; one or more remote data storage devices in communication with said virtual tape management central processing unit for receiving, storing and recalling tape images; at least one secondary mainframe host central processing unit having a catalog storing tape related information and having an operator console communicably attached thereto; a secondary virtual tape management central processing unit having an adaptor for communicating with said secondary mainframe host and having software (138, 140) for facilitating remote configuration and utilization of said secondary virtual tape management central processing unit; characterized in that the system comprises software resident on said virtual tape system catalog to monitor said tape related information and corresponding tape related activities on said primary virtual tape management central processing unit for a data set or volume serial number match with said tape related information on said virtual tape system catalog and to initiate communication and reading of data from said one or more remote data storage devices by said secondary virtual tape management central processing unit, where such initiation of communication occurs immediately upon detecting said data set or volume serial number match and prior to the mainframe host processor central processing unit completing its use of the primary virtual tape management central processing unit.