Patent ID: 8346733

Claim:
A method of automatically performing a restore operation at a restore location within a data storage system that is operated by a first company and comprises a media library, the method comprising: performing a data storage operation within the data storage system that results in storing data in a physical, removable media component, wherein the stored data is useable to perform a restore operation; sending the physical, removable media component that stores data that is useable to perform a restore operation to an offsite location; wherein the offsite location is remote from the media library of the data storage system; and wherein the offsite location is operated by a second company that is different than the first company that operates the data storage system; receiving an automated indication to retrieve a physical, removable media component to perform the restore operation; automatically identifying, using a processor and memory, the offsite physical, removable media component that stores data that is useable to perform the restore operation; automatically identifying the offsite location of the physical, removable media component that stores data that is useable to perform the restore operation; automatically recalling from the offsite storage location, and to the restore location, the physical, removable media component that stores data that is useable to perform a restore operation; at the restore location, automatically recovering data by performing a restore operation using the data that is stored on the recalled physical, removable media component; and, automatically comparing the recalled physical, removable media component to the identified physical, removable media component; and automatically recovering data only if the comparison determines that the recalled physical, removable media component is the identified physical, removable media component.