LAWRENCE, Kan. — April 14, 2026 — Cobalt Iron, a leading provider of SaaS-based enterprise data protection, today announced the launch of Compass Tape Gateway™ (CTG), a transformative enhancement to its Compass® enterprise backup platform. CTG redefines virtual tape library (VTL) functionality by delivering a fully automated, software-defined solution that integrates IBM i workloads into a unified, policy-driven data protection framework.
“IBM i customers continue to face high costs and operational burdens from current tape products on the market,” said Michael Miller, IBM Champion and Enterprise Architect at Pellera Technologies. “Compass Tape Gateway eliminates these challenges, delivering the benefits of a VTL with modern automation, cyber protection, and secure multitenancy.”
Simplified, Automated Operations
Unlike legacy VTLs that require manual configuration, hardware installation, and ongoing maintenance, CTG is provisioned in minutes and managed entirely through the Compass SaaS platform. This eliminates the need for firmware updates, BIOS patches, or operating system maintenance, ensuring that CTG is always current, secure, and optimized. Delivered as software-as-a-service, CTG simplifies operations and reduces costs while enhancing cyber resilience.
First-Class Support for IBM i
CTG treats IBM i as a first-class citizen in enterprise data protection. Historically siloed from broader backup strategies, IBM i systems can now be integrated alongside AIX, Linux, Windows, and other platforms within a single, centralized environment. This integration eliminates the need for specialized tools or teams and supports policy-based data sovereignty, allowing organizations to restrict replication to specific geographic regions to comply with regulations such as GDPR.
Built-In Cybersecurity: Zero Access® Architecture
Built on Cobalt Iron’s patented Zero Access® architecture, CTG replaces common enterprise access points with a hermetically sealed, automated security infrastructure. Unlike zero trust models that aim to prevent unauthorized access, Zero Access eliminates logins and access to the operating system, backup server software, storage repositories, and related tools. This approach blocks attack vectors and simplifies compliance by removing credential management and access audits. Additional security features include multilayer encryption, immutability, ransomware detection, logical air-gap zones, and audit-ready reporting.
Flexible Deployment Options
CTG supports flexible deployment models tailored to modern enterprise needs. Organizations can back up IBM i systems on-premises and replicate data to the IBM Cloud for disaster recovery or deploy CTG in cloud-only environments via IBM Power Virtual Server. Hybrid replication across multiple data centers is also supported, with built-in traffic shaping to control bandwidth and avoid disruption to business-critical operations. Through the IBM Cloud Catalog, CTG can be deployed and ready for production in just 15 minutes, requiring no hardware setup or software installation.
Cost-Effective, Scalable Pricing
CTG is included with the Compass platform at no additional charge. Customers pay only for the stored volume of protected data after deduplication and compression, with predictable per-gigabyte pricing. The platform supports multitenant environments, enabling managed service providers and large enterprises to segment workloads by team, department, or customer — all without requiring separate infrastructure or complex licensing.
“Compass Tape Gateway represents a strategic expansion of Cobalt Iron’s support for IBM workloads and reflects our commitment to simplifying enterprise backup,” said Greg Tevis, vice president of product at Cobalt Iron. “By eliminating operational burdens and integrating IBM i into a modern, scalable, and secure platform, CTG empowers organizations to future-proof their data protection strategies across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud-first environments.”
CTG is available via the IBM Cloud Marketplace or by contacting Cobalt Iron for a free 30-day trial at info@cobaltiron.com.