Abstract: A surface treatment is provided for magnetic media, in particular metal evaporated magnetic tape, that prevents or reduces corrosion in the media. A corrosion inhibitor and a coupling agent are added to a carrier, such as ethanol, and applied directly to the magnetic media. The corrosion inhibitor is advantageously a derivative of sarcosine, preferably N-methyl-N-(1-oxo-9-octadeconyl)glycine, and is added in an amount up to about 0.5 wt. %. The coupling agent is advantageously an organofunctional silane, preferably 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and is added in an amount up to about 0.3 wt. %. This formula is particularly suitable for preventing corrosion in cobalt evaporated magnetic tape.