According to the present invention a data card is provided which comprises a heat-mode laser recording medium on a support and wherein said laser recorder medium is covered by a thin flexible glass layer. The data card has a higher mechanical strength, an improved shelf-life and offers better security with regard to counterfeiting. The heat-mode laser recording medium is preferably a metal layer of which the optical reflectivity or density can be changed by laser exposure. The glass layer is preferably a borosilicate glass having a thickness less than 850 .mu.m.