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What is Storage?
Storage is a process through which digital data is saved within a data storage device by means of computing technology. Storage is a mechanism that enables a computer to retain data, either temporarily or permanently.
Storage may also be referred to as computer data storage or electronic data storage.
Key Takeaways
- Storage saves digital data on a device, allowing it to be kept temporarily or permanently.
- After a command, data is stored and organized by the operating system, with storage controllers managing data transfer and keeping it secure.
- Storage devices include hard drives, flash drives, and cloud systems managed by systems like NAS, SAN, and DAS.
- RAM is used for short-term tasks and is cleared when turned off, while storage keeps data permanently.
- Data security involves encryption, access control, and virus protection to stop unauthorized access or damage.
How Data Storage Works
After a software command is issued by the user, digital data is stored inside the appropriate device. The computer’s operating system (OS) helps organize this data into files and folders so it can be found easily later, with file systems like NTFS or FAT32 deciding how data is stored and retrieved, keeping everything organized.
Storage controllers are crucial because they manage how the processor communicates with storage devices. They make sure data is transferred smoothly and correctly, handling both the reading and writing of data. These controllers also check for errors and fix them to maintain data integrity.
Types of Storage Devices and Systems
Storage devices include a broad range of different magnetic, optical, flash, and virtual drives. They can be either internal (if they’re part of the computer’s hardware), external (if they are installed outside the computer), or removable (if they can be plugged in and removed without opening the computer).
Common storage devices that are in use or have been used in the past include:
- Hard disks
- Flash drives
- Floppy disks
- Tape drives
- CD-ROM disks
- Blu-ray disks
- Memory cards
- Cloud drives
In addition to individual devices, storage systems are part of the infrastructure used to manage and store data, and these systems are also offered by data storage vendors.
These systems include:
How to Measure Storage Amounts
Data size is measured in bits (the smallest unit of measure of computer memory), but larger amounts are typically measured in bytes, where 1 byte equals 8 bits.
From there, storage is measured in increasing units such as:
- Kilobyte (KB): 1,024 bytes.
- Megabyte (MB): 1,024 kilobytes.
- Gigabyte (GB): 1,024 megabytes.
- Terabyte (TB): 1,024 gigabytes.
- Petabyte (PB): 1,024 terabytes, commonly used in large-scale data centers.
Storage capabilities have increased significantly in the last few decades, jumping up from the old 5.25-inch disks of the 1980s, which held 360 kilobytes, to the modern hard drives, which can hold several terabytes. Today, modern data storage vendors provide flexible solutions that help companies increase their storage capacity depending on how much data they need to store.
Common Storage Devices Configurations
Storage configurations refer to how storage devices are set up within a system to meet specific needs such as speed, data protection, or storage space. Different configurations are chosen based on the system’s requirements.
Common configurations include:
This is a common setup in DAS and NAS systems. RAID combines multiple drives into one unit to improve speed, provide backup, or both. There are different types of RAID (e.g., RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5), each offering a different balance of speed and data protection.
In this setup, multiple hard drives are combined into a single large volume. It doesn’t provide data protection or speed improvements, but it’s useful when more storage space is needed.
This setup stores data in different types of storage devices. For example, fast SSDs can store important data, while slower HDDs store less-used data. This configuration is often used in SAN and cloud systems to balance speed and cost.
This setup mixes local storage (on-premise) with cloud storage. Important data that needs quick access is kept locally, while less important data is stored in the cloud. This offers a good balance of accessibility, performance, and storage space.
Storage vs. RAM
Storage can be classified into two major types:
In contrast, storage holds data permanently until it is manually deleted. Although storage is slower than RAM, it can handle significantly larger amounts of data.
Storage Hierarchy
Storage hierarchy is the process of organizing data into different levels, called tiers, based on performance, capacity, and other needs. Companies use tiered storage to automatically place data in the right tier.
Primary storage is fast and includes devices like SSDs and HDDs. It supports everyday tasks and important business operations.
Secondary storage is slower but can hold more data. It is used for backups, archives, and data that is not needed as often. Many businesses now also use cloud storage as part of their secondary storage to create hybrid systems for added flexibility.
Data Storage Security
Data storage security is the process of keeping data stored on devices or in the cloud safe from unauthorized access, damage, or loss. This is important for businesses because data breaches often happen when storage security fails. To maintain data integrity, companies often work with data storage vendors that provide these security elements.
Some key ways to protect data storage include:
- Data encryption: Encrypting data makes it unreadable to anyone who doesn’t have the right key.
- Access controls: Only authorized people should be able to access the stored data.
- Virus and malware protection: Security software helps protect against harmful programs that can damage or steal data.
Physical security of storage devices, strong policies, and regular checks also play a major role in keeping data safe.
The Bottom Line
Understanding the storage definition is important for managing and protecting digital data. From short-term memory like RAM to long-term storage like hard drives and cloud storage, each type has a specific role in modern computing. Following good security practices helps businesses prevent data breaches.
