Types of Storage
The following is a list of the most popular types of storage used for data backup.
Local Storage Options
1. External Hard Drive
These are hard drives similar to the type that is installed within a desktop computer or
laptop computer. The difference being that they can be plugged in to the computer or
removed and kept separate from the main computer. They typically come in two sizes:
Desktop External Hard drive: Uses a 3.5 inch hard drive similar to that used in desktop
computers.
Portable External Hard drive: Uses a 2.5 inch hard drive similar to that used in laptops.
Desktop External Hard Drives are generally cheaper than Portable External Hard Drives for the same
storage space. Desktop External Hard Drives and usually faster and more robust.
Capacity: 160GB to 3TB (approx. 3000GB)
Connection: Most common connections to the computer are through a USB 2.0 or USB3.0 connection.
May also be available in a SATA or eSATA connector
Advantages:
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Very good option for local backups of large amounts of data.
The cheapest storage option in terms of dollars per GB. Very reliable when handled with care
Disadvantages:
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Can be very delicate. May be damaged if dropped or through electrical surge
2. Solid State Drive (SSD)
Solid State Drives look and function similar to traditional mechanical/ magnetic
hard drives but the similarities stop there. Internally, they are completely different.
They have no moving parts or rotating platters. They rely solely on
semiconductors and electronics for data storage making it a more reliable and
robust than traditional mechanical hard drives. No moving parts also means that
they use less power than traditional hard drives and are much faster too.
With the prices of Solid State Drives coming down and is lower power usage, SSD’s are used extensively
on laptops and mobile devices. External SSD’s are also a viable option for data backups.
Capacity: 64GB to 256GB
Connections: USB 2.0/3.0 and SATA
Advantages:
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Faster read and write performance
More robust and reliable than traditional magnetic hard drives
Highly portable. Can be easily taken offsite
Disadvantages:
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Still relatively expensive when compared to traditional hard drives
Storage space is typically less than that of traditional magnetic hard drives.
3. Network Attached Storage (NAS)
NAS are simply one or more regular IDE or SATA hard drives plugged in an array
storage enclosure and connected to a network Router or Hub through an Ethernet
port. Some of these NAS enclosures have ventilating fans to protect the hard drives
from overheating.
Advantages:
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• Very good option for local backups especially for networks and small
businesses.
As several hard drives can be plugged in, NAS can hold very large amounts of data
Can be setup with Redundancy (RAID) increasing the reliability and/ or read and write
performance. Depending on the type of RAID level used, the NAS can still function even if one
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hard drive in the RAID set fails. Or two hard drives can be setup to double the read and write
speed of single hard drive.
The drive is always connected and available to the network making the NAS a good option for
implementing automated scheduled backups.
Disadvantages:
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Significantly more expensive than using single External Hard Drives
Difficult to bring offsite making it very much a local backup hence still susceptible to some events
like theft and floods, fire etc.
4. USB Thumb Drive or Flash Drive
These are similar to Solid State Drives except that it is much smaller in size and
capacity. They have no moving parts making them quite robust. They are extremely
portable and can fit on a keychain. They are Ideal for backing up a small amount of
data that need to be brought with you on the go.
Capacity: 4GB to 256GB
Advantages:
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The most portable storage option. Can fit on a keychain making it an offsite backup when you bring
it with you.
Much more robust than traditional magnetic hard drives
Disadvantages:
Relatively expensive per GB so can only be used for backing up a small amount of data
5. Optical Drive (CD/ DVD)
CD’s and DVD’s are ideal for storing a list of songs, movies, media or software for
distribution or for giving to a friend due to the very low cost per disk. They do not
make good storage options for backups due to their shorter lifespan, small storage
space and slower read and write speeds.
Capacity CD: 650MB to 900MB
Capacity DVD: 4.7GB to 17.08GB
Advantages:
• Low cost per disk
Disadvantages:
• Relatively shorter life span than other storage options
• Not as reliable as other storage options like external hard disk and SSD. One damaged disk in a
backup set can make the whole backup unusable.
Remote Storage Options
6. Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is storage space on commercial data center accessible from any
computer with Internet access. It is usually provided by a service provider. A
limited storage space may be provided free with more space available for a
subscription fee. Examples of service providers are Amazon S3, Google Drive,
Sky Drive etc.
Advantages:
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A very good offsite backup. Not affected by events and disasters such as theft, floods, fire etc.
Disadvantages:
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More expensive than traditional external hard drives. Often requires an ongoing subscription.
Requires an Internet connection to access the cloud storage.
Much slower than other local backups
Types of Storage
Name:
Ver. 02A
Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
1. What size hard drive does a Portable External Hard Drive use?
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2. What are the most common connections for External Hard Drives?
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3. Which hard drive design is faster, Solid State Storage or the traditional Mechanical Hard Drive design?
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4. What is one disadvantage of using an External Hard Drive?
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5. Name one difference between a Solid State Drive and a USB Thumb Drive.
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6. Is internet access necessary in order to make use of Cloud Storage?
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7. List one disadvantage that a Flash Drive has over an External Hard Drive.
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8. What is one advantage of using an External Hard Drive over other forms of storage?
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9. List one advantage that a CD or DVD Optical Drive has over other data storage devices.
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10. Do Solid State Drives have any moving parts?
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Levering 2016