Data Storage

Introduction

The world needs an abundance of data storage as more information is made available and relayed more quickly and efficiently now more than ever. With new technology such as the internet and smartphones, it is important that people have the data storage available to save and download music or take and share pictures with friends. With this kind of information, people are able to keep or share personal data, connect with others, and even push a button on their phone that tells their Roomba to vacuum the living room. Because we live in a digital world, everything is stored online. Most of our data needs to be digital so that important information can be saved and accessed more quickly and effectively. Information such as banking, business, and government files are stored digitally to make them more accessible. However, this can take up an unnecessary amount of storage. There are many factors, such as space and natural resources, that can affect the sustainability of long-term data storage. In order to download music or send texts, there needs to be more space for computers to hold the data. Data is very valuable, not just to the individual but to companies, organizations, and hackers. Companies and organizations use data to further their business, by making marketing decisions that attract new and returning customers. Data is unfortunately also valuable to hackers. Hackers can send spam emails that trick people into sharing sensitive personal information. The need for more storage is just as important as protecting it.

Obsolete Media

Cloud Storgae

Technological advancements have made data easier to store, retrieve, and share anywhere through the cloud. Where files were once stored on multiple different platforms, such as floppy disks and eventually flash drives, the cloud holds all information in one convenient place that can be accessed in many different locations. Cloud storage is an off-site data storage system. Rather than storing information to a flash drive or a computer's hard drive, individuals who use the cloud can save their work to a remote database. The cloud is useful in so many ways! Not only does it automatically save corrections on homework, but it also makes saving edits easy when the device is not connected to the internet. Donald Knuth says, “computer programming is an art, because it applies accumulated knowledge to the world, because it requires skill and ingenuity, and especially because it produces objects of beauty.” The cloud also allows one to save photos and videos directly to it so that it does not take up storage space on my phone or computer. However, the biggest advantage to using cloud storage is that it allows multiple people to use it at the same time and collaborate on each other's work. This is super helpful when sharing documents with fellow students and teachers, as well as family and friends. This makes it easy to receive instant feedback, rather than waiting to make a special trip or sending time sensitive documents by mail.

3-2-1 Backup Plan

A backup plan is necessary to keep important information and documents up to date and safe from being lost. The leading causes to data loss are human error, software corruption, and the leader of the pack, hard drive damage. To reduce the risk of data loss, an individual must have more than one copy of their information. Having duplicate copies of important information stored in different locations greatly reduces the risk of data loss. The best way to protect important information is by using the 3-2-1 rule. The 3-2-1 is a backup strategy that includes three copies of an individual's data, stored in two local and different media, and one “off-site” copy (The 3-2-1 rule, Yev). My 3-2-1 backup plan includes a copy saved to a hard drive and a flash drive as two examples of local, different media locations, and my Google Drive or Cloud Storage as the “off-site” location. This is so I have access to my important documents using a different device. It is important to take the appropriate steps, such as the 3-2-1 backup rule, to protect valued information stored on a computer. Tyler Shields once said, “photographers can create moments that will never happen again by last a lifetime”. While some work can be redone, family photos are at risk for being lost permanently (Tyler Shields, Picture Quote).