Storage is a process through which digital data is saved within a data storage device by means of computing technology. It is a mechanism that enables a computer to retain data, either temporarily or permanently.

The devices such as flash drives and hard disks are a fundamental component of most digital devices since they allow users to preserve all kinds of information such as videos, documents, pictures and raw data.

It may also be referred to as computer data or electronic data.

It is among the key components of a computer system and can be classified into several forms, although there are two major types:

Memory: Requires a continuous supply of electricity to store/retain data. It acts as a computer’s primary storage for temporarily storing data and handling application workloads. Examples of non-volatile include cache memory and random access memory (RAM).

Non-Volatile: A type of mechanism that retains digital data even if it’s powered off or isn’t supplied with electrical power. This is often referred to as a secondary mechanism, and is used for permanent data storage requiring I/O operations.

It is often confused for memory, although in computing the two terms have different meanings. Memory refers to short-term location of temporary data, while the devices, in fact, store data on a long-term basis for later uses and access. While memory is cleared every time a computer is turned off, stored data is saved and stays intact until it’s manually deleted. Primary or volatile storage tends to me much faster than secondary storage due to its proximity to the processor, but it’s also comparably smaller. Secondary storage can hold and handle significantly larger sizes of data, and keeps it inactive until it’s needed again.

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). It also includes many forms of virtual and online storage devices such as cloud to allow users to access their data from multiple devices.

Common storage devices that are in use or have been used in the past include:

Hard disks.
Flash drives.
Floppy diskettes.
Tape drives.
CD-ROM disks.
Blu-ray disks.
Memory cards.
Cloud drives.

Cackle Telecommunications is proud to provide Storage to NZ businesses. Choose from a selection of vendors, explore our products to find the right solution for you.