data storage - personal

Question 1

data storage

Answer 1

refers to the ability of a computer/electronic device to retain information over time
- allows saving + retrieving of data

Question 2

primary vs secondary storage

Answer 2

primary: volatile
- RAM + cache
- cache closer to CPU, stores frequently accessed data for high speed
secondary: non-volatile
- retains data when power is off, for long-term storage
- HDDs and SDDs and optical drives

Question 3

data storage methods

Answer 3

refers to the processes and tech that stores + manages digital data

Question 4

storage methods for personal data

Answer 4

can be local, cloud-based, or mobile-based
- local: saving data on computer’s hard drive, or portable devices like USB
- managed by OS, can be encrypted

Question 5

hard drives

Answer 5

• HDDs + SSDs store data from computers/other digital devices
• HDDs: a disk, using magnetic pulses to show zeros and ones; susceptible to wear and are slower bcuz moving parts
• SSDs: flash memory chips, memory cells accessed electronically; faster, reliable, lower power consumption bcuz no moving parts

Question 6

portable hard disks

Answer 6

• USB, thumb or flash drives
• USB: uses USB ports, cheap, variety of storage capacities
• Portable hard drives: larger, more storage capacity, used for backing up data/storing large files; also uses USB, powered by USB or external power source

Question 7

mobile storage

Answer 7

• mobile devices can store personal data w/ limited capacity
• if used for sensitive information, use safety measures; passwords, encryption, biometric data

Question 8

cloud storage

Answer 8

• provides remote access to data via the internet
• accessed using web browsers/dedicated apps and maintained by cloud storage providers like Microsoft and Google
• servers maintained in data centers, can store data so it can be accessed from any device with internet through login
• data replication: data broken into blocks, distributed across multiple servers + centers; makes sure data = always available
• usually encrypted in transit and at rest; until authorized users access it