Flash storage is a data storage technology which uses high-speed, electrically programmable memory (flash memory) to store data. It was given the name flash because of rapid speed it writes and performs random I/O operations. It has several unique characteristics that make it ideal for enterprise data storage.
The Flash memory that this storage uses, is a type of nonvolatile memory, which means that it does not need power to preserve the integrity of the stored data. So, when the disk is switched off the data is not ‘forgotten’, unlike random access memory (RAM) which is also fast but cannot store data without power.
What are the advantages of flash storage?
Flash storage solutions have been rapidly growing in usage over the past few years, thanks to a few key attributes that bring big business benefit, and lower costs:
- Speed– It’s not just a little faster than HDD technology, top vendors boast of 20x the performance. The speed of flash boosts the performance of common business applications and processes, improving user experience and efficiency and business productivity.
- Lower total cost of ownership – It’s true that prices of flash storage have been falling but compared to traditional storage it’s generally still more expensive per useable GB. However, this doesn’t take into consideration the performance efficiency that’s achieved with flash storage, which makes price per GB per second a better comparison and narrows that price difference. And there are further cost-saving achieved with flash storage; generally, it has a smaller footprint, lower power consumption (because there are no moving parts) and therefore requires less cooling.
- Reliable – With no moving parts, flash storage has an advantage over tape or spinning disks, in that it’s less likely to break or fail particularly when it’s being moved around.
- Future ready – Flash storage can help future-proof your infrastructure, with solutions offering high scalability, cloud-integration, hybrid options, ease of install and support. Therefore, you can choose the type of flash storage you need that best fits your business roadmap.
Considering upgrading your infrastructure?
Here at Probrand, we’re as committed to your business's success as you are. Get in touch today for a free infrastructure review with one of our technical team for advice on the best options for your next storage purchase.