Chapter 3

Portable hard drives can be Solid State Drives (SSDs) or Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). Explain why the SSD may be better to use than the HDD.

• The SSD is more portable

• The seek time in the SSD is smaller

• The data transfer rate in the SSD is better/smaller

• There is less chance of the data becoming corrupted as it can save whilst the drive is being moved

• The SSD is smaller/thinner

• The SSD uses less energy SSD is more robust as no moving parts

Identify two appropriate devices that could be used to store data for the newsletter

1 Flash memory

2 Internal storage

—> SSD, SD card

The program collects a large amount of data and this could be stored using either a fixed solid-state drive (SSD) or cloud storage. The developer is planning to use cloud storage.

(a) Describe four advantages to the school of using cloud storage rather than using the SSD.

• The cloud has greater storage capacity

• The data could be sent directly to/from the cloud from any computer/device

• Storage capacity can be increased without adding additional physical devices

• Many people can share the data

• The school would only pay for the storage used

• There is an automatic backup of data

(b) Describe three disadvantages to the school of using cloud storage rather than using the SSD.

• More security issues as multiple copies of the data are stored

• The school loses control over the storage of the data

• Cloud storage has an ongoing cost

• Users must have a reliable internet connection to store data

• Users must have an internet connection to access data

Many students prefer to store data on external storage devices like pen drives or portable hard disk drives. Describe advantages of using a pen drive rather than a portable hard disk drive.

• Is more robust as no moving parts

• Can be more easily carried

• Use less power

• Have faster data access

• Have faster data transfer times

Many organisations store data in the cloud.

(a) Explain what is meant by the ICT term cloud.

• Cloud consists of large groups of remote networked servers

• They allow centralised data storage

• Offsite data storage/servers owned by a third party

• Accessed from any internet compatible device

• Access from anywhere with an internet connection

(b) Explain the issues of storing data in the cloud.

• Loss of control of the data as the data is controlled by a data storage provider

• Data can be affected without the user knowing

• The data remains on the server for a long time therefore more chance of it being hacked

• Many copies of the data made therefore easier to compromise

• Users must use strong passwords/authentication methods as hackers have longer time to be able to crack the password

• If internet connection is lost, then the cloud cannot be accessed

• If internet connection is lost when data is saved, then data could be lost

• A subscription needs to be paid whereas an HDD is one fee

• Difficult to delete all copies of a file as it is in multiple locations

(a) For each of the following types of backing storage give one example of its associated media. Your answers must be different in each case.

Optical

CD ROM/DVD ROM, CD R/DVD R, CD RW/DVD RW, DVD RAM, Blu-ray discs/CD/DVD

Magnetic

Fixed/portable/removable hard disks/magnetic tape.

Solid state

Memory stick/flash card

(b) Describe the differences between optical and magnetic backing storage

• Optical data is stored using laser whereas Magnetic data is stored using magnetic fields

• Optical disc storage is serial whereas Magnetic disk storage is direct/sectors and tracks

• Magnetic storage is affected by magnetic fields whereas Optical storage is not

• Magnetic media tends to store more data than optical media

• Optical storage is more robust

• Optical has a faster data access/transfer speed

An employee is carrying out work for her company at home. The work she is doing is confidential. She has been advised by her company to use encryption. She wishes to transfer some of this work to the office.

Discuss two different methods she could use to transfer this work to the office. Include in your answer the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Use of the Cloud

• The cloud does not require a physical device

• Storage size is not an issue with the cloud

• Cloud is operated by a third party therefore security could be an issue

• Require a stable internet to access to upload and download the data

Portable device: pen drive/Hard drive

• The device uses USB port therefore it is easy to plug in

• Does not require access to the internet to access the data

• May be lost/damaged in transit

• Magnetic drives can be affected by strong magnets/x rays

• Limited number of read/writes

Email as an attachment

• Do not require physical device

• Require access to the email account both at home and in the office

• The memory size could be an issue

• Requires the use of the internet

Modern laptop computers use Solid State Drives (SSD) rather than Hard Disk Drives (HDD). State three advantages of using SSDs rather than HDDs in a laptop computer.

• The startup of the laptop is faster

• SSDs consume less power than HDD so conserves battery power

• Reduces the weight of the laptop as SSD is lighter

• Makes the laptop more compact

Complete the question using an appropriate item from the list given.

Bar code reader, Blu-ray drive, DVD drive, Hard Disk Drive, Keyboard, Memory stick, Mouse, Optical Character Reader, SSD, TFT monitor

Identify two solid state storage devices from the list.

• SSD

• Memory stick

Rowena’s laptop computer contains a small capacity Solid State Drive (SSD) of 32Gb and a large capacity Hard Disk Drive (HDD) of 1024Gb.

State, giving a reason for your choice, a use for the SSD and a use for the HDD in the laptop computer. Your answers must be different in each case.

This is a use and reason question

(a) (i) SSD

To store the operating system/games

One from:

• Faster loading of the operating system/games

• The game/OS runs faster

(ii) HDD

To store the apps/software/data/files/movies

One from:

• Can store more files

• Can store larger files

8 State the most appropriate storage medium from its description.

(a) A storage medium that stores data on the internet.

Cloud storage

(b) Internal storage where the current instruction is stored.

Random Access Memory/RAM

(c) A solid-state storage that is used in digital cameras.

• SD/xD/cFast/Memory card

• Flash memory

(d) An optical storage medium that stores high-definition (HD) movies.

Blu-ray disc

Many laptop computers use the cloud to store data. A technician has produced a report on his laptop computer but has stored the report on a memory stick rather than storing it on the cloud. Describe two advantages of using a memory stick rather than the cloud to store data.

• Does not need access to the internet

• Fewer issues storing the data as the connection could drop during storage if thecloud is used

• More control over the stored data

Tick (✓) the most appropriate storage medium that should be used in each scenario.

Tick (✓) whether the following statements refer to Backing storage, RAM or ROM.

Magnetic tapes are used in organisations for backing up data. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using magnetic tapes rather than flash memory for backing up data.

Advantages

• Less expensive per GB/gigabyte of memory

• Not as easily lost, as larger in size

Disadvantages

• Data access time is slower

• Data transfer rate is slower

• Affected by magnetic fields

• They have moving parts therefore less robust

• Read and write is more noisy

• Less compact that flash memory

• Harder to transfer to other devices

• Requires a special reader

To gain full marks there needs to be advantages and disadvantages

Tick (✓) whether the following storage devices are examples of optical, magnetic or solid state storage