Explore different modes of Data Storage

With advancement in technology, computer storage concept has also undergone massive change. Previously it was floppies which were considered as the only options for storing data and backups. Nowadays, many modern devices and concepts have come up to facilitate the process of storing data. Data storage types can be classified into three main categories, i.e. primary storage, secondary storage and tertiary storage. The classification is done depending on the basic task they perform. Primary storage includes Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM) which are memory part of the computer itself. You can say, the RAM acts as a scratch pad by the computer processor to store information temporarily. This is a volatile memory and you loose data as soon as the computer is turned off. On the other hand, ROM stores information permanently. However, it is the non-volatile memory part which can’t be erased like RAM. We all are aware of different Secondary Storage devices like hard disks, magnetic tapes, CDs and any other such device which stores data external to the processor. These devices can be used to store confidential information, computer backup, music, videos and anything you like. These are non-volatile i.e. the information is retained even after the computer is switched off. Hard drives are considered most significant of all secondary storage devices. Here, the data is stored in digital form on platters that have magnetic surface. It comes as a sealed unit inside the CPU. However, external hard drives are also availed these days, which can be attached from outside to store data. CDs or DVDs which were used to record audio and video files till date are now being used to store any type of information like audio, video and important data. Both are non-volatile data storage media but DVDs have higher storage capacity than the CDs. Tertiary storage includes devices that are connected to the computer in the form of removable mass storage devices. These types of storages are often used to store files that are rarely accessed by the computer user. The advantage of tertiary storage is that even if your system is down due to some problem, you can access crucial data from somewhere else. USB Flash drives are common form of tertiary storage devices. It can be connected to the computer via the USB port. You can read and write any information whenever needed and can attach the drive to any computer. Apart from these above mentioned storage concepts, you can avail online data storage facility. Thus, you can maintain data backup and store important information via the internet. For this, you need to purchase storage services from a company. In fact, there are many service providers available these days offering internet backup services. The price will depend on the services and storage space as needed by the user. Some even offer a free trial for a certain period. You can opt for such free services prior to buying a specific package.