Storage terms

Volatile storage is a type of computer storage that retains data only when the system is powered on.

Virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) combines all physical storage devices into a software-based cluster to simplify information management.

Virtual File Allocation Table (VFAT) is a Windows file system format used in storage devices, such as hard drives, flash drives, and memory cards.

A virtual data room is a secure online platform used for storing and sharing sensitive data — in effect, a digital counterpart to traditional physical data rooms.

Unified storage refers to a storage system that can handle and store multi-format data in a single integrated system.

Transcoding is the process of converting one digital media file format into another to make it compatible with particular devices or platforms.

Tokenization, in terms of data security, involves substituting sensitive data elements with a non-sensitive equivalent, also called a token.

Thin provisioning is a storage management technique that allocates disk space in a flexible manner among multiple users.

Thick provisioning is a storage allocation technique that assigns the entire amount of disk space to a server or application upfront.

Storage virtualization is the process of pooling together physical storage from multiple devices and making them appear as a single storage unit.

Storage provisioning is the process of allocating and managing storage resources in a system.

A storage performance platform is an architecture designed specifically for virtualized environments.

Storage over Internet Protocol (SoIP) is a network approach that enables data storage and retrieval through IP networks, encompassing the internet.

Storage management is the process and technology for managing the storage of data.

In general terms, Storage Management Initiative Specification (SMI-S) can be considered a standard specification in storage management and storage area networks (SANs).

Storage capacity represents the digital data a device or system can store, handle, or process.

A storage bottleneck is a condition where the storage subsystem (hard drives, solid-state drives, storage networks, etc.) limits the overall performance of a computer system or network.

Storage automation refers to the process of reducing manual effort associated with managing and optimizing storage resources.

Storage as a Service (StaaS) refers to a business model where an organization leases or rents its storage infrastructure to another company.

A storage area network (SAN) server is a piece of hardware that allows multiple computers or servers to access a network of storage devices.

A software repository is a centralized storage location for software packages, typically managed by repository managers or source control.

Software RAID is a method of grouping multiple hard drives into one unit (called an array) using software rather than hardware.

Soft copies are digital files that are stored on devices or cloud services.

Shared storage is a centralized storage system that is accessible to and can be simultaneously used by multiple users and devices.

Secure erase permanently deletes data from storage devices, such as hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs), by overwriting the data multiple times, making it impossible to recover.

Secure destruction is a process of permanent confidential data removal from a given device to prevent unauthorized information access without any data recovery options.

Scale-out storage caters to growing data needs by adding resources as required.

Real-time data streaming is the instant transfer and processing of generated information.

RAID 0 is a Redundant Array of Independent Disks configuration that spreads data across multiple drives to enhance disk performance.

RAID 6 is a storage configuration that provides redundancy and fault tolerance using a dual parity method — allowing RAID 6 to withstand the simultaneous failure of two hard drives without data loss.

RAID 5EE is an extension of the RAID 5E configuration.

RAID 51 is a hybrid RAID configuration that combines the features of RAID 5 and RAID 1.

RAID 5 is a storage configuration that stripes data across three or more drives while distributing parity information among them.

RAID 4 stands for “redundant array of independent disks, level 4.” It's a storage configuration that divides data into blocks across multiple disks with a separate, dedicated disk solely for storing parity information.

RAID 3 is a method of storing data across multiple hard drives.

RAID 2 stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks.

RAID 10 is a nested (hybrid) Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) configuration that combines RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 0 (striping).

RAID 1, or mirroring, refers to a method of storing data across two or more hard drives, prioritizing data integrity and redundancy.

A parity check refers to an error detection method where an extra bit, or a parity bit, is added to each data unit.

An OST file is a digital file that stores a copy of your email messages, contacts, and calendar items from an email account (like Microsoft Exchange) on your device.

Online data storage is a popular method for storing data on remote servers and accessing it over the internet.

A network drive is a storage directory that can be accessed by multiple users over a network.

Nearline storage is a type of data storage that falls between online storage (immediate access) and offline storage (archival or backup storage).

Multi-cloud storage is a strategy of using multiple cloud service providers to store data.

LUN masking is a process used in SAN (storage area network) environments to make a LUN (logical unit number) available to some hosts (servers connected to the SAN) and unavailable to others.

In general terms, a logical unit number (LUN) can be defined as a unique identifier that is assigned to particular storage devices or distinct storage portions that can be reached by a host, in most cases, a server.

Just a bunch of disks refers to a computer storage configuration where multiple hard drives are connected to a computer system but operate independently rather than being configured together in a RAID (redundant array of independent disks) setup.

Isolated storage is a mechanism that allows .NET applications to store data in a user- or app-specific area on the file system.

Input/output operations per second (IOPS) gauge the velocity at which a storage device processes data transactions.

Hot data refers to information that is frequently accessed and used in current operations.

A high-performance file system refers to a specialized software or hardware component designed to efficiently manage data on a storage device.

A global file system (“GFS” for short) is a distributed file system that provides a unified storage space for multiple computers in a network, regardless of their geographical locations.

Flash cookies are small data files that Adobe Flash Player embeds into a user’s computer to track and monitor users’ online activity across the internet.

A file-hosting service is an internet service that enables users to store and share files over the network.

A file hash, also known as a cryptographic hash, is a fixed-size string of characters that is generated by running the contents of a file through a mathematical algorithm.

A file format is a standard way of encoding and organizing data in a file so that software applications can store, read, and manipulate it.

File allocation table (also known as FAT) is a file system developed for hard drives by Microsoft.

Error correction code (ECC) is a technique used in digital communications and computing systems to detect and correct errors.

Erasure coding is a data protection technique used in computer systems and storage to ensure data integrity and resilience.

Encoding is the conversion of data to another format.

EMV tokenization is a security technology that protects cardholder information.

Electronically stored information (ESI) is a legal term for any data stored in electronic form.

An electronic document management system (EDMS) is software used to store, manage, track, and control digital documents and scanned paper records.

Document versioning refers to creating, maintaining, and managing multiple versions of a document or file as it goes through revisions, updates, or changes.

A distributed file system (DFS) is a kind of computer network where many users can access files stored on multiple computers at the same time.

Disk striping is a technique where data is divided into blocks, and each block is written to a separate disk drive.

Disk formatting refers to preparing a data storage device (e.g., hard drive, memory card, or USB flash drive) for use.

Disk defragmentation refers to the process of consolidating fragmented files on a computer’s hard drive.

Disaggregated storage is an architectural approach to data storage that separates storage resources (such as hard drives) from the compute resources (like processors) in a computing system.

A direct access storage device (DASD) refers to any storage device that is capable of reading from and writing to specific locations within the storage medium directly.

Digitization is the process of converting analog information into a digital format.

The data store is a digital repository that stores different data types.

Data wiping is the process of deleting data and files from a read/write medium.

A data source is any location where all of the data that users gather comes from.

Data segregation is the process of dividing data into smaller categories so you can grant and restrict access to different kinds of data.

Data sanitization, also known as data disposal or data erasure, is the process of irreversibly removing or altering data in a storage device to make it unreadable and unrecoverable.

Data remanence, also known as data persistence, refers to the residual representation of digital data that remains even after attempts to erase or remove the data from storage media.

Data redundancy is the unnecessary duplication of data.

Data purging is a process of permanently and securely removing unwanted or outdated data from a system, such as a database or storage device.

Data mirroring is a replication technique.

Data migration is a process that entails moving data between systems, databases, or applications, emphasizing the need to adequately prepare, extract, and transform all essential information before importing it into the destination system.

A data marketplace is a platform where individuals or organizations can buy, sell or exchange various types of data.

A data lake is a centralized repository or system that stores, processes, and secures large amounts of data.

In simple terms, “Data Independence” can be described as keeping data and information separate from how and where it is stored.

Data deduplication is a technique used in computer storage systems to eliminate redundant or duplicate copies of data.

Data corruption happens when errors in computer data introduce unintended changes to the original data.

Data center storage is the combination of facilities, hardware, and software used to store data in data centers.

Data availability refers to a system’s or app’s ability to share data with end users any time they need it and to the location they request.

Data at rest designates information that isn't currently in transmission or undergoing processing.

Data assets refer to digital information that holds significant value for an organization or individual in terms of aiding decision-making, analysis, or process improvement.

Data archiving is the practice of transferring information that is not regularly engaged with to a dedicated storage system for prolonged safekeeping.

Dark data is information that a company collects, stores, and processes during regular activities but doesn't actually use for anything.

Cyberlocker is a third-party service for file storage and file sharing.

Crypto shredding is a technique used to securely delete data from storage devices.

A compressed file is an archive of one or more images, documents, videos, or folders that have been shrunk using compression algorithms.

Cold data is infrequently used or accessed data that doesn’t require real-time availability.

Chkdsk is a command in Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Regarding cybersecurity, “Block Storage” is a data storage approach that processes data into fixed-size blocks and assigns each block a specific address.

Blob storage is a Microsoft service that's part of the Azure cloud computing platform.

Bit rot refers to the phenomenon where digital information (software, files, or data) degrades over time.

A binary file is a file with data not intended to be read by humans, often consisting of binary values (combinations of 0s and 1s).

Base64 refers to a way to turn binary data made up of 0s and 1s into a more human-readable text format, usually composed of letters, numbers, and symbols.

In general terms, a “Bad Sector” means that a part of computer storage, like a hard drive or any other solid-state drive is malfunctioning or not working properly.