Drive - The device that reads and writes data from secondary storage. Media - What the data is actually stored on.

Magnetic Storage

Examples: Hard disk drive, tape

Magnetic storage uses magnetised material on a disk or tape to store binary data. A read/write head moves over the surface and changes the magnetic polarity to represent 0s and 1s.

Optical Storage

Examples: CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, Blu-ray

Optical storage uses lasers to read and write data on a spinning disc. Data is stored as microscopic pits and lands on the disc surface; the laser detects differences in reflection to interpret binary data

Solid-State Storage

Examples: SSD, memory sticks, flash memory cards

Solid-state storage uses electronic circuits to store data, with no moving parts. It relies on flash memory, where data is held as electrical charges trapped in tiny transistors.

Virtual Storage (Cloud Storage)

Virtual storage is the concept of storing and retrieving data over the internet in the cloud, instead of a local storage device.

It allows for data to be accessed anywhere, at any time, from anytime, as long as there is internet access.

It enables easy collaboration and sharing. It is often treated as “limitless”.

Advantages

• Can be accessed anywhere (with internet)
• Can be accessed from any device
• Can be accessed at any time
• Easy to collaborate over
• Easy to share files
• Treated as limitless
• Remote, secure location

Disadvantages

• Can be expensive
• Internet reliant
  • If connectivity is poor, access times may slow down
  • If there is no internet, you do not have access to your files