Data availability refers to the reliability and accessibility of data stored remotely, often through external storage or networks. It is crucial for businesses and is achieved through reliable hardware and redundancy, such as SAN and NAS systems. Redundancy ensures data availability in case of system failure or disaster.
Data availability typically refers to how available data is when stored in some form, usually referring to remote storage of data via a network or external storage medium. This term is often used to refer to several concepts, primarily how reliable the data is in regards to people trying to access it, in terms of “uptime” and how quickly someone can access the data. There are several ways that data is kept accessible, including a SAN (Storage Area Network) and NAS (Network Attached Storage). Data availability is often of utmost importance to computer users, especially businesses, and is a major selling point for external data backup companies.
Sometimes called data accessibility, data availability is generally seen as a sign of reliability for companies that provide data storage solutions to other businesses and computer users. Due to the tendency of computer systems, such as internal and external hard drives, to crash or fail due to data errors, many computer users prefer to back up their important data to other external systems. These other systems may include a variety of features and options, but the availability of data through these systems is often the primary focus for both customers and those operating those services.
Among the many ways to produce external data storage systems with reliable data availability, two particular methods have become increasingly popular. A SAN system uses a network of interconnected external systems to store data and ensure that data remains available as much as possible. NAS systems, on the other hand, typically connect to an external storage device over a network, and while the systems are similar in some ways, the results are achieved by different methods. In both system types, however, the goal of maximum data availability is achieved through reliable hardware and system redundancy.
The hardware used in an external data storage system usually needs to be as reliable as possible and show no crashes or bad sectors whenever possible. Redundancy can relieve the strain on these systems through several methods. Having multiple systems with the same data can allow you to use multiple systems simultaneously to access data for multiple users, relieving the stress on a single system, which can also ensure faster data transfer speeds. This type of redundancy also ensures data availability in the event of a catastrophic loss of any system, making these types of systems more reliable in the event of a major disaster.
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