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Mass storage refers to various methods of storing large amounts of data for easy retrieval, including punched cards, magnetic tape, floppy disks, CDs, and remote data storage. These solutions provide backup sources and secure access to data in case of emergencies or security breaches.
Mass storage is a term used to identify the different approaches used to store significant amounts of data that can be retrieved on an as-needed basis. The general concept of this type of storage solution has been around since the early days of the big electronic brains of the 1940s and continues today in the form of different storage solutions for electronic data that users can access when needed. Storage solutions of this type are useful not only in terms of housing data, but also in creating backup sources which can be very useful in the event of some sort of emergency situation, as well as providing a means of accessing data that is not corrupted in case of security breach type.
One of the earliest forms of mass storage was the common punched card used with mid-20th century mainframe computers. The series of punches on the paper cards could be read by mainframes, facilitating the creation of a series of cards that stored large amounts of information. Cards could be read by any mainframe designed to recognize the sequence, making it relatively easy to create cards that could be stored as a backup of the data held inside the actual computer. In the event that the mainframe lost data for some reason, or there was a need to copy historical data to make room in memory for new information, the cards were always there to allow for relatively easy recovery.
Magnetic tape has also come into play as a means of backing up data for inclusion in a mass storage strategy. More efficient than punched cards, tape backups were very common with many computer system designs up until the 1990s and are still used by many businesses today. Backups of this type allow you to archive every activity associated with the use of the system within a defined period of time, including log files of who entered what data, when and how that data was used.
With the advent of the personal computer, other forms of mass storage began to emerge. Floppy disks of the 1970s and 1980s were in fact simply disks with a floppy design and provided the means to save large amounts of data, effectively freeing up computer hard disk resources. A sturdier storage drive with a hard plastic body was introduced and used regularly in the 1990s and into the new century, with larger storage capacities. In the early 21st century, a popular mass storage solution is CDs that can be used to copy and house amounts of data that were previously impossible to fit into a single storage device.
Other mass storage solutions are also available. Remote data storage involves using space on a remote server to host data, usually by protecting access with the use of security codes. This solution eliminates some of the problems associated with an on-premises data storage solution, as information can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. In contrast, mass storage in the form of a CD requires you to physically take possession of the storage device, insert it into a hard drive, and extract the information, which could be difficult to do if the CD was stored in an office or other ‘other area that has suffered damage in some type of disaster.
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