When one you want to move the files you have on your PC or laptopthere are usually two options: upload them to a cloud service (such as Drive) or pass them to a USB of several gigabytes. are the alternatives of data storage currently the most popular external devices and, although the flash drive is the longest-lived, the truth is that both compete equally, so there is a strong expectation of which of the two will lead the market in the future.
However, it is necessary to understand that, to this day, each of these products has its own limitations that —in the words of Kingston Technology, the manufacturer of memory products— determine how and under what situations they would be best used.
In this regard, we spoke with Francisco Silva, Kingston’s Chile-Peru country manager, about the reality of cloud storage and USB on the market, and the expectations surrounding them.
—Do you consider cloud storage to be the new external storage standard?
—We believe that both the cloud and USB devices they have to be part of the storage strategy of companies.
The cloud provides fast and simple access to information from many devices. However, it still has its limitations. It is important to consider what happens when it is not available, especially in scenarios in which the data must be 100% available and that it is a medium exposed to vulnerabilities.
USB sticks continue to be an important resource for moving files easily and safely. They offer encrypted storage that makes it a superior asset to the use of the Internet and cloud services for all types of companies that need to back up important information.
If we think of data as ‘cold’ or ‘hot’ depending on its level of daily utility to an organization, then it might be more efficient to put ‘cold’ data in the cloud and rely more on localized USB storage for ‘hot’ data. , whether operational continuity and high performance is most important to the organization, or to a particular business-critical function or process.
—Kingston gained great popularity for its USB flash drives, but now fewer and fewer are buying them. Will the company stop producing them at some point to switch to cloud storage services or will they adapt them to new contexts?
—Kingston is best known for selling USBs that are still used to store, back up, and transport information. Since they were introduced more than 20 years ago, they have been constantly evolving from a simple and convenient means of storing and transferring files to a faster storage tool with greater capacity, with different formats such as USB-A and USB-C, and at the same time more secure by offering the possibility of encrypting the data that is stored.
The rise of remote and hybrid work, the use of cloud services, and cybersecurity concerns have increased the need for more effective mobile storage solutions, so we see a future for these devices. Today there is a high demand for high-performance USB, for example for backing up large files, and with an extra layer of data protection and confidentiality.
We are a company that provides RAM and SSD memory for companies that offer cloud services, so we see growth in both markets.
Why would SSDs make hard drives disappear from the PC and laptop market?
When it comes to data storage components for computers or laptops, it is unavoidable refer to HDDs or SSDs. Are the devices that dominate their hardware business and, despite this, there are few users who know what each one consists of. However, the truth is that, despite their similarities, both products are in constant competition, and although the hard drive is the most popular, it is currently being displaced from the market.
The bottom line is to understand that SSDs offer significant performance and durability advantages over HDDs. They have no moving parts; they are all semiconductor devices, so they don’t suffer from mechanical latencies like hard drives. Plus, they can withstand more shock and vibration, making them ideal for a wide range of portable and mobile applications.