How Long Does a Hard Drive Last?

Summary: The life span of storage drives and the long-term protection of data varies between storage devices such as disc drives, cloud and USB sticks. Consider the differences and risks when selecting data storage.

One of the worst scenarios is realizing that your missing data cannot be recovered. Whether from hardware failure, file corruption, cyberattack or many other reasons, finding out that data has vanished is devastating news – even putting companies out of business. Devices are easy to replace, but you are in serious trouble once data is lost. Backing up data to a second storage location offers some protection from complete data loss, but portable storage drives have risks, too.

There are no guarantees of how long data will be preserved on storage drives. Some portable drives have internal batteries that eventually will not recharge. However, some last longer than others. Also, there are differences in cost and storage capacities between storage types. Here is an overview of the four main data storage options and features:

• How Long Does a Hard Drive Last? – IT experts estimate that a hard disc drive (HDD) will last about 3-5 years. However, the good news is that they store more data than other storage devices and are relatively inexpensive per gigabyte. The downside is that they are slower than other types and have moving hardware parts that can malfunction and break down completely.
• How Long Do Solid-State Drives Last? – Solid State Drives (SSD) have an average life expectancy of up to 10 years. SSDs are more portable because, without moving parts, they are not affected by motion or shocks – good for laptops. SSDs are far more expensive storage per gigabyte than HDDs but are also much faster. But, as with all tech devices, SSDs eventually wear out, too.
• How Long Does a USB Stick Last? – USB Sticks (also known as jump sticks, thumb drives and flash drives) are portable drives that can fit in your pocket. USB sticks' lifespan depends on how often you use them. Data on USB Sticks can be written and overwritten 10,000 to 1,000,000 times. Most users are unlikely to use them enough to get to where data has been corrupted or the drive fails. However, USB sticks can get corroded and unusable from moisture. Protect from moisture for maximum lifespan.
• How Long Does Cloud Storage Last? – Cloud storage lasts for as long as you pay for it. It is highly secure and reliable.

Data is Often the Most Valuable Business Asset

Could your business recover from a data loss event? How long would it take to recreate missing data, and is it even possible? Backing up your data on a regular basis and testing it to be sure it is usable is the best way to ensure your data is protected from drive failures and other disasters. Backing up data regularly can take the worry out of data “survival,” allowing you to focus on business growth and operations rather than dealing with a devastating data crisis. Knowing how long a solid-state drive lasts mean nothing if your drive fails and your data is corrupted or lost forever. Manufacturers are unclear about the life expectancies of their devices. Therefore, it is wise to be proactive in your data storage and protection, duplicating storage for very important or irreplaceable data.

Data Storage Solutions and Strategies for SMBs

Consulting with an IT professional that specializes in small and midsized businesses (SMBs) can help you create a data backup and protection strategy for your company. Ask your technician to set automated backups, often conducted during non-working hours so your network will not slow down. They can help you understand how long a hard drive lasts and budget for anticipated replacements.

Additional data concerns for SMBs include data storage costs. For data that needs to be saved but not accessed on a weekly basis, data archiving will cost less and will free up space on your network storage or cloud storage. This is good for older financial information used for audits or past client/patient records that need to be retained but may never be accessed. Access requests may take a few days or a week to retrieve.

Cloud storage is another option that can help you eliminate the need for portable data storage drives. Employees can access cloud storage from any location if they have a login and have been trained to use a secure network connection. By training employees to classify data into ready-access or archive, you can save costs.

Data destruction should also be part of your strategy. The more data you have the higher your data storage costs are and the higher your data risk is. The burden of data security rests on those who collect it. Your business has liability risk for each record that contains personally identifiable information (PII) that can be used for identity theft. If a data breach occurs you may face fines and lawsuits for every record breached from employees, consumers, clients and partners. Eliminating excess or unneeded data can help you reduce risk and storage costs. Professional data destruction is affordable and essential. It can eliminate all traces of data from computers, servers, devices, printers and more.

Finally, let your IT professional know when you are planning any changes to your business so they can help accommodate needed changes to the network, data storage and security.