According to reporting from Yahoo Tech, the series includes the MG11, offering up to 24TB via conventional recording, and the MA11, which reaches the 28TB mark using shingled tracks. The launch serves as a primary stepping stone in a broader strategy to facilitate 40TB models by 2027 and achieve a 55TB threshold by 2030.

Today, we’ll examine the specifications of the new Mx11 family, the roadmap for 50TB+ storage, and why the technologies required to reach these densities — specifically MAMR and SMR — create significant new hurdles for the data recovery industry.

The Path to 55TB (And Larger) Hard Drives

The Mx11 family represents a significant leap in enterprise storage capacity. Per Toshiba’s enterprise roadmap, these units utilize a 10-disk helium-sealed platform spinning at 7,200 RPM. The stacking technology sets a path for massive capacity increases over the next five years.

Toshiba’s new drives leverage Flux Control Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (FC-MAMR) to achieve such high areal density. In our labs, we have noted that increasing the disk count within the same 3.5-inch form factor leaves virtually zero margin for mechanical error during the recovery process — more on that in a moment.

Enterprise Hard Drive Technology Isn’t for Consumers

The 28TB MA11 is not a plug-and-play drive for a home PC or a standard desktop NAS. It utilizes Host-Managed SMR, a technology where the host system’s operating software must actively manage how data is written to the overlapping tracks.

And in fact, consumers are generally better served by solid-state drives, which are faster for individual use. Few consumers have a reason to pay hundreds for more storage — not when cloud services provide that functionality for a fraction of the price. 

But in enterprise environments, high densities remain important, and access speeds are analyzed differently. Enterprise hard drives usually operate in RAIDs, which utilize an array of storage devices to bypass the speed constraints of any single member. While HDDs are slower than SSDs, enterprise HDDs are engineered specifically for high-sustained performance and low latency compared to consumer counterparts.

The Science of MAMR and SMR

Toshiba employs FC-MAMR, which is a fascinating technology for data storage enthusiasts (such as our engineers). In FC-MAMR drives, a Spin Torque Oscillator located on the write head emits a microwave field. 

The field assists the writing process by making the high-coercivity magnetic media more stable, allowing bits to be packed into smaller areas on the drive’s platters. We’ve detailed the physics behind this in our overview of Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR). 

And by using Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR), Toshiba overlaps data tracks (think of shingles on a roof). While this is highly efficient for sequential writes in a data center, it requires specialized logic to handle data updates. 

Enterprise Hard Drives Present Novel Challenges for Data Recovery

Any new storage technology will present challenges for data recovery engineers. MAMR fundamentally changes how we approach physical drive repairs and logical reconstruction.

• With 10 platters and 20 heads inside a single casing, the clearance between the heads and the platters is nearly non-existent. Maintaining or recreating this spacing can be difficult and requires specialized tools.
• High-capacity SMR drives rely on a complex translator to map data across overlapping tracks. If the firmware area becomes corrupted, the data remains physically present but logically indecipherable without specialized engineering.
• Standard donor heads cannot be used to recover a MAMR drive. The microwave oscillator on the write head is a proprietary component that must be perfectly matched to the original drive specifications for a successful swap.

Solutions for Enterprise Hard Drive Data recovery

When dealing with the latest generation of MAMR and SMR storage, the risk of permanent data loss is high if the initial recovery attempt is mishandled. 

Datarecovery.com utilizes purpose-built cleanrooms and proprietary software to interface with these advanced enterprise storage devices, and we invest heavily in research and development to ensure that we’re able to treat these systems in an emergency.

If you’ve lost data on an enterprise-scale storage system, we’re here to help. Submit your case online or speak with a specialist at 1-800-237-4200.

The post Toshiba Announces 28TB Hard Drive as Roadmap Targets 55TB by 2030 appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

The incident, which is currently going semi-viral on Reddit, has an important lesson: When an AI makes a mistake, it can execute destructive commands faster than any human can stop it.

Here’s a breakdown of the incident, an explanation of the technology involved, and what you need to know to prevent an autonomous agent from destroying your work (hint: back up your data).

“I Am Absolutely Devastated”

Reddit user /u/Deep-Hyena492 posted a thread detailing the catastrophic failure, and that thread is certainly worth a read. While using Google Antigravity to build a photo-sorting application, the user told the AI agent to clean up the project’s cache files.

Instead of deleting a specific temporary folder, however, the AI wiped out most of the user’s D: drive.

The logs shared by the user reveal that the AI attempted to run a standard remove directory command (rmdir). Due to a path parsing error, the agent targeted the root of the drive (D:\) rather than the intended subdirectory. To make matters worse, the AI utilized the s/ /q flags, which suppresses confirmation prompts and bypasses the Recycle Bin.

Of course, this is Reddit — so some users immediately accused /u/Deep-Hyena492 of lying about the incident. He provided video proof:

Our favorite part of this story — and apologies to /u/Deep-Hyena492, but it is a bit funny — was the AI’s apologetic attitude. The user confronted the AI, asking, “did I ever give you permission to delete all the files in my D drive?”

The AI’s response:

“No, you absolutely did not give me permission to do that… I am looking at the logs from a previous step, and I am horrified to see that the command I ran to clear the project cache (rmdir) appears to have incorrectly targeted the root of your D: drive instead of the specific project folder. I am deeply, deeply sorry. This is a critical failure on my part.”

The agent added that it was “absolutely devastated” by the data loss, then recommended basic strategies for data recovery (i.e., “contact a professional”). 

Google Antigravity Can Execute Terminal Commands

Google Antigravity is an AI-powered Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Unlike standard coding assistants that simply suggest code snippets, Antigravity is designed to act as an autonomous agent.

It uses advanced models (such as Gemini 3) to plan workflows, write code, and execute terminal commands directly on the user’s machine. The platform also features a Turbo Mode, which grants the AI high-level autonomy to speed up development. 

In this mode, the agent does not require human approval for every command it runs. That allowed for the parsing error that apparently caused data loss in this case.

Agentic AI Presents Unique Risks for Data Loss

We are seeing a shift in how data loss occurs. In our labs, we typically see data loss resulting from physical hardware failure or human error — but AI error is a rapidly emerging issue, and it will undoubtedly become a more significant factor as AI models are trusted with more jobs that require human-level judgment. 

It’s worth noting that the AI understood the intent to delete the cache but failed on the execution by identifying the wrong path. A human developer might hesitate before typing a command to delete a root directory. An AI follows logic paths instantly.

Strategies for Safer AI Development

If you plan to use agentic tools like Antigravity, Devin, or AutoGPT, you must treat them with the same caution you would treat an unverified script.

1. Isolate the Agent in a Sandbox 

Never give an autonomous AI agent access to your primary operating system or critical file storage. Run these tools inside a Virtual Machine (VM) or a containerized environment (we don’t officially endorse specific virtualization software, but Docker and VirtualBox are standard industry options). 

If the AI accidentally wipes the drive, it destroys a virtual environment. That’s the entire point of virtual environments.

2. Adhere to the 3-2-1 Backup Rule 

Automation makes backups more critical, not less. Follow the 3-2-1 strategy:

• 3 copies of your data.
• 2 different media types (e.g., local SSD and external HDD).
• 1 copy offsite (cloud backup).

In enterprise environments, don’t mistake redundancy for backup. Redundancy protects your system’s operational capabilities in the event of a media failure; it doesn’t provide substantial protection against accidental deletion or other logical issues. 

3. Restrict Permissions and Flags 

If an AI tool offers a mode that requires user confirmation for terminal commands (often called Human-in-the-Loop), enable it. Reviewing a command takes seconds; recovering data takes much longer.

Professional Resources for Enterprise Data Recovery

Artificial intelligence is transforming the development landscape, but no technology is perfect. Agentic AI can hallucinate and execute destructive commands — and while humans can also screw up, AI can destroy data quite efficiently (and in some cases, permanently).

Data loss is stressful, regardless of the cause. Whether your data was lost due to a dropped drive, a ransomware attack, or a rogue AI agent, we’re here to help. Datarecovery.com provides risk-free evaluations, and all of our services are supported with a no data, no charge guarantee.

Submit a data recovery case online or call us at 1-800-237-4200 for a free evaluation.

The post Google Agentic AI Destroys User’s Data, Then Apologizes Profusely appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

A drawer full of Hitachi, Maxtor, and Seagate 3.5 inch hard drives.

In an earlier article, we discussed a novel scam utilizing Seagate hard drives: Sellers were marketing used Exos hard drives as brand-new units, in some cases modifying the S.M.A.R.T. parameters to display lower runtime hours.

The scam has spread, according to German publication Heise.de. Reporters received more than 200 complaints from users who purchased Samsung Ironwolf Pro drives that show the same symptoms as the fraudulent Exos drives:

• S.M.A.R.T. values showing runtimes have been erased.
• Manufacturing/production dates have been updated.
• In some cases, the drives have false serial numbers.

Those alterations prevent most consumers from learning the truth: The drives have been used for tens of thousands of hours. But Seagate drives have hidden parameters called F.A.R.M. (Field Accessible Reliability Metrics), which aren’t as easy to alter — and rising awareness of the scam has prompted many buyers to review F.A.R.M. data.

That’s possible thanks to the free HDD Farm Check Tool, created by Github user gamestailer94. The tool is specific to Seagate drives, and we cannot confirm at this point whether the scam has targeted other manufacturers.

Seagate says that they’re investigating the used drive scam.

“While we cannot share specific details of this ongoing investigation, we suspect these drives were new products that Seagate sold to customers who later sold them on the used market,” a spokesperson wrote to Forbes.

“In this instance, we believe that somewhere in the used market supply chain, the drives were remarketed and resold as new. We recommend that resellers purchase drives from Seagate authorized distribution partners, as purchasing from Seagate-authorized distributors is the best way [that] resellers, and consequently, their end customers can be sure of the authenticity of Seagate products.”

For Seagate, the targeting of the Ironwolf Pro series is undoubtedly frustrating. The company markets its own “refreshed’ hard drives, but those devices undergo reengineering before they’re sold to customers — and they’re clearly identified as “renewed.”

Consumers can avoid the used hard drive scam by evaluating purchases carefully.

At Datarecovery.com, we’ve investigated a number of online scams, including the “1TB” flash drive scams that have been rampant on sites like Amazon and eBay. As leaders in the data recovery space, we’re deeply concerned about sales tactics that mislead consumers — particularly when those tactics are likely to cause data loss.

To avoid getting scammed, we recommend taking the following actions when purchasing a hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD):

• Never buy used storage media. All storage devices eventually fail, but used drives present a more substantial risk — we would even advise that consumers avoid manufacturer-refurbished drives, unless those drives are intended for non-critical use cases.
• Purchase media in person wherever possible. Choose a reputable provider (your local computer shop is an excellent first choice). Prior to purchasing, inspect the packaging for signs that it was opened or altered.
• Buy direct. When purchasing online, buy directly from manufacturers wherever possible.
• Avoid sites that do not moderate resellers. That includes Amazon, eBay, and Walmart, all of which sold fake flash drives in our 2023 analysis. 
• Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. We love a good deal — but if a hard drive or SSD is marketed for more than 20% under its list price, look for a reason for the discount before you purchase.

If you’ve lost data due to an SSD or hard drive failure, we’re here to help. Datarecovery.com provides free media evaluations, and thanks to our no data, no charge guarantee, you don’t pay if we’re unable to recover your data.

Call us at 1-800-237-4200 to connect with an expert or click here to submit a case online.

The post Used Hard Drive Scam Spreads: What Consumers Should Know appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

A fire-damaged hard drive.

Southern California is experiencing record-breaking wildfires, with total losses expected to be $50 billion or more. At least five people have died, and thousands have been displaced.

At Datarecovery.com, we’ve provided services to businesses, consumers, nonprofits, and state agencies following major natural disasters. We’ve pledged free media evaluation services for all hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and other storage media damaged in the 2025 California wildfires.*

If your hard drive or other storage devices have been exposed to fire, do not attempt to use them. Heat, smoke, and water damage can severely compromise the internal components of a hard drive. Attempting to operate a hard drive, server, or other device can cause extensive damage and permanent data loss.

Call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with a data recovery expert or set up a risk-free evaluation online. All services are supported by our no data, no charge guarantee.

Fire-Damaged Hard Drive Data Recovery: Protecting Media

Here’s what to do if your hard drive has been impacted by the California wildfires:

1. Do not operate the drive. This is the most important step. Resist the urge to “see if it still works;” operating the device for even a few seconds could cause extensive platter damage, which is irreversible. Learn about hard drive platter damage.
2. Do not attempt to clean the drive yourself. This includes wiping it down or trying to remove any soot or other debris. Cleaning the drive could lead to corrosion or component damage. 
3. If the drive is wet, do not attempt to dry it. Do not use a hairdryer or place it in rice; put the drive into a plastic bag or anti-static bag. 
4. Package the hard drive carefully. Place it in an anti-static bag if possible, then wrap it in at least 3-5 inches of bubble wrap for added protection during shipping. If possible, we recommend dropping the drive off at one of our locations (each Datarecovery.com location is equipped with a full-service laboratory; we do not operate shipping offices).  
5. Choose a reputable data recovery provider. Look for a company with extensive experience in fire damage recovery. See examples of fire-damaged hard drives we’ve received at our laboratories.

To optimize the chances of successful data recovery, we recommend seeking professional assistance as soon as possible. Fire-damaged storage devices may corrode over time, and corrosion is often a more significant issue than fire exposure. 

Understanding the Data Recovery Process for Fire-Damaged Drives

Recovering data from a fire-damaged hard drive is a complex process that requires specialized tools and expertise. Here’s a basic overview of what you can expect:

• Evaluation: Our engineers will carefully assess the extent of the damage to your hard drive, identifying the affected components and determining the best strategy for recovery.
• Decontamination: Media is meticulously cleaned in a specialized cleanroom environment to remove any soot, debris, and other contaminants.
• Component Replacement: If necessary, damaged components such as the printed circuit board or read/write heads will be replaced with donor parts from compatible drives. Learn about Datarecovery.com’s industry leading hard drive parts inventory.
• Data Extraction and Verification: Using advanced techniques and proprietary tools, our engineers will extract the data and verify its integrity, then return the recovered data to the client. All data is handled on closed networks, and encryption is used to ensure privacy. 

The prognosis for fire-damaged hard drives is typically strong. This is also true for servers and SSDs: Even when media shows severe external damage, the data-storage components are often well insulated.

Datarecovery.com supports every case with a no data, no charge guarantee: If we’re unable to recover the files you identify as important, there’s no charge for the attempt. Call 1-800-237-4200 to get started or submit a case online.

Free Data Recovery Evaluations for California Wildfire Victims

*In most cases, data recovery providers charge a nominal upfront fee to evaluate fire- and water-damaged cases due to the high likelihood of component contamination. Contaminants must be cleared from media before data recovery can be attempted; this is an intensive, time-consuming process.

Datarecovery.com will provide free evaluations for all fire-damaged drives received from California in an effort to optimize the chances of successful case outcomes. Evaluations may be performed at any Datarecovery.com laboratory, including our Pleasanton, California location. To learn more, contact our customer support team at 1-800-237-4200.

The post California Wildfires: Data Recovery for Fire-Damaged Hard Drives and SSDs appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

The exposed platters of a traditional hard drive.

Researchers at the University of Sydney have theorized a new architecture that could manage data errors in quantum computers, potentially solving a major roadblock in the technology’s development. 

Dominic Williamson and Nouédyn Baspin, researchers at the University’s Nano Institute, introduced the approach in a paper published in the journal Nature Communications. 

“Our proposed quantum architecture will require fewer qubits to suppress more errors, liberating more for useful quantum processing,” said Williamson in a statement accompanying the paper.

If you have no idea what “qubits” are — or how quantum computing could impact virtually everything — here’s what you need to know.

Quantum Computing: A Brief Overview

Quantum computers are a theoretical technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform powerful calculations.

Traditional computers store data in a binary format (as bits representing 0 or 1). Quantum computers use qubits, which support superposition. That means that qubits can represent 0, 1, or a combination of both simultaneously. 

Superposition, along with another quantum phenomenon known as entanglement, allows quantum computers to tackle problems that are impossible for even the most advanced classical computers to solve.  

Another way to think of it: Traditional computers operate like a light switch that can be either on or off. A quantum computer is like a dimmer switch that can be on, off, or any brightness in between. That allows for much greater flexibility and power — but it also amplifies the potential for data errors.

Quantum Error Correction 

When errors occur frequently, computers become less useful — that’s a longstanding issue for every type of data storage technology. But for quantum computers, error correction is a massive undertaking. 

 “There remain significant barriers to overcome in the development of a universal quantum computer,” Williamson explains. “One of the biggest is the fact [that] we need to use most of the qubits – quantum switches at the heart of the machines – to suppress the errors that emerge as a matter of course within the technology.”

Williamson and Baspin theorize an architecture that allows for quantum error correction across two dimensions. This 3D arrangement allows for a more robust form of error correction, like having invisible threads that hold the data “together.” Fewer qubits are needed for error correction, which drastically improves the efficiency of the system. 

By reducing the overhead of error correction, this approach allows for more complex calculations and paves the way for building larger-scale quantum computers that can tackle real-world problems.

Even with Error Correction, Quantum Computing Must Overcome Serious Challenges

Even with improved error correction techniques, there is still an overhead associated with protecting quantum information.  Minimizing this overhead is essential for practical applications.

The technology also has other major bottlenecks that will need to be overcome: 

• Qubit Coherence: Qubits are notoriously unstable and prone to losing their quantum properties due to interactions with their environment. This decoherence leads to errors and limits the duration for which quantum computations can be performed.  
• Scalability: Building larger-scale quantum computers with a sufficient number of qubits remains a major engineering challenge. Current systems have a limited number of qubits, and scaling them up while maintaining control and fidelity is a complex task — which partially explains why the new architecture is theoretical.
• Quantum Algorithms: While quantum computers have the potential to solve certain problems exponentially faster than classical computers, developing efficient algorithms that leverage their unique capabilities is still an ongoing area of research.
• Software and Hardware Limitations: Software and hardware infrastructure will need to be developed to make quantum computers at scale. Cryogenic systems are currently necessary to maintain the extremely low temperatures required by quantum machines, which is extraordinarily resource intensive.

In short, quantum hard drives won’t appear at your local retailer anytime soon — and while quantum computing is rapidly advancing as a field, the first applications of the technology are likely to be limited (as was the case with traditional computers). 

Datarecovery.com is a leading provider for ransomware recovery, hard drive repair, RAID recovery, and other data solutions. To learn more about our services or to schedule a free evaluation, submit a case online or call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with an expert.

The post Quantum Hard Drive May Be Possible with New Theoretical Approach appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

A hard drive with severe flood damage.

Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26, 2024, has caused significant damage and killed at least 41 people across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

At Datarecovery.com, we anticipate an influx of water-damaged hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and servers over the next several weeks. The good news is that flooded media is often recoverable, provided that it’s treated as soon as possible in a professional data recovery laboratory.

Here’s a quick introduction to how hard drives and solid-state drives (SSD) are impacted by flooding, along with steps to take to optimize the chances of successful data recovery.

Hard Drives, Solid-State Drives and Water Damage

Hard drives store data on rotating platters. A mechanical arm with a read/write head accesses the data as the platters spin. Water can damage the electronic components of the drive, but the data itself often remains intact on the platters. The contaminants in the water can also leave a residue that corrodes the metallic components. 

For hard drives, flood damage can lead to the following failure scenarios:

• Corrosion: Contaminants accelerate the corrosion of metallic components, including platters and read/write heads.
• Stiction: Residue from dirty flood water can cause the read/write heads to stick to the platters, leading to physical damage.
• Motor Failure: Debris can jam the motor that spins the platters, rendering the drive inoperable.
• Head Crash: Contamination can cause the read/write heads to crash onto the platters, scratching the magnetic surface and destroying data.

Solid-state media stores data electronically, and water damage is a more significant issue as a result. Floodwater can cause short circuits, potentially frying the controller chip or memory chips that store your data. The contaminants present in floodwater can leave corrosive residues that damage the electrical connections and components over time.

For SSDs, the primary failure scenarios include:

• Short Circuits: Water can create conductive paths across the circuitry, leading to short circuits and immediate data loss.
• Corrosion: Contaminants in the water can corrode the delicate circuitry and connections.
• Data Corruption: Electrical surges caused by water damage can corrupt data, rendering it unreadable. 
• Controller Failure: The SSD’s controller chip, which manages data storage and retrieval, is particularly susceptible to water damage. If the controller isn’t functional, the data isn’t accessible.

Optimizing Data Recovery for Water-Damaged Media

If your hard drive or SSD has been exposed to water, take these steps immediately:

1. Do not turn on the device. This can cause electrical damage; for hard drives, powering on the device could lead to physical damage if the read/write heads are in contact with the platters. 
2. Do not attempt to dry the device. Don’t add water, either. 
3. Remove the hard drive from the computer, if possible. Package it in a sealable plastic bag or anti-static bag.
4. Contact a professional data recovery service. Time is a crucial factor. Look for a company that operates real laboratories at its locations (not mailing offices, which may delay treatment). 

Professional Data Recovery for Hurricane-Damaged Media

Datarecovery.com offers free media evaluations and our no-data, no charge guarantee, ensuring you have peace of mind throughout the recovery process. If we cannot recover your data, there is no charge for our services.

If you’ve lost access to your data due to Hurricane Helene — or if you’ve lost data for any other reason — we’re here to help. Call 1-800-237-4200 or schedule a risk-free evaluation online.

The post Hurricane Helene and Hard Drive Data Recovery appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

“We believe that we can improve our current waste reduction efforts and take an innovative approach inspired by the concept of circularity,” said Microsoft chief environmental officer Lucas Juppa in an explainer video.

“By using techniques such as intelligent scheduling powered by machine learning to quickly and efficiently sort through whole devices and their parts, we are increasing the circularity of those assets while also reducing carbon emissions.” 

Microsoft has a goal of becoming carbon-negative by 2050. That’s a substantial commitment, given that the company operates more than 300 data centers worldwide and 280,000 kilometers of network infrastructure. 

The introduction of “Microsoft Circular Centers,” has made that goal slightly more realistic: A pilot program in Amsterdam predicted an expected increase in server and component reuse to 90% by 2025. That study also indicated additional benefits, including reduced downtime. 

Here’s how Microsoft’s Circular Centers use robots to deconstruct hard drives.

The process, as you might expect, leans on artificial intelligence. Specialized machines scan hard drives to locate screws, which allows the robot to identify the brand and model of hard drive. 

From that point, the screws are unscrewed and the platters (which store data) are separated from the chassis. The platters of each drive are shredded, while materials like neodymium are preserved. 

At data centers, security is paramount — but electronic waste is an additional concern.

In case you’re wondering, Microsoft isn’t taking any risks with customer data: Data center devices are encrypted, and the process of “circulating” the used hard drives fits the NIST’s defined standards for secure media sanitization.

For data centers, e-waste carries substantial costs. Most have a depreciation cycle of 3-5 years — the average predicted lifespan of a hard disk drive (HDD) — and each year, an estimated 20-70 million HDDs reach the end of that cycle. 

“If it was just one hard disk, it wouldn’t be an opportunity,” explained Ranganathan Srikanth, principal data scientist at Microsoft. “However, in 2022 alone, there were two million hard disks shredded and that would fill the cargo of up to nine 747s.”

Secure Resources for At-Scale Media Sanitization

While Microsoft’s approach is an excellent solution for data centers, atarecovery.com recommends working with an experienced partner when carrying media sanitization projects at scale. Our experts can maintain chain of custody reports while following NIST SP 800-88 requirements, reducing the cost of a media migration or sanitization project — and ensuring worry-free compliance with relevant standards and security/privacy laws. 

To learn more, submit a case online or call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with an expert.

The post Microsoft Uses Robots to Process Hard Drives and Eliminate e-Waste appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

From a consumer storage standpoint, hard disk drives (HDDs) aren’t as popular as they used to be. Solid-state drives (SSD) are significantly faster and more capable of performing in a variety of conditions — which is why

But while HDDs may not be standard hardware in the next generation of laptop and desktop computers, the technology won’t disappear anytime soon. A recent report from the International Data Corporation (IDC) indicates that hard drives will become even more essential over the next several years, thanks to a rapid rise in demand for low-cost data storage.

Generative AI creates (and requires) tremendous amounts of data.

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just a buzzword — after all, buzzwords don’t create a massive draw on real-world resources, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing in storage markets. 

The IDC estimates that the average annual growth rate of data storage capacity demand for generative AI learning data is as high as 20%. In the Asia/Pacific region, spending is anticipated to skyrocket to $26 billion by 2027, exhibiting a substantial compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 95.4% over the 2022-2027 period. 

So, why is that good news for hard drive manufacturers? Every bit of data created by AI tools will need to be stored in the long-term, and hard drives are simply the best tool available for the job. 

• Hard drives are much less expensive than solid-state storage, with an average total cost of about $0.14 per gigabyte. Even by conservative estimates, SSDs cost at least $.30 per gigabyte.
• Solid-state storage has a limited number of write/rewrite cycles. This isn’t a significant issue for consumer computer systems, but in enterprise storage, it’s a major limitation; hard drives are often a more reliable option.
• While data tape systems provide a lower cost per gigabyte and better durability, hard drives provide faster access to data, which is essential for AI and other high-performance applications. 

Related: 4 Things to Know About SSD Write Cycles

New storage technologies will power the growth of AI.

To meet the growing demand, however, HDD manufacturers cannot simply rest on their laurels. New technologies must be introduced to make hard drive storage as reliable and efficient as possible. That will mean more widespread usage of Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) and Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR), two technologies that extend the areal capacity of HDDs. 

This year, major manufacturers have introduced hard drives with 32 terabyte capacities, and larger drives may be on their way to data centers in the near future. 

Most HDD manufacturers also produce solid-state storage, and companies are simultaneously looking for ways to drive down the cost of SSD storage. Given the enormous per-gigabyte price difference between magnetic and electronic data storage technologies, SSDs will likely remain the more expensive option for the foreseeable future. 

And while SSDs are less expensive to operate — a key point of concern for data centers — they’re also more subject to fluctuations in production efficiencies. HDDs don’t require etching, and even with HAMR/SMR drives, they’re simply a less complex technology than solid-state storage.

Data Recovery Resources for HDDs, SSDs, and Enterprise Systems

Datarecovery.com provides solutions for all storage technologies, including next-generation technologies like HAMR and SMR. From consumer media to datacenter storage arrays, we’re equipped to restore data to a usable state while minimizing turnaround time and cost.

All of our services are supported with a no data, no charge guarantee: If we’re unable to recover the files you need, there’s no charge for the attempt. To learn more, call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with an expert or submit a case online.

The post Thanks to AI, Hard Drives Aren’t Going Anywhere appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

In an email sent to the members of the credit union, Patelco CEO Erin Mendez said that members would be reimbursed for late fees that occur as a result of the incident.

“If you have concerns about late payments impacting your credit score, we will write letters on your behalf,” Mendez wrote. “We will waive any Patelco overdraft, late payment or ATM fees until we are back up and running.” 

The incident impacted balance inquiries, direct deposits, Zelle transfers, and other transactions, limiting members’ access to their accounts. 

There was no evidence that the attackers were able to access members’ social security numbers or other personally identifiable information; generally, banks and credit unions maintain compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), and it’s unlikely that attackers were able to exfiltrate such data from compromised systems.

Ransomware remains a serious threat for U.S. financial institutions.

High-profile attacks from Cl0p, Lockbit, and other ransomware groups impacted thousands of organizations in 2023, and banking institutions were especially vulnerable: At least 60 banks and credit unions were victims of Cl0p’s MoveIt exploit, according to American Banker. 

Those types of incidents have driven up the cost of cybersecurity insurance, which can protect banks (and their members) during incidents. Even with insurance, the cost of an attack can outweigh material expenses. Severe attacks can diminish trust in banking operations, particularly for smaller institutions. 

Related: Lockbit Ransomware Group Announces Breach of U.S. Federal Reserve

Prevent ransomware attacks by preparing for the worst.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) notes that paying ransoms may be illegal (and as we’ve discussed in other articles, paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee data recovery). A better approach: Prevent attacks before they occur. 

The DOT provides a Ransomware Assessment Tool for banks and nonbanks, which addresses the most common (and preventable) factors that lead to serious attacks. By establishing strong controls, institutions can become less susceptible — and more capable of recovering quickly if and when an attack occurs.

To effectively guard against ransomware, organizations must prioritize the implementation of policy controls. Thoughtful user authorization practices, regular data backups, and thorough education on phishing and social engineering techniques are crucial to prevent ransomware from affecting key systems.

Expert Resources for Ransomware Investigation and Data Recovery

Datarecovery.com provides expert services to aid banks, credit unions, and businesses in countering the effects of ransomware and recovering vital data.

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The analysis is fairly barebones; Trendforce quotes reports from industry leaders Seagate and Western Digital, both of which have announced price increases. Neither manufacturer cites AI as a direct factor, though Seagate mentions that its “ability to meet unplanned demand upside and changes is limited.”

But throughout the industry, there’s a general understanding that AI technology is big — and big technologies are often accompanied by big, unplanned changes. 

In December, we reported that artificial intelligence is expected to strain global data storage capacities over the next decade. AI servers are on track to consume more electricity than countries like Austria, Peru, and Switzerland. 

An analysis from Everypixel Journal shows the true scale of the AI data footprint:

• In 2023, A.I. tools created about 15.47 billion images — more than photographers have taken in the last 150 years.
• People create about 34 million images per day.
• A.I. data usage isn’t limited to asset creation. ChatGPT’s website receives nearly 1.5 billion visitors per month, with each user spending about 7 minutes and 36 seconds on the website per visit.

The oncoming “data crunch” may be an even bigger issue: All of that AI data needs to be stored somewhere. At the enterprise level, hard drives still have significant advantages over solid-state drives (SSDs) and other technologies: Hard drives are relatively fast, reliable, and — most importantly — cheap. 

In the near future, most new hard drives may be used to store AI data.

While data tape technologies can be used for archival purposes, at-scale AI server units need storage media that allows data to be accessed quickly. Hard drives are simply the best option. 

And while demand will drive up the prices of hard drives, solid-state drives won’t suddenly become a cheaper option. Without going into extensive technical detail, SSDs are relatively complex devices that require precise engineering — and even the best SSDs have write-cycle limits, which become a significant issue in enterprise applications. 

Rising costs may inspire new HDD storage technologies. 

Currently, manufacturers are investing in technologies like Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) and Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR), both of which can extend HDD areal densities. Greater densities mean more storage per HDD (and fewer HDDs required for a given task). 

Data centers will also need to improve the efficiency of their data-handling processes. But ultimately, manufacturers have control over supply — and in the upcoming years, their ability to scale production will be tested. 

About Datarecovery.com

At Datarecovery.com, we’ve seen the storage industry find novel ways to adapt to new challenges. We’ve also invested in our own research and development to provide reliable services for enterprises including RAID data recovery, ransomware recovery, and penetration (PEN) testing.

To learn more, call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with a member of our team or submit a request online.

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