I N F O G R A P H I C

For A3 Communications ’ 20th anniversary , it reflected on the transformation of the data storage landscape over the last two decades .

It could be easy to look back and think that solutions like the floppy disc are basic and irrelevant . A bit like when you find an old photo and can ’ t believe that hairstyle was ever in fashion .

But the truth is that those small plastic discs , and other storage technologies that have fallen by the wayside , changed the way we worked and did business just as much as some of our more current technologies . It wasn ’ t that much earlier , for example , that we relied on paper files and giant physical archives . Imagine the difference that storing data on a small disc made .

Beyond the immediate benefits , as new storage solutions are introduced , they open up opportunities to develop even more ambitious technologies ; and they don ’ t just make a difference to businesses – they have a huge impact on our everyday lives .

This is not developing technology for technology ’ s sake . By stretching storage capabilities , by providing high availability , high-capacity storage , the industry has cleared the way for seismic changes to the way we live – from where and how we work and communicate with each other , to how we shop and consume entertainment .

And thanks to developments 20 years ago , today we ’ re able to take on challenges posed by the sheer volume of data we produce and its environmental impact .

So , as you take a look at some of the landmark moments of the last 20 years , consider how their impact is still felt , and how they ’ ll continue to influence the way we store data over the next 20 . Data storage is indeed essential to everyday life . �

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