From DailyTech: While it's most common in an enterprise context, it's not unheard of for consumers to store data in prolonged periods of time on a backup hard drive. A new research paper by Alvin Cox, a senior researcher at top hard drive manufacturer Seagate Technologies plc (STX), warns that those storing solid state drives (SSDs) should be careful to avoid storing them in hot locations (or at least be aware of the risk of doing so).
The paper states that typically high-quality/enterprise-grade SSDs can retain data for around 2 years without being powered on. However, that average performance profile is based on the assumption that the drive is being stored at a comfortable temperature of 25°C/77°F (so in a climate controlled/air conditioned facility).
Cox found that for ever 5°C/9°F the temperature rises, the storage time halves. In other words, if stored at 30°C/86°F your data is only expect to last for a year of unpowered storage. And at 35°C/95°F the data will only last six months.
That may not seem like much of a concern given how high that temperature is, but when you consider that your garage or an outdoor storage unit could hit well in excess of 35°C/95°F during the summer months in parts of the U.S., you realize that just one ill-advised seasonal bake might be enough to kill the data you thought you had backed up.
The revelation also applies to storage of solid-state equipped devices. if you store a solid state storage-equipped computer (e.g. your Apple, Inc. (AAPL) Macbook or Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Surface hybrid) or personal media player (PMP) (e.g. an iPod) with in a hot environment, you may find your data gone and OS wiped when you power it on during the winter months.
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