Unlike traditional hard drives, which use mechanical parts and data is physically stored on their platters, SSDs have NAND memory that stores data in the form of ones and zeros in their memory cells. Thus, and unlike RAM, even if you disconnect an SSD from the power, it will not lose its data, but will it be able to store it indefinitely if you do not connect it to the power for a long time?
Although in this article we are going to focus on SSDs, you should know that for example the same thing happens to pen drives since they use the same type of memory in most cases. In the same way, this affects both the SSDs that we connect internally to the PC and the external SSDs that are connected through a USB interface, so in general you must take this information into account for all devices that have NAND Flash memory.
The data on your SSD doesn’t last forever … but almost
Although generally a mechanical hard drive is vacuum sealed and it is impossible for dust to get inside, having moving parts is more susceptible than SSDs to environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity, not to mention electromagnetic sources that can damage its components. In an SSD this does not happen, but even so it does not mean that it is immune to the passage of time.
Some time ago a JEDEC report came to light that exposed the worst possible scenario: an SSD about to reach the end of its useful life in which data was recorded at a low temperature of 20ºC and then stored at a high temperature (55ºC) , the worst possible scenario that is also contrary to the usual (no one keeps anything at 55ºC in a drawer unless you live in the desert). In this case, the data on the SSD was inaccessible seven days after it was disconnected, and this set off alarms.
The reality is that if you keep the SSD in a cool and dry place, with little humidity, where the temperature does not vary much in winter or summer and away from electromagnetic sources (magnets, motors, etc.) the data that your SSD or pen contains drive can last for many years (we are talking about the order of more than 100 years). Of course we are talking about ideal conditions that are then very difficult to meet, but in general terms if you are a little careful it is likely that you will never find yourself in the position of connecting an SSD that had been in a drawer for years and that the data is have lost. Extremely difficult.
That does not mean, of course and as the JEDEC has already demonstrated, that the data cannot be lost. If the stored SSD was near the end of its useful life, if it has suffered changes in temperature or extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) or was near electromagnetic sources, the retention time of the data can be drastically reduced and cause loss of data. In any case, as we said before, as long as you have a minimum of care you should not have problems.
What precautions should you take to avoid losing data?
Unlike hard drives, SSDs are not hermetically sealed, so it is always a good idea to keep them in a closed place where dust does not enter, or at least as little as possible. A good idea would be to keep your SSDs or pen drives in a cardboard box that allows some perspiration in case moisture enters that can escape, and in turn inside a closet or drawer to avoid a lot of dust.
Likewise, keep your devices away from electromagnetic sources and we are no longer referring only to motors such as that of the washing machine or refrigerator, but in general of any other electrical appliance. Finally, as we have mentioned before, it would also be advisable to store them in a place where there is not much humidity and, at the same time, that there are not great variations in temperature.
