Automotive

As automobiles become ever more reliant on on-board computer systems to operate, the auto industry has developed a number of regulations and standards to ensure a minimum level of system performance.

Any SSD that stores data in the vehicle must be extremely reliable and have high endurance. If an SSD fails or data is compromised while the vehicle is in operation, it could cost lives.

When SSDs designed for automotive applications are updated or changed, they should include change notices and the SSD device should be traceable back to the manufacturer with detailed production information. This will help ensure that automotive system developers are always aware of the specifications and expected performance of each SSD.

To ensure a level of safety and performance, the certification requirements for vehicle parts and system components include IATF 16949, AEC-Q100 and ISO 26262.

Factory Automation

In manufacturing, the factory floor is often considered a harsh or even hazardous environment. SSDs in factory machinery often need to be able to offer excellent performance despite extreme conditions—from heavy vibration to high or low temperatures to the presence of dust, noxious chemicals, gases or other particulates. Many SSD manufacturers gain MIL-STD 810G certification, which tests for adequate resistance to extremes in temperature, humidity, sand and dust, rain, vibration and shock.

SSDs used in manufacturing equipment must deliver consistent performance, often to support continuous, 24/7 operation. They also can be customized with smart tools for early diagnosis of potential malfunction or breakage.

Video Surveillance

Digital video surveillance can benefit organizations in virtually every industry, by helping protect physical buildings and worksites. SSDs used in video surveillance systems need to be high capacity, with high input/output operations per second (IOPS), high drive writes per day (DWPD) and stable, sustained performance. These drives should be able to support extreme write-intensive workloads.

Because video surveillance is most beneficial before and after regular work hours when the organization workforce is on site, these SSDs need robust power loss protection (PLP). This protection helps ensure that data on the drive isn’t lost in the event of an unexpected power failure.

SSDs in surveillance equipment located outside also need environmental protection from extreme temperatures, moisture, sand, and electrostatic discharges.

Kiosks, Gaming and Digital Signage

SSDs used in devices such as retail or other self-help kiosks, slot machines and digital signage need to be extremely reliable and consistent. These devices are often left in areas far away from IT or other technical support staff and should offer long life, even up to five years. This will minimize the need for frequent maintenance and upgrades.

Another valuable SSD feature in these applications is write protection—again, because the devices or equipment are not monitored by IT staff around the clock. Write protection, also called read-only mode, keeps data from accidental or malicious deletion and modification.

Medical Equipment

When used medical devices and equipment, SSDs must provide high performance and reliability. Some medical equipment failures can result in patient death, injury or complications. That’s also why these SSDs need to have high durability and an extended lifespan, preferably three to five years. When human health is on the line, it’s also important to be able to proactively identify potential malfunction or drive failure—so many SSDs come with built-in monitoring capabilities to alert users or support staff to these issues.

Many portable devices and wearables, such as heart rate monitors and blood glucose monitors, require thin and small SSDs that consume very little power.

Aerospace

When it comes to aerospace organizations, data security and self-recovery are of paramount importance. SSDs for use in this industry often require high-level security certifications, including Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) & TCG Opal

SSDs for aerospace also typically come with military-grade erase and destroy capabilities, which keeps unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data stored on the drive.

Environmental reliability is also a priority, so SSDs often need to be MIL-STD 810H-certified to resist extremes in temperature, humidity, sand and dust, rain, vibration, shock and radiation. When it comes to aerospace organizations, data security and self-recovery are of paramount importance.

Data Centers

SSDs used in enterprise data centers need to be reliable and deliver high performance and low latency, especially helpful for database caching and storing other data that applications or priority systems rely on. Server applications require high performance and consistency to handle complex workloads, so a high Quality of Service (QoS) is a plus. Many data center managers also look for a small footprint (1U) for use in quick bootup devices.

Low power consumption SSD is important in data center and high-density SSDs allow enterprises to store more data in less space, which helps increase energy efficiency from reduced need for power, cooling and so on.