Managing files

Question 1

Why do files need to be organised? Explain how a directory hierarchy might work.

Answer 1

An easily understood filing system allows you to go directly to the folder or file.

Strategies to organise files:
* Keep folder names short, but meaningful.
* Separate work in progress from finished tasks.
* Limit the number of files kept. Many files are unnecessary to keep once they have been read and action has been taken.
* Consider using shortcuts and aliases instead of creating multiple copies that may later become ‘orphans’ and never be updated.

Question 2

You are asked for advice on how to keep your software application and data safe and secure. What would you recommend?

Answer 2

For data safety
* Implement a RAID (RAID-0) redundant array of independent drives storage system

For performance enhancement
* Adopt 3-2-1 backup strategy

For quick system restoration
* Clone the entire drive regularly, monthly, save incremental backups weekly or daily

Question 3

How can an HDD be securely wiped? How is this different to just deleting a file?

Answer 3

To make a drive unreadable, overwrite it with 1s and 0s using tools like SDelete on Windows or secure erase on macOS.

Deleting a file removes its directory entry, not the data, but subsequent saves overwrite the location, ensuring permanent deletion.