CDIA Storage Solutions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the key difference between object storage and block storage in a document imaging context?
- Object storage requires more expensive hardware
- Object storage stores data with metadata and a unique ID, while block storage divides data into fixed-size chunks (Correct answer)
- Block storage is only suitable for video files
- Object storage cannot be accessed over a network
Correct answer: Object storage stores data with metadata and a unique ID, while block storage divides data into fixed-size chunks
Object storage pairs data with rich metadata and a unique identifier for flexible retrieval, whereas block storage divides data into raw fixed-size blocks without inherent metadata.
Question 2: A healthcare organization must retain patient records for 10 years with no possibility of alteration. Which storage solution is most appropriate?
- Network Attached Storage (NAS) with RAID 5
- WORM-compliant optical or cloud storage (Correct answer)
- A shared network file server with access controls
- Tape backup with weekly rotation
Correct answer: WORM-compliant optical or cloud storage
WORM-compliant storage prevents any modification or deletion, satisfying healthcare regulations like HIPAA that mandate immutable long-term record retention.
Question 3: What is 'deduplication' in the context of document imaging storage?
- Creating duplicate backup copies of critical documents
- Eliminating redundant copies of identical data to reduce storage consumption (Correct answer)
- Organizing documents into duplicate-free folder structures
- Scanning a document twice to improve image quality
Correct answer: Eliminating redundant copies of identical data to reduce storage consumption
Deduplication identifies and removes identical data segments, storing only one copy and referencing it when duplicates are detected, significantly reducing storage usage.
Question 4: Which factor most directly influences the choice between NAS and SAN in a large document imaging deployment?
- The color depth of scanned documents
- Whether file-level or block-level storage access is required (Correct answer)
- The physical size of the server room
- The brand of scanners being used
Correct answer: Whether file-level or block-level storage access is required
NAS provides file-level access over standard network protocols (NFS/SMB), while SAN provides block-level access via Fibre Channel or iSCSI, making access type the key differentiator.
Question 5: In document storage tiering, which tier is typically used for documents accessed only once or twice per year?
- Tier 1 (Primary Storage)
- Tier 2 (Near-line Storage)
- Tier 3 (Archive/Cold Storage) (Correct answer)
- Tier 0 (Cache Storage)
Correct answer: Tier 3 (Archive/Cold Storage)
Tier 3 archive or cold storage, often using tape or low-cost cloud, is designed for rarely accessed documents that must be retained for compliance or historical purposes.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a storage area network (SAN) fabric in a document imaging environment?
- To provide wireless document scanning capabilities
- To create a dedicated high-speed network connecting servers to storage devices (Correct answer)
- To encrypt documents during transmission over the internet
- To manage user access permissions to document folders
Correct answer: To create a dedicated high-speed network connecting servers to storage devices
A SAN fabric is a specialized high-speed network, typically using Fibre Channel, that connects multiple servers directly to shared storage resources with low latency.
Question 7: Which compression standard is most commonly used for black-and-white document images in a CDIA context?
- JPEG 2000
- CCITT Group 4 (G4) (Correct answer)
- PNG
- H.264
Correct answer: CCITT Group 4 (G4)
CCITT Group 4 (G4) is the industry-standard lossless compression for bi-tonal (black-and-white) document images, achieving high compression ratios while preserving text quality.
CDIA Storage Solutions 3
What is the key difference between object storage and block storage in a document imaging context?