Flash memory is a type of non-volatile memory, which means it retains data even when the power is turned off. Compared with other types of non-volatile memory, flash can be erased and rewritten to much faster, hence the name “flash”.

NAND flash memory has the additional advantage of being erased in blocks and rewritten in sub-units of blocks called pages. This makes it the lowest cost, fastest form of non-volatile memory on a per gigabyte basis. Compared to other forms of storage media, NAND is rugged, small, low-power and fast, hence it is the preferred data storage solution for applications such as cell phones, digital cameras and music players.

NAND flash memory is also the storage medium for Solid State Drives (SSDs) which are replacing hard disks for storage in applications such as notebooks, servers and storage systems. This is because SSDs provide faster speed, smaller size, greater ruggedness and lower power consumption.

A major drawback of NAND is that as the technology scales, meaning it becomes lower cost, there is a significant impact on reliability. Specifically, endurance and data retention are reduced.

To counteract this problem, all companies in the NAND ecosystem, from flash and controller suppliers, system and SSD manufacturers to datacenters and hyperscale companies, require solutions to extend their product life.

Use of NVMdurance software enables these companies to use the lowest-cost NAND flash memory technologies, improve time-to-market, differentiate products, optimize for customer use cases, and reduce costs.

Market Size

NAND flash is the fastest-growing product in the history of the semiconductor market, reaching annual revenues of more than $10 billion within 10 years of its introduction.

Most market analysts are projecting NAND revenue to continue to grow are at least 10% annually, topping $40 billion within the next few years.