What does the acronym FAST in storage technology stand for?

In the context of storage technology, the acronym FAST stands for Fully Automated Storage Tiering. This concept refers to a system that automatically manages the placement of data across different types of storage media based on an analysis of usage patterns and performance requirements.

Fully Automated Storage Tiering allows for efficient use of storage resources by moving frequently accessed data to faster storage tiers (such as SSDs) while relegating less frequently accessed data to slower and more cost-effective media (like traditional hard drives). This dynamic allocation helps optimize performance and reduce operational costs.

This contrasts with other options, which do not accurately represent the full concept of automated tiering. For instance, terms like "storage tiers" without "automatic" fail to capture the essential automated aspect, making them less precise in a technical context. Similarly, terms focusing solely on speed or specific technology types might not encompass the broader functionality provided by fully automated tiering systems.