Quick Answer
The correct answer is SSD and RAID 1. An SSD delivers the required fast access speeds by using NAND flash memory, which eliminates the mechanical seek times and rotational latency of traditional HDDs, making data retrieval nearly instantaneous. RAID 1, or mirroring, provides redundancy against a single drive failure by writing identical data to two drives simultaneously, so if one drive fails, the system continues operating from the other without data loss. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this question tests your understanding of balancing storage speed and redundancy for a home server scenario—a common trap is confusing RAID 0 (which prioritizes speed but offers no redundancy) with RAID 1. Remember the memory tip: “Mirror for safety, SSD for speed.”
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is selecting a storage solution for a home server that requires fast access speeds and redundancy against a single drive failure. Which TWO technologies should be considered?
SSD
SSDs offer fast read/write speeds compared to HDDs.
Cloud storage
Why wrong: Cloud storage depends on internet speed and may not provide fast local access.
HDD
Why wrong: HDDs are slower than SSDs, not ideal for fast access.
RAID 1
RAID 1 provides mirroring for redundancy, protecting against a single drive failure.
RAID 0
Why wrong: RAID 0 improves speed but has no redundancy.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SSD
SSD (Solid State Drive) provides fast access speeds due to its use of NAND flash memory, which eliminates mechanical seek times and rotational latency found in HDDs. This makes it ideal for a home server requiring rapid data retrieval. RAID 1 (mirroring) writes identical data to two drives, offering redundancy against a single drive failure by allowing the system to continue operating if one drive fails.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
SSD
Why this is correct
SSDs offer fast read/write speeds compared to HDDs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Cloud storage
Why it's wrong here
Cloud storage depends on internet speed and may not provide fast local access.
HDD
Why it's wrong here
HDDs are slower than SSDs, not ideal for fast access.
RAID 1
Why this is correct
RAID 1 provides mirroring for redundancy, protecting against a single drive failure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
RAID 0
Why it's wrong here
RAID 0 improves speed but has no redundancy.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse RAID 0 with RAID 1, mistakenly thinking RAID 0 provides redundancy because it improves performance, or they overlook that SSDs are necessary for fast access speeds, assuming HDDs are sufficient for a home server.
Detailed technical explanation
SSDs use a flash translation layer (FTL) to map logical block addresses to physical NAND pages, enabling near-instantaneous random access. RAID 1 mirrors data at the block level, typically using a dedicated RAID controller or software like mdadm on Linux; in the event of a failure, the array continues operating in degraded mode until the failed drive is replaced and rebuilt. A common real-world scenario is a home media server where fast access to frequently used files is critical, and RAID 1 protects against data loss from a single drive failure without requiring complex parity calculations.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Infrastructure — This question tests Infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: SSD — SSD (Solid State Drive) provides fast access speeds due to its use of NAND flash memory, which eliminates mechanical seek times and rotational latency found in HDDs. This makes it ideal for a home server requiring rapid data retrieval. RAID 1 (mirroring) writes identical data to two drives, offering redundancy against a single drive failure by allowing the system to continue operating if one drive fails.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This FC0-U61 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U61 exam.
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