MTTF (Mean Time to Failure)
What is MTTF (Mean Time to Failure)?
The average time a device or component works before it fails — used to predict when hardware will die and plan replacements.
Why MTTF (Mean Time to Failure) Matters
Hard drives have an MTTF of about 3-5 years. Knowing this helps you replace failing hardware before it takes your data with it — instead of after.
Related Topics
Related Terms
MTTR (Mean Time to Repair)
The average time it takes to fix something once we start working on it — a key metric for measuring IT efficiency.
SupportSLA (Service Level Agreement)
A contract that defines how fast we respond and resolve issues — like 'critical issues get a response within 1 hour, resolution within 4 hours.'
SupportAsset Management
Tracking every device, license, and piece of hardware your business owns — what it is, where it is, who has it, and when it needs replacing.
SupportSSD vs. HDD
An SSD (solid-state drive) stores data on flash memory chips with no moving parts, making it much faster and more durable than an HDD. An HDD (hard disk drive) stores data on spinning magnetic platters read by a mechanical arm — slower, cheaper per gigabyte, and more prone to physical failure.
Hardware