SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING FLASH MEMORY

A system and method for flash memory management is provided. In particular, the system and methods herein provide for management of flash memory, particularly NAND flash memory, in a manner that potentially reduces the number of write/erase cycles typically experienced by a data storage device. When unsecure data records are to be written to the flash memory, the new or updated unsecure data records are stored in the first available location in the flash memory (e.g. a block) providing a best fit for the data records. Where the data records are updates, the updated version is stored with an incremented version number to indicate that the updated version is the current version. Older versions of the data records are deleted during garbage collection. When secure data records are to be written to the flash memory, new or updated secure data records are stored in the location in the flash memory with the most available space. Any older versions of secure data records are immediately deleted.