The significance of flash storage in data access speed lies in its ability to dramatically improve read and write performance compared to traditional hard drives. Flash storage utilizes NAND-based memory to provide faster data retrieval and transfer rates, often exceeding 500 MB/s in consumer devices. This speed advantage translates to quicker boot times, application loads, and overall system responsiveness. Additionally, flash storage is more reliable and energy-efficient, making it an attractive option for data centers, laptops, and high-performance computing applications that demand rapid access to large data volumes.