Data recovery is widely seen as a saving grace for many businesses. We’ve all encountered a situation where we’ve lost important data and not been able to get it back. That feeling of frustration as you realise you should have backed up your documents or turned off the computer properly – hindsight is a wonderful thing. You would think that we would learn from our mistakes, but unfortunately, there are many businesses out there who do not have the appropriate IT services to prevent the loss of data in the first place.
The Cause of Data Loss
There are a number of ways in which deletion or corruption of files can occur. One of the most common causes of data loss is user error. Accidental deletion or overwriting essential files proves the catalyst to the problem time and time again. Even simple things like removing a USB or portable hard drive without properly ejecting the device can negatively impact your device and cause corruption of stored data.
Furthermore, factors we can’t control like power outages or surges can significantly damage hardware and lead to sudden power loss of devices. Then, there are the random hardware failures of older devices and finally, the risk of viruses or malicious software corrupting your data. This is an ever changing and ongoing risk for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Fortunately, modern data recovery technology means that not all hope is lost. It’s actually fairly rare to lose 100% of your data. More on that later.
Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail
An old saying – but it’s true. Data loss can impact businesses at the worst of times. Unfortunately, the occurrence of it happening is completely unpredictable. We often say that it isn’t a case of if it will happen to your company, it’s a case of when. If you aren’t prepared, the consequences can be devastating. The loss of sensitive or valuable information can threaten important client relationships, undermine your business’ operations, or even create legal liabilities. Put simply – it pays to be prepared.
The best practice for data recovery it to prepare for the worst-case scenario now. It’s worth noting that smaller businesses are almost twice as likely to experience data loss than larger ones. So, regardless the size of your business, we recommend having a company data guidebook. Start with a list all of your processes, management, file access and where they are stored for transparency and ease of referral. You can then begin to outline a crisis management plan and back up strategies for your employees. Ideally, you should implement a minimum of three different back-ups on two different storage drives. Our top tip: store one of these drives off site.
Prevention Aids Prominence
Data recovery can be an expensive venture. Not only in restoration, and loss of critical information, but also in lost time and productivity. By taking the necessary precautions, it’s a steadfast way to not only protect the core of your business, but also your reputation. For ultimate client satisfaction, data recovery simply must be considered to upkeep a level of trust and expectation. Taking the necessary precautions is a steadfast way to show clients that your business cares.
Appropriate Data Recovery Software
Almost all file systems maintain some or all of a file’s information until a new file overwrites it, quick action ensures your organization can immediately work to recover and repair lost or damaged data and minimise disruption to your business’ operations.
A core component of any data recovery plan is file recovery software. Fortunately, they are increasingly efficient and come at only a fraction of the cost of in-person services. However, you must invest in data recovery software before data loss occurs, as this is the best way to insure your business against the potentially debilitating costs of data loss.
On the subject of software, it’s extremely important to keep your antivirus/cyber protection up to date. This is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid disaster altogether; schedule in time to check it is all running smoothly.
It’s also worth mentioning that data recovery software can’t help physically damaged hard drives or devices. Whether it’s down to human error or mechanical failure, users should immediately stop using a physically damaged hard drive and take it to a data recovery specialist to increase the chances of recovering data from the damaged drive.
Helpful Recovery Tips
Possible data recovery needs to be addressed within every business. Delaying the process will only cost you long-term. Here are some of our recommendations to help you along the way.
- Make sure that all staff are aware of your backup schedule. Use online calendar apps to add reminders for yourself and employees to check their back-ups and take charge of their own workflow.
- Train your staff and run regular refreshers. Ensure they know the importance of backups, data protection and data recovery. Allow them to take charge of their own data recovery but let them know where to go if they have stumbled across something that may be out of their remit.
- Test your back-ups regularly by running health-checks, and document when the most important backups were done. That way you have a record of when things went wrong, should you need a reference.
Experiencing Data Corruption
It’s easier said than done, but if you do experience data loss or corruption, try not to go into panic mode. This can complicate the situation; think logically and implement the process detailed in your guidebook. Identify where the issue is and the scale of the crisis. Do not run any tasks that may interfere with the data recovery. Stop using the disk or space that has been affected and ensure that no data is overwritten or lost beyond recovery by professionals. Have your crisis management plan to hand with your data recovery professionals contact on there. They will be happy to talk through your issue and ensure you’re getting the best service before making any decisions.
If you’d like a little more information about our data recovery services, including use of cloud backup, or any other of our IT solutions, please get in touch! Contact us today on 0203 137 7273 or by filling out our interactive online form.