Data loss has become a common phenomenon. People lose data everyday. Be it a commercial orgganisation or a personal user. Data is lost due to human error, which ranges from power surges, improper connections and maintenance. Data loss also occurs due to system malfunctions of a physical or logical nature. When data loss does happen, it is time for data recovery.
Data Recovery: The underlying assumption of data recovery holds that once stored, data is never lost. It does not vanish from the storage media. It doesn’t matter what or how the data loss occurred. Data recovery is the process of retrieving previously inaccessible data. It basically means that one can recover lost data. Data merely changes location of position on the storage device. It still exists and can be recovered.
Types of Data Recovery: Users have the option of data recovery through self by running DIY data recovery software. Or, they can rely on professionals to do the job. They have the choice of calling data recovery experts. Most users prefer the latter choice.
Reasons for Choosing Data Recovery Professionals:
Skilled & Trained Professionals: Data recovery experts consist of technicians, software engineers, programmers and software developers. They are equipped with the academic expertise to perform data recovery functions. Usually data recovery firms recruit specialists for each stage of the recovery process. Skilled technicians and software engineers handle the stage of evaluation. They are also involved in the diagnosis stage. These professionals diagnose the correct cause of data loss and recommend the recovery procedure. They also conduct intricate procedures of data duplication. Engineers and developers do the third stage of recovery. They are trained to open the faulty storage device and fix the problem.
The recovery process is a specialised procedure. It requires great in-depth expertise and skills. This cannot be found in ordinary users. Average users are unfit to conduct the recovery process. They don't have the technical and academic expertise. Thus the common user always runs the risk of running DIY wrongly. The user can further cause damage and lose data.
Blaming Others: Social Psychologists argue that the tendency to blame others is inherent in human beings. This reason or attribute influences our decision to hire data recovery professionals. We want to be innocent bystanders. We want to have the option of blaming someone else. Data recovery professionals unknowingly satisfy this tendency. They become easy scapegoats if the procedure goes wrong. Or, it could also happen that the entire data is not recovered. Or it could be that the damage spreads corrupting the entire data or, if the user receives fully recovered data in unoriginal format and sequence. We can always state that the experts ruined our data.
Specialized Equipment & Procedures: Data recovery firms make use of intricate specialised equipment. All the stages of recovery are steeped in correct precise procedures. The experts use complicated procedures of disk imaging copying the entire disk on another computer. They also use clean room technology. This specialised technology is only available at a data recovery firm. The technology involves using precision machines to open the disk in a sanitised environment. The room is maintained at a high level of anti-pollution. It is kept devoid of dust particles and bacteria.
The technology uses scanners and high-speed fans. This technology and equipment are unavailable to the average user. The user has to rely on self-help tools while running DIY software. The user always faces the risk of corrupting the entire disk. The user has to conduct the recovery procedure in a pollutant environment. There is no way to control dust and bacteria. This further puts the data at risk.
Specific Data Recovery Procedures: In data recovery firms, experts do not use the same recovery procedure for all problems. There is a different recovery procedure for different problems. This is unlike the DIY. The user generally ends up using general DIY software. This can put the data at risk. The expert will not use precision equipment for a human error problem. The methods will vary for a physical malfunction. Similarly, data recovery experts usually utilise Class 101 clean room technology for logical errors.
Cost: Data recovery professional services seem expensive. But in reality, it is cheaper for the user. The first stage of recovery is always done free of cost. The experts will always consult the user before proceeding further. An estimate of the entire recovery procedure cost is given. The user has the option of going in for the data recovery process or not. There is no charge if there is no recovery. This means that the firm does not charge if the experts fail to recover the data.
On the other hand, the cost does not change when using DIY software. It does not matter if the data was recovered or not. The user ends up paying for the software.
If you are concerned that your data has been accessed, and possibly tampered with or deleted, a computer forensics (or digital forensics) expert can track modifications and access to your data.