Data recovery is a process to recover the data lost due to a virus, physical damage to the storage media or operating system crash. The best way to perform a data recover is to seek professional help for the same. But as in case of everything, quality matters here as well. Choosing a wrong company may mean permanent loss of your precious data.
Characteristics of a Good Data Recovery Company
- Data loss can be caused by a variety of problems and each scenario needs to be correctly identified and then dealt with in an appropriate way. For this process to be done satisfactorily, the recovery company needs to have all facilities required for the same in the contemporary market.
- In particular, if your hard drive has been damaged physically, disassembling it requires a lot of precision instruments, skilled professionals and a dust free environment (for this check if the company has a ‘class 100’ clean room. Here ‘class 100’ refers to the number of dust particles per cubic foot of air). Also, if the hard drive cannot function at all, instruments like magnetometers which help in manual extraction of data are required. Enquiries regarding the same should also be carried out before choosing a company.
- Some companies offer long term services at a lesser cost. So if you need data recovery services regularly, it is advisable to go into long term partnership with such companies.
- Also, in case you possess a large business and are capable of employing your own team for minor data recovery processes, some companies provide training against common problems that can lead to data loss. Services of such companies can also be sought. They may also provide you with proper solutions for your data backup that suit your particular needs.
- Rather than a general data recovery company, one should go for the ones that specialise in a particular type of data storage media. For example, if you make use of magnetic media to store your data, a company specialising in services for optical media will be of no particular use to you. Thus, it is advisable to consider your needs before making the choice.
Remember that each situation leading to the necessity of data recovery may be different and hence the skills required to recover the data will also be different. Hence a more skilful job will cost more and does not necessarily imply that the company is being unethical. For example, jobs concerning physical damage generally cost quite more than those involving some logical error.
Identifying a Good Data Recovery from a Bad One
- A good data company will be ready to show you the credentials for their engineers and other personnel. It is preferable to check for the same while hiring one as it will ensure that the company employees has necessary qualifications. A bad company will probably have a reluctant attitude towards showing these details to you.
- Also, it is not just the personnel with necessary qualifications that matter. The practical skills of the employees matter even more. A good way to check up on this is to ask the company for proper references or information about the services they have performed for their past clients.
- While checking the company statistics and references remember that an exceptionally high success rates like 100 % may be bogus ones. This is because, data recovery is not a sure shot process and some failures are quite probable.
- Some companies offer their services at low rates initially and then once you avail to their services, tend to increase their rates. One must keep away from companies involving in such practices. So be careful and do not make a long term deal before you know about the company. Also, confirm with them in writing that there are no hidden costs even before availing to their services. Beware of companies that are likely to make loud advertisement claiming exceptionally low rates.
Always keep all this in mind while choosing a data recovery company.
Most of these companies have online presence and you can check their credentials, customer feedback and success rate on their websites. You would also be able to procure a quote free of cost within a few mouse clicks. It is good to analyse and compare different companies and the services that they offer prior to choosing a particular company. Always play safe where your precious data is concerned. If you are concerned that your data may have suffered malicious destruction then it may be more appropriate to seek the services of a computer forensics investigator or expert witness.