Data loss is a serious problem that can strike any business or individual. However, just 54% of businesses report that they have a disaster recovery plan in place. This means that nearly half of all organizations have no business disaster recovery plan in place.
And while there are many causes of data loss, ranging from hardware failures to software glitches, the end result is always the same: lost data.
Fortunately, data recovery services can help you retrieve your lost data.
But with so many options available, how do you choose the best one for your needs? Here are a few things to remember when selecting a data recovery service.
Is Data Backup and Recovery Important?
Imagine this scenario: you’re working on an important project for work, and you’ve just spent the last few hours fine-tuning a document. Suddenly, your computer crashes, and you lose the document. All of your hard work has gone down the drain.
Or, imagine that you’re the CEO of a medium-sized business, and you’ve just been hit with a cyberattack that wiped all of your files from your computer. This includes all employee documentation, sensitive client data, and all passwords to every business account.
These are nightmare scenarios for many people and businesses. They’re also extremely costly for larger organizations. but they’re also situations that can be easily avoided with data backup and recovery.
Data backup and recovery is the process of making copies of important files and data so that they can be accessed in case of a system crash or other disaster. While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, the truth is that it can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
In the event of a system crash or cyber attack, you’ll be able to quickly retrieve your backed-up data and get back to work. And if your computer or any employee’s computer is lost or stolen, your business data will be safe and sound.
When it comes down to it, yes, data backup and recovery are important as part of overall data security! Whether you’re a small business owner or an individual user, data backup and recovery is an important step in protecting your valuable information.
What Are Data Recovery Services?
By now, you hopefully understand the importance of data security, but what are data recovery services?
Data recovery services can include many activities, from retrieving accidentally deleted files to restoring a crashed hard drive.
In most cases, data recovery is performed by using specialized software to scan the storage device for lost or corrupted data. Once the company finds the location of the data, it can then extract it and save it to a new location.
In some cases, physical repairs may be necessary to recover data successfully. This can involve opening up the storage device to repair damaged components or replace damaged parts.
In some cases, data recovery companies may also be able to clone a storage device to create an exact copy of the data.
Regardless of the method used, data recovery services can provide a valuable service for those who have lost important files.
Data Recovery Service vs. Data Recovery Software
We know we just mentioned data recovery software, but does that mean you can buy software and forgo working with a company specializing in data recovery services? Not so fast!
First, let’s help you distinguish the differences between the two.
Data recovery services are a process of salvaging inaccessible data from damaged or failed storage media when it cannot be accessed normally.
Data recovery services are usually provided by companies specializing in data recovery, and they offer various services, including file recovery, hard drive repair, and data backup.
However, data that has been lost due to damage to the storage device may require specialized equipment and skills to be successfully recovered.
This means that data recovery services often require that you send your damaged device to their facility, where technicians will attempt to rescue your data. This is where data recovery software might come into play.
Data recovery software is a program that you (really a specialist) can install on a functional computer system so that lost data can be recovered.
In cases where data that has been deleted needs to be recovered from a damaged drive, a combination of the two processes may be the most effective solution.
All in all, though, it’s important to keep in mind that data recovery services are usually performed by trained and certified professionals. Data recovery software that you can buy online isn’t usually as comprehensive as working with a professional offering managed services.
How Do Data Recovery Centers Work?
Thinking that this sounds right for you? Working with a data recovery center (otherwise known as an IT support company offering data recovery services) is a straightforward process.
Here is a short breakdown of what the data recovery process looks like using a damaged hard drive or another similar piece of hardware as an example.
Initial Consultation
The first step is usually an initial consultation, either over the phone or online. The IT support company will usually ask you to explain your problem or concern during this consultation.
If your consultation is purely preventative, they’ll ask you what kind of files you store and about the data you use. If it’s because you’ve experienced data loss, they’ll ask what data should be recovered from the device.
Sometimes, only certain data may be important enough to warrant recovery. They’ll work with you to make sense of what’s worth it and your general options.
Then, they’ll define the project’s scope and generate a work order. This process step is slightly different from business to business, but we suggest never working with a company without some sort of contract in place.
Technical Evaluation
The technical evaluation of the storage device determines the cause of data loss and the best way to proceed.
For example, if the problem is a fried circuit board, simply taking a board from a similar drive may not be sufficient to recover the data. In this case, they might check the power supply to check for other secondary issues.
Depending on their evaluation, the data recovery provider should be able to provide a more accurate quote for the work needed to restore the data.
Verification
What happens next if you’ve sent off a device for data recovery?
If this is the case and you don’t need managed data security services but a one-time recovery service, they’d take your device and open it in a clean room.
Various components of the device like parameters or firmware chips may be replaced as part of this process. Likewise, the technician will need to gain access to the device and ultimately extract the data you need. So, ensure you’re okay with that!
However, every device and case is so different that it’s hard to explain exactly what happens at this stage.
Drive Cloning
The final step is to put the drive into a semi-operational state. Next, the specialist working with your device will attempt to clone the drive and copy the data to a host drive.
This critical step will determine if your information can be saved from the device. If the cloning is successful, they’ll copy that data to a file they’ll deliver to you as part of the project completion.
It’s important to note here that different companies use different techniques to save data, but cloning is often the most successful method.
What To Look For in a Data Recovery Services
Whether you’re interested in data recovery services as mentioned above or are more interested in something ongoing, it’s important to choose a data recovery service that can get the job done right.
After all, when you lose important data, it can be a major setback.
Whether it’s family photos, financial records, or business files, data loss can be devastating.
Here are some things to look for when choosing a data recovery service.
Reputation
Anytime you’re entrusting your data to someone else, it’s important to do your research and ensure you’re working with a reputable company.
A good way to get a sense of a data recovery service’s reputation is to ask for customer references and talk to their current clients. This will give you an idea of the quality of their services.
You should also look for companies that have been in business for a while and have a proven track record of great service. Entrusting your data to someone without proper verification can be risky, so it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
Backup Frequency
As a business owner, you are required to wear many hats and fill different roles simultaneously. You are so busy with your meetings, finances, etc., that you rarely get time to check if data is backed up.
This is why backup frequency is important when looking for a data backup and recovery services company.
Any reliable managed IT support provider should offer regular data backups as part of their services. But what does regular mean? Vendors follow different backup schedules, so it’s important to ask about frequency before committing to a service.
Some back up your data as you make changes, while some provide hourly, daily, or monthly backups. Choose the vendor who is more suitable for your specific business needs.
Data loss is a stressful and costly experience for any business, and you want to be sure you’re getting what your business needs to avoid those costs and stress.
All in all, to minimize the risk of catastrophe, it’s important to choose a managed IT support provider with a robust data backup strategy.
By understanding the frequency and method of your provider’s backups, you can be confident that your data is safe and sound no matter what happens.
Uptime
Another important factor to consider when looking for data recovery services is uptime. Uptime measures how often a service is available and working properly.
Companies that provide data storage, backup, and retrieval services are held to high standards regarding uptime. After all, their customers trust them with priceless memories and important business documents.
What’s more, those customers expect to be able to access that data whenever they need it. As such, these companies must provide an uptime guarantee that meets or exceeds expectations.
Unfortunately, 100% uptime is impossible to achieve. However, most will offer an uptime guarantee of between 99.671% and 99.995%. This means that your data should be accessible almost all of the time.
When choosing a data recovery service, be sure to inquire about their uptime guarantee. You’ll want to choose a company that can provide the level of reliability you need.
Regulatory Compliance
Almost all businesses are turning to the cloud to store their data in this digital era. And it’s not just businesses but also individuals who trust the cloud more to store their personal data.
History has shown that entrusting your data to someone else can be very risky. There have been many instances of data breaches where confidential customer information has been leaked.
This is why many countries have introduced data protection regulations and laws. These regulations and laws are designed to protect customer data. If you collect customer or client data, this means you need to keep it safe. When choosing a cloud storage provider, always look for one with complete knowledge of regulatory compliance.
This will ensure that your customer’s personal data is safe and secure.
How to Choose the Best Data Recovery Service
The common causes of data loss are virus attacks, system crashes, power failure, human error, etc. All of these are often quite unexpected attacks that can cause a business to go into emergency mode.
When you lose important data, you should stop using the storage device immediately and send it to a professional data recovery service provider for help.
How to choose the best data recovery service? Whether you’re in emergency mode, under a bit of a time crunch, or simply looking for managed services, here are some tips.
Read Reviews From Customers
One of the best ways to research data recovery services is to read reviews from previous customers. This will give you a good idea of the company’s capabilities and whether or not they are a good fit for your business.
Be sure to read reviews from a variety of sources, such as the company’s website, third-party review sites, and social media. This will give you a well-rounded view of the company.
In addition to reading reviews, also ask for recommendations from other business owners or managers. They may have first-hand experience with a particular data recovery service and can tell you about their experience.
And don’t forget to ask members of your IT department for suggestions. They likely have experience working with data recovery services and can provide you with some good options to consider.
Make Sure They’re Certified
Industry certification is a valuable asset for any data recovery service. It indicates that the company is competent to work with your company’s data and that it adheres to best practices and processes. When choosing data recovery workers, be sure to ask for proof of certification.
This will ensure that they can securely handle the recovery of your data. Certification also shows that the company follows proper procedures when it comes to data storage and handling.
But certification isn’t just a piece of paper. Certification also requires ongoing training to keep up with the latest trends and technologies.
So when you’re inquiring about certification, be sure to ask about what kind of experience they have, not just in working with different devices, but also with different scenarios like fire, heat, water damage, viruses, hacks, etc.
This will give you a better idea of how qualified the company or provider is to work with your company.
Check Out Their Customer Service Policies
A data recovery service provider that is reliable, dependable, and qualified will follow a set of security protocols as a means of protecting the integrity of your company and your data.
Furthermore, be sure you’re aware of and comfortable with the provider’s customer service policies.
The customer service policies should be clear and concise and outline the steps the provider will take in the event of a data loss.
They should be equipped to handle different problems, queries, and issues while keeping clients’ needs in their best interest.
Check out their customer service policies before you commit to using a particular company. Find out how they handle complaints and whether or not they have a satisfaction guarantee.
Good customer service is essential for any business, so ensure your chosen company has your best interests at heart. After all, that’s what you’re paying for, right?
Ask the Right Questions
When you’re searching for a data recovery service, it’s important to ask the right questions. This will help you find a reputable company that can get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Here are some of the questions you should ask:
- How long does the process usually take?
- What is covered in your services contract?
- What kind of equipment do you need to recover our data?
- Does our hardware have to leave our facility?
- Where do you take our hardware if it leaves our facility?
- If you can recover the data, will it be fully functional?
- If you can’t recover the data, will I still be charged?
By asking these questions, you’ll be able to find a data recovery service that best meets your needs. And, it’s also honestly just a great way to get a feel for whether or not the company knows what they’re talking about.
How Much Does a Data Recovery Service Cost?
The answer to this question depends on the data loss’s severity and the type of storage device that was damaged.
Business insurance doesn’t necessarily cover the cost of data recovery. It is always best to check with your insurance provider before assuming that they will cover the cost.
If you cannot recover your data on your own, then hiring a professional data recovery service is always an option. However, you should be aware that these services can be quite expensive.
Don’t be off-put by that. Consider the cost of the lost data and weigh that against the cost of the service to recover it. In most cases, it’s going to be way less expensive to pay to have it recovered properly than to lose it entirely.
Get Managed IT Services From Truit
At Truit, we pride ourselves on offering our clients a wide variety of services that cover all the bases when it comes to your technology needs. This includes everything from data recovery to network engineering.
We have over 20 years of experience in the IT industry and use that expertise to ensure that your data is kept safe and sound regardless of whatever life throws your way.
Contact us today to get started. Fill out this form and select the option that most suits your needs. Yes, that even includes a cybersecurity assessment to ensure you’re doing all that you can to protect your data from breaches or loss.