Data Recovery - a Brief Introduction
Data Recovery – A Brief Introduction
Data Recovery is the process of retrieval of inaccessible or corrupt data from digital media that has become damaged in some way. Data Recovery can be used to recover data from devices as varied as Hard Disk Drives, Memory Cards, Tapes, Mobile Phones, Personal Digital Assistants, Floppy Disk’s, CD’s, DVD’s, Data Cartridges, Xbox’s and many more items.
Data Recovery may be needed for reasons as diverse as hardware failure, (the tape has been ‘chewed’ up, the hard disk drive has failed, the user has maliciously damaged the computer or digital device, or it could have suffered fire or flood damage). All of these instances will require the services of a professional data recovery company if the data was of such value (be it sentimental or financial) that the cost of the services are less than the perceived value of the data which is no longer accessible.
It is not just businesses who are at risk from Data loss. Clients requiring data recovery come from all walks of life, including large corporates, smaller businesses, and the self employed to “joe public” who, with the introduction and subsequent boom in the use of digital cameras etc to record holidays and special occasions may have lost anything from sentimental data to critical e-mails, and personal account details. Students are often grouped under this heading too.
There are numerous ways that Data can be recovered from digital media which can vary greatly, the simplest method can often involve the running of basic software on the storage medium in question. This is always a dangerous idea, because the recovery data could overwrite the very data that is being recovered. More complex commercial software tools are available which will do this job more professionally. No software fix should be attempted prior to the original media being imaged, enabling the recovering company to work on a ‘back-up’ of the original software. The most professional companies will also take a second image should there be a problem with the first image that is being worked on for recovery.
The next problem is what happens when the hard disk or storage device doesn’t work. For the smaller ‘Data Recovery Companies’, this is a problem, and it is when the more serious Data Recovery Companies get involved, (such as Disklabs, http://www.disklabs.com ), who specialise in higher end Data Retrievals. It is always recommended that the most critical work should be sent to a true data recovery specialist, (check out the accreditations - ensure the specialist has ISO9001-2000 Quality Assurance status, and is certified to ISO BE EN 14644 to ensure that their clean facility is at the correct level for intrusive data recovery work, find out how long that company has been trading, and check their testimonials). Once you have found the company that you are happy with, if the data storage device doesn’t work, there is a high likelihood that the digital media will require spare parts, this is where organisations such as 1st Computer Traders Ltd, ( http://www.1ct.com ) are of service. Organisations such as 1CT sell spare parts for hard disk drives to organisations such as Disklabs, ( http://www.disklabs.com ) enabling them to get the original data accessible for long enough to image the data onto a stable storage device, enabling that data to be duplicated again which in turn allows a safe recovery attempt to be achieved.
The data recovery job is generally finished when a list of all the recovered files is sent to the client. Once the client approves this file listing, they are then shipped the data of an appropriate media. This can be a hard disk drive, floppy disk, CD or DVD. Alternatively, if a file is considered critical, it can be encrypted and then emailed to the client.
It should be noted that in extreme cases it may be impossible to recover any data, however the bottom line is, as soon as you have lost data you should power off your device and send it to a professional Data Recovery Company to optimise your chances of a successful recovery.
Simon Steggles
Disklabs Data Recovery and Computer Forensics Services
www.disklabs.com
www.computer-forensics.co.uk
www.mobilephoneforensics.com
www.1ct.com
SIMON STEGGLESDisklabs Data Recovery Disklabs Computer ForensicsDIRECTORBackgroundSimon is an owner of 1st Computer Traders Ltd, the company that owns Disklabs Data Recovery Services and Disklabs Computer Forensics Services. Simon originally set up the Disklabs Data Recovery Services part of the business in 1997, and started Disklabs Computer Forensics Services in 1999. Natural organic growth meant that new business premises were required for the Disklabs companies, and in December 2005, a further building was secured to accommodate the rapidly growing Disklabs Computer Forensics Services. He has a background of military, (Royal Navy communications and intelligence), and has principally dealt with hard disk drives ever since in roles of buying, selling, wiping and repairing, with the last two roles as business owner. Having completed courses in various computer and mobile phone forensics practises, as well as evidence handling procedures, Simon directs the data side of the business, and drives new business.Qualifications and Training FTK Boot Camp, Dec Wyboston 2005 PRTK Boot Camp, Dec Wyboston 2005 DNA, Dec Wyboston 2005 FST Mobile Phone SIM examination, Southampton Nov 2004 FST Mobile Phone USIM examination, Southampton Nov 2004 .XRY Mobile Phone Examination, Tamworth Jan 2005 Evidence Handling Procedures, Milton Keynes Feb 2004Simon, along with Matt Jones founded the 1st Computer Traders Ltd in September 1997. The business has steadily grown into the multi division company that now incorporates Disklabs Data Recovery Services, Disklabs Computer Forensics Services, and 1st Asset Management, a new division started in January 2006. The new forensics facility was set up to ensure that proper practise and procedures are adhered to whilst dealing with the law enforcement agencies that have very special security requirements, such as security locked evidence cages, proximity readers that only allow authorised personnel into their respective offices/labs/evidence cages. In 2002, Simon became a co-opted director of the Professional Computer Association, a year later he was voted as a full director of the PCA. In 2006 Simon was promoted to the position of Vice Chairman of the PCA, a not for profit organisation which represents in excess of £50 Billion of revenue within the UK and Ireland. Prior to Disklabs Data Recovery Services and Disklabs Computer Forensics Services, Simon was an active director in 1st Computer Traders Ltd, where he implemented the procedures for the test, repair, and data destruction routines used by the technicians of 1st Computer Traders Ltd. The work was rewarded with accreditations by various hard drive manufacturers including Seagate, Maxtor, Western Digital and Fujitsu. In June of 2002, 1st Computer Traders Ltd was awarded the highly coveted ISO9001-2000 for Quality Control.Prior to 1st Computer Traders Ltd, Simon was the Managing Director of United Computer Services (UK) Ltd, another technology based company, trading exclusively in hard disk drives. Hard drives were bought and sold across the world. Within 5 years, and with only 3 staff, Simon led his team to a turnover of £7,000,000.00, and sold the company to his business partner who continued to trade until the business was bought again.Prior to United Computer Services (UK) Ltd, Simon worked at various computer supplies companies gaining experience. Upon leaving school, Simon was a member of the Royal Navy. Specialising in communications, Simon also worked in the Legal Division and in Naval Intelligence.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Data Recovery - a Brief Introduction