Why is Data Recovery so Important?

Posted By: Helen Wednesday 22nd August 2018 Tags: , ,

This blog investigates the importance of data recovery and the benefits of this within your business. By offering a real life scenario we aim to help companies understand both the importance of adopting data recovery solutions and the cost implications attached when there isn’t one.

Your morning should begin like this:

Ok, so let’s start from the top. You arrive at work and a coffee is placed upon your desk just as the PC is booting up (of course this is standard here at LaneSystems)! After a couple of sips and a bit of rooting around you easily access all of the relevant information required to be able to carry out duties.

However, one morning it begins like this:

You arrive at work and a coffee is placed upon your desk just as the PC is booting up (still standard at LaneSystems)! After a couple of sips and a bit of rooting around it starts to become clear that something isn’t quite right. As you continue to search for specific data it dawns on you that actually, the important information you require access to has vanished.

So what happens now?

The missing data is intrinsic to your daily routine. From here, you sit back for a second and take a sip of the hot coffee that has cooled down just enough for it not to burn. You gather your thoughts before reaching for the phone in order to contact your IT Support Partners.

OR……

You frantically search through any and every file available whilst asking all staff members sitting in close proximity if they can help. Your coffee goes cold and your body temperature and heart rate increase as the realisation sets in that all of the necessary data required to do your job is no longer available.

Which of the above two scenarios resonates more with you?

So what is data recovery?

Quite simply, data recovery is the process of retrieving lost, inaccessible, corrupted or formatted data. Understanding that this is an available option should help to ease the feeling of dread! Having this option in place in the first instance is the best possible scenario and means any data losses will not cost the earth.

How about a data recovery story?

Let’s begin with photographer Mr.Smith (pseudonym of course). Mr. Smith owns a studio and his career is built around a small number of photographers and videographers relying predominantly on the sale of digital based content. Over many years in business, the number of videos and photographs has totted up to several terabytes. Each day, Mr. Smith and his team would have direct access to images via a small network storage device. One morning, Mr. Smith arrived at work (hot coffee already on his desk) and noticed a flashing red light on the storage device. This had never happened before. He chose the option of sitting back to gather his thoughts in the first instance. Upon contacting the device manufacturer Mr. Smith soon learned that one of the systems drives had in fact failed. Fortunately for Mr. Smith, the system in use was protected. It was explained to Mr. Smith however that when one drive fails within the system it is common for the second to follow suit quite quickly. Time was naturally of the essence with action required quickly. It is important to point out here that Mr. Smith did not work with a reputable data recovery company and felt confident at fixing the issue himself.

So what happened next?

Mr. Smith attempted to rectify the issue and when things were not going to plan he got back on the phone to device support. They began to talk him through the process and whilst conversing it dawned on Mr. Smith that he had removed and replaced the working drive as opposed to the broken one. ALL data had been completely lost in the fracas. With literally no way of retrieving the lost data, the stark reality begin to dawn on Mr. Smith. With nothing left to lose he got in touch with a data recovery specialist who came out to assess the situation. The professional in question took away the drive and after a few days a huge sigh of relief was made when the specialist determined he could gain access to the lost images and videos. The cost attached to this was hefty due to the amount of work required for retrieval.

What should Mr. Smith have done in the first instance?

A data protection plan should have been in place from the offset. The very fact that Mr. Smith’s business is based upon the re-sale of images and video content tells us he should have everything backed up with a relevant data recovery plan securely in place. When the drive failed, it would have been inexpensive and a minor inconvenience. Instead, the mistake was costly. Worst case scenario, Mr. Smith could have lost his entire business.

Lessons Learned?

  • Have a data recovery plan in place via specialists
  • The cost of protecting data is much less than the cost of recovery

Recovery Solutions

The modern world is heavily reliant on technology. All of the data we use on a daily basis has to be stored somewhere secure. Should access no longer be available due to any matter of issues, a retrieval strategy should be in place. In the event of an issue, data recovery means minimal disruption whilst ensuring business continuity. Relevant solutions differ depending on the type of data you keep and based upon the business you run. The right company will take all of this into consideration before coming up with a bespoke plan. The end goal should be to get your system back up and running in the shortest time possible in the event of data loss.

What are the benefits of data recovery solutions?

As we saw in Mr. Smith’s case, should he have had a strategy already in place then this would have proven more cost effective. Above all, investing in data recovery means you are safeguarding the future of your company.

And the conclusion is?

Don’t be like Mr. Smith. Enjoy your morning coffee each and every day. Turn up to a stress free working environment (as far as data goes)! Knowing that this is one aspect of the business that is completely covered means there is one less thing to worry about. With data protected and a relevant data recovery strategy in place you can focus on the more pressing tasks of both running and growing your company.

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