Crucial data losses from a ransomware attack, system crashes, corrupted files, disasters like fires or flooding, or an accidental file deletion – which happens more than many would suppose – can combine to keep a business owner up at night. It is vital to plan for these possibilities.
Plan for the Future
Having a proper plan in place and taking appropriate measures in advance can help to alleviate a business decision maker’s mind regarding these real concerns. For instance, by practicing regular data backups onto separate, secure drives, setting up robust anti-malware software, and utilizing the cloud for backup purposes are all positive steps that one can take to protect crucial data.
But even with the best planning, sometimes the services of a data recovery resource –- either by opting for a DIY software solution or by sending the drive to a professional data recovery service –- are necessary to recover one’s highly important data. The following post will detail the steps to take if one loses access to vital data. A few of the best currently available file recovery solutions will then be presented.
File Recovery Depends on a Few Things
Be aware, though, that while data recovery is usually possible, it is far from guaranteed that data can be recovered in every instance. For example, files contained on solid-state drives (SSDs) typically cannot be recovered that was accidentally deleted or lost due to a drive reformatting. As for recovery needs stemming from physical damage, an SSD’s data — similar to an HDD — could potentially be recovered depending on the extent of the damage to the drive.
After realizing data has been mistakenly deleted or reformatted, take some first crucial steps that the best recovery tools will help one with.
- If the data is accessible over a network, restrict access to this drive to prevent it from being overwritten, which could make recovery next to impossible.
- Next, use disk imaging software to make a mirror copy of the affected drive and, very important, store this copy on another drive. Though the best file recovery solutions will prevent one from rewriting data onto the compromised drive, it is still good to keep this in mind. And cloning the drive will increase the chances of successfully recovering deleted or reformatted data.
Use software to scan and scour the drive for all salvageable data. Be prepared to wait, though, as this process can take several hours depending on the size of the drive. Also, one scan may not be enough, as sometimes certain files will not be discovered during the first scan. If this is the case, just plow ahead and scan again.
In some instances, files will be recovered but in a damaged or incomplete form. Depending on how important such files are, this situation may call for acquiring the services of a professional hard drive recovery resource. These services will physically work on your drive, ideally in a clean room environment, to repair or recover even the most corrupted or damaged drives and data.