Top 5 Primary Threats and Tips of Data Loss

Data recovery, put simply, is the process of retrieving computer data from damaged, crashed or inaccessible secondary storage media when it cannot be accessed normally. Here are top 5 primary threats and tips of data loss that you need to consider:

1. Hardware or System Problems.

Hardware failure, such as a head crash in a hard disk, is the most common causes of data loss according to the findings of Ontrack Data Recovery – Develop good computer habits and take simple steps to keep your computer running well and keep your data as safe as it can be.

2. Human Error.

Findings also indicate that 26% of data loss results from Human Error – Take advantage of safeguards included in your word processor such as versioning features and tracked changes while keeping hardcopies of your documents.

3. Software Corruption or Program Problems.

While software crash or freeze result in data not being saved, software bugs or poor usability such as not confirming a file delete command would increase the possibility of accidentally delete the documents - Some diagnostic programs, such as Check Disk and others can cause problems in retrieving lost data so be careful when running diagnostic programs.

4. Computer Viruses

Computer Viruses damages – Maintain antivirus protection and network firewalls and beware of email attachments.

5. Natural Disasters

 Natural disasters such as earthquake, flood, tornado, etc. may cause data loss as well - Again, Back up important files on a regular basis.

These five main threats of data lost would have significant impact on your business in terms of financial cost and business operation. To know more about data loss and recovery, Ontrack Data Recovery would like to provide you with the complete, safe, fast and cost-efficient data recovery services.

Costs of Data Loss
With no data and no access to your system, lost data is a financial disaster. Our data recovery specialists determine the best data recovery solution to get you back up and running as quickly as possible. The chart below outlines the costs associated with computer downtime and lost data for businesses.
Industry Sector Revenue Per Hour	Lost Revenue Per Hour
Energy	$2.8 million
Telecommunications	$2.0 million
Manufacturing	$1.6 million
Financial Institutions	$1.4 million
Information Technology	$1.3 million
Insurance	$1.2 million
Retail	$1.1 million
Pharmaceuticals	$1.0 million
Banking	$996,000
Source: IT Performance Engineering & Measurement Strategies: Quantifying Performance Loss, Meta Group, October 2000.

When time is crucial and data is mission-critical, data recovery may be the most practical option available. Data recovery professionals recover data from the damaged media itself, providing several advantages over alternative methods of data retrieval.

1) Complete - Data recovery professionals can safely enter the system or media to achieve a comprehensive data recovery.
2) Current - Although many people revert to backups following a data loss, those backups typically contain outdated information or could be corrupt themselves. Data recovery can help you access the most recent version of the lost data.
3) Fast - Every second that passes following a data disaster means time and money lost to your company. Data recovery reduces this downtime by quickly recovering and returning your data.
4) Cost-effective - The expense in time, money, and effort of rebuilding or re-keying lost data can be overwhelming to your company. Data recovery can provide the quickest and most complete data recovery possible.