When data is inaccessible or lost because a physical storage device has failed or has problems, or because the data is corrupt, organizations better hope they had backups. Else, if the data is in a damaged server or laptop, it may need to be salvaged by a professional data recovery specialist and if possible “fixed”.

Using a data-recovery specialist should be the last resort because of the expense involved and the possible business interruptions this may cause. Preventing data loss or data corruption through best practices and backups is the best course to take.

Actively Reducing the Need for Data Recovery

Having a written formal data-management plan should be the first step towards avoiding data recovery need. Organizations of every size must learn to start treating their data as a hard asset that requires protection.

The formal data-management plan should contain the role of everyone within the organization when it comes to sharing, accessing or storing information.

The plan should also include a list of all data sources and how, when, and where these sources will be backed up to servers, or automated cloud backup on the premises.

Storage costs continue to fall, hence organizations that are not backing up their data to Google, AWS among other providers are exposing themselves to data loss and a high possibility of business interruptions.

When data is stored on a single device like a laptop, accidents can occur. This is where now data recovery chips in. Here are the five tips for picking a good data recovery service provider.

• Go with reputation

Problems with portable memory cards and devices or hard drive PCB failure repairs require expert assistance. Never go the DIY route and avoid free software that will promise you big but are likely to leave you with frustrations and malware. A quality recovery service provider will have an excellent reputation, have many positive reviews, and be forthcoming with referrals.

It will have the right technology and personnel to open your devices professionally with care and extract the recovered information safely.

• Check the Industry Certifications

Industry certifications may not be a guarantee of competency (this is why you need to check referrals). However, they do point to general adherence to best practices and processes. Data-recovery professionals should highlight their certifications as a guarantee to secure handling of data and data recovery. Industry certifications add an additional layer of credibility, which is crucial if the provider is handling medical information, personal data, or other sensitive data. Request for this important document before you hand over your damaged drive.

• Confirm that the Provider Can Handle SSDs

Data recovery process from a traditional laptop hard drive is relatively easy Performing it yourself is still surrounded with dangers such as accidental and static electricity damage. However, someone with technical skills can handle it well. For modern SSD driver, this process is even more complicated. The SSD drives are thin and unscrewing the drive case to open it is nearly impossible in most cases. Often, these drives appear to be mounted permanently to the board, complicating matters further. In case you have lost your data on SSD drive, ensure you contract an experienced data recovery firm, that has experience with SSDs and understand how to access them without causing permanent data loss or damage.

• Confirm the Firm Can Handle Multiple Problems

Data usually reside in different types of devices and may be corrupted in different ways. This requires a data recovery expert who knows the right approach to a particular problem. For instance, if they are trying to recover data from an SD card residing in a water-logged digital camera, they will have to take a different approach compared to when they are dealing with a corrupted laptop. You need to have a detailed interview with the recovery service providers concerning their experience with different devices in the market and occurrences such as heat, damage, water, fire, physical breakage, and power-supply issues.

• Review the Provider’s Capacity to Deliver Exceptional Customer Experience

When looking at online reviews and following up on referrals, pay attention to customer service ratings and the entire experience. You need a provider that will communicate about your projects transparently, even if there is bad news. It is important to get complete and speedy communication in every stage of the project.

Wrap Up

Although data recovery should be a last resort, it is at times inevitable. Employees in various organizations use different types of devices to create, access, and store data hence, there will always be a chance that they will pour coffee on a tablet, drop a laptop, or drop a desktop computer. When the inaccessible or corrupted data is vital, it is worth having a competent, speedy dial data recovery service provider that can speedily address the matter professionally.

Author: Robin Jago is editor in chief at TTR Data Recovery. He is a data scientist, and has decades of experience in writing posts on big data management and analytics.