Thursday, November 10, 2011

Choosing the Right Data Recovery Company

The very worst time to choose a data recovery company is when you’re in the middle of a data loss emergency. When your accounting department can’t pull up the customer list and your company’s work has ground to a halt because scheduling and planning software isn’t functioning, the last thing you want to be doing is calling random data recovery companies and evaluating which is the best one to handle your emergency. When you’re up against a wall, you’re vulnerable to unrealistic claims and sales pitches because you have to make a decision quickly.

Unfortunately, sending your drives and data to the wrong data recovery company can result in the permanent loss of your vital records. If you’re pressed to make a quick decision because your situation has already reached the emergency level, look for these factors to help you evaluate a number of data recovery companies before making your choice.

Look for a company that has a clean room – a sterilized environment in which the technicians can safely open drives and work directly on your damaged media. Without clean room support, the data recovery company can’t safely perform any physical procedures that might be needed to get your data back.

The best companies should be able to work on any type of software operating system. Be wary of data recovery firms that only work on Windows-based systems or Mac systems only. The more conversant the company is with recovery options for all types of systems, the better the chances are that they really know what they’re doing.

Physical proximity makes life easier for everyone, but don’t rule out a data recovery company just because they’re not located in the same area code as yours. Most data recovery companies can provide you with detailed instructions on how to safely ship your media to them, and many provide the packaging to ensure that your devices travel safely.

Make sure that the data recovery company you’re working with has a full service laboratory as well as a clean room. Get recommendations from others who have used them, and be wary of any company that doesn’t list a physical address and telephone contact information. The data recovery field is littered with “companies” that are no more than an amateur working in his basement – not exactly someone you want to trust to handle your sensitive data.

The best way to avoid having to make a data recovery decision in a hurry is to do your research in advance and identify a data recovery firm like Fields Associates to handle any data loss emergencies that might happen in the future.


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