Is Data Recovery The Right Option?

How do you decide whether to call in a data recovery company? When your computer fails and you can’t access important data, it’s easy to panic. Before you freak out and think that all is lost, there are a number of things you can do. If these steps fail, you can call in a data recovery company, such as Fields Associates or Fields Data Recovery.

Check Your Backups

If you have a backup routine, the first thing to do is to check your tape or disk backups. Depending on the routine your company follows, you may simply be able to restore the entire backup – onto a new hard drive, if possible, of course. Look for the most recent backup of the information and keep in mind that your backup won’t contain any modifications or entries after the date of the backup.

Even if you don’t do regular backups, all is not lost. Many times the important information you need may be stored elsewhere on the network or on another hard drive. If you only need one or two important files, you may be able to find them that way.

Recreating the Lost Data

Is the lost data in files that can be recreated? If the files are relatively static, such as address databases, recreating the lost files may be a more affordable option than doing a full data recovery. Other files, however, could be impossible to recreate. If you’ve lost access to a database that registers dozens of transactions a minute – or even an hour – recreating the file from scratch is more than likely completely impossible. If the records are vital, sending the drive out to a data recovery company may be your only option.

Consider Legal Ramifications

In many businesses, your data may be necessary to comply with regulatory and legal requirements. In that case, data recovery may be your only viable option.

Choosing a Reliable Data Recovery Company

Choosing the right data recovery company is nearly as important as deciding whether or not you should opt to have your data recovered at all. It can be especially important if you need the data for regulatory purposes. The best way to ensure that you are dealing with a reliable data recovery firm like Fields Data Recovery is to do your homework in advance when you have the luxury of time to research the firm’s reliability. Once your hard drive has failed, you’re not likely to have the time to ask around and check a firm’s references before employing them.