Today, the entire world relies on data. Data is everywhere, and companies are increasingly harvesting and using more of it as part of their standard operations. Data is used to drive business decisions, learn about consumers, and deliver the best possible product or service. The market for data is huge and it relies on technology for harvesting, processing, and storage, and as with any piece of technology, the places where data is stored can become corrupted and data can easily be lost.
However, it is not just hardware failures which can corrupt data. There are plenty of cybercriminals out there who want to get their hands on personal data and often damage it during their efforts. All this together means that trying your best to protect your data and knowing how to react during data corruption is important, and it has made data recovery a thriving industry.
#1: Why Does Data Get Corrupted?
In truth, there are several causes of data corruption. When storage devices begin to get older, then the data on them can become corrupted, files can get changed from their original form, or physical hard disks can suffer from physical damage. These are just three examples; there are hundreds of other possible causes.
It is not just hard disk drives which are susceptible to data corruption either – when the controller inside an SSD does not work properly or does not communicate correctly with storage chips, then any data that is being transferred or stored can become corrupted. Even if the corruption which takes place is not too serious, there can still be partial damage.
#2: Can Data Be Recovered?
Yes, it can, but it is not the easiest thing in the world. There are two main ways that data can be recovered: through the use of a specialized software recovery tool or by seeking help from a specialist data recovery expert. Although the former seems like the simplest and most attractive option, the latter is always your best bet – recovery specialists know exactly what they are doing, and they are your best shot at getting all your data back in one piece.
Attempting to perform data recovery with a software tool when you don’t know what you are doing can often lead to additional damage and may push the corrupted data far past the point of being recoverable.
#3: Minimizing Data Corruption
The best way to minimize the impact data corruption has is to have more than one copy of it. Cloud storage, physical disk drives, and flash drives are your friend; your important data should not only exist in one place.
If you take regular backups across multiple devices, then you are always going to be safe from data corruption. It is virtually impossible that everywhere you are storing data is all going to fail at the same time.
Preparing for and knowing how to react to data corruption is a regular part of running a modern business. By being prepared, you minimize the risks of permanent loss.
