a leading private investigator singapore & worldwide explains data recovery

A LEADING

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR SINGAPORE

& WORLDWIDE

EXPLAINS DATA

RECOVERY

http://www.sk.com.sg/ A Leading Private Detective Singapore & Worldwide

http://www.sk.com.sg/

http://www.sk.com.sg/


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This eBook fully owned by a leading private investigator Singapore and worldwide but is for free access by the general public. You can share the whole eBook or part of its contents but you are not allowed to alter its contents. You are therefore prohibited from altering the contents of this eBook as that can lead to penalization. Do feel free to share it with your friends, colleagues and any other external party though without changing its contents whatsoever.

Copyright/Disclaimer

DATA RECOVERYIntroduction


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Data recovery comes in handy when you lose critical data. The demand for this service has grown a lot over the last decade because everything is now computerized and needs some sort of storage. It could be due to power outage or forgetting to save a document that you lose your data or even a disaster.

The bigger the size of the storage media, the more data is lost when damages to the media occurs. Due to the increase in the use of digital media and computers, increase in the need of storage capacities has been realized. This has further increased the risks of data loss.

Background Information


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It has been noted that people are losing critical data that takes a lot of time, energy and effort to create thus losing such data can be very agonizing hence the need for data recovery. You can recover lost data on your own or use the services of a data recovery company. Recovering data on your own can be very risky because this is a serious and sensitive matter. It is wise to seek professional assistance for lost information that is worth more than the amount it will cost to recover the data. Whatever the reason for your data loss, it is possible to retrieve it.



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Data can be stored in media such as floppy disk, CDs, PDAs (personal digital assistants) DVDs, memory cards, magnetic disks, and RAID configurations of HDD, hard disk drives (HDD), Mobile phones, tapes, data cartridges, zip disks, flash disks and Xboxes among others.

Data recovery can be sought by various people or clients such as government, students, small and medium businesses or enterprises, large corporates or even those who are self-employed.



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Copyright/DisclaimerData RecoveryIntroduction

Background InformationChapter 1

Definition and Overview of Data RecoverySources/Causes of Data LossA Typical Data Recovery ProcessData Recovery Techniques

Mechanical/Physical Data DamagesLogical Data Damages

The Most Common Hard Disk Drive ProblemsThe Do’s and Don’ts In Case of Data LossThe Process of Data RecoveryImportance of Data Recovery

Table of Contents


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Chapter 2Data Recovery Software

Data Recovery CompaniesDisadvantages of Data Recovery CompaniesChoosing /Selecting the Best Data Recovery Company

Chapter 3Prevention of Data Loss

Qualities/Attributes of Good Data Recovery SoftwareData Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan

Types of BackupsQualities of a Good Backup DeviceTypes of Backup Devices/Solutions

Backup Tips

Table of Contents


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Good Backup Strategy TipsDisaster Recovery Procedure Development

ConclusionAbout the Author

Table of Contents


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CHAPTER 1


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Retrieval of lost data and information from a storage media that is inaccessible, deleted files or corrupted files is referred to as data recovery. Electronic devices such as MP3 players, computers and digital cameras store information on storage devices such as flash disks, hard disks or even diskettes. Every storage media poses a different challenge in data recovery. The process of obtaining data is very labor intensive and complex. For a successful data recovery to take place, you need to understand the technical aspects of the latest technological storage media, file systems as well as operating systems

Definition and Overview of Data Recovery


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Other resources required are well trained and experienced technicians in data recovery and a computer laboratory that is equipped and well controlled. Using these resources reduces chances of more data loss or devastating damages to the storage media.

Definition and Overview of Data Recovery


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Data losses are caused by either physical or logical failures. Logical failures include virus infections, deletion of files, power surges, human errors as well as formatting and reformatting of hard disks. Logical data losses are much easier to retrieve as long as the data has not been tampered with or even overwritten. Physical failures are brought about by mechanical damages to the storage media. The damages can be as a result of water or fire and in case of a hard disk, the spindle usually stops functioning. When a physical failure occurs, the physical storage media that is damaged must be repaired first before data can be recovered. Whereas specialized techniques and technology enables data recovery, it is impossible to recover or obtain data from storage media that is extremely damaged.

Sources/Causes of Data Loss


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When a physical failure occurs, the physical storage media that is damaged must be repaired first before data can be recovered. Whereas specialized techniques and technology enables data recovery, it is impossible to recover or obtain data from storage media that is extremely damaged. Data loss can also be caused by natural disasters or tragedies such as earthquakes, tornados and floods, improper storage of the devices, power failures, accidental and intentional deletion of files, software bugs, fire, firmware corruptions, business failures,



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crimes (such as hacking, theft sabotage and acts that are malicious such as viruses, worm and hackers or even theft of physical storage media) dropping of storage media and failure of semiconductor.



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A typical data recovery process involves four steps namely: disk repair, disk image, data retrieval and data restoration. The damaged hard disks are diagnosed before they can be repaired as well as firmware failures. Any damaged components of the hard disk are replaced with new ones. Data is then removed from the repaired disk and transferred to another onto which a disk image is created to ensure that the data remains just as it was before damages occurred to the previous disk. Data retrieval involves diagnosis and repair of corrupted or damaged file systems so that individual files can be accessed. Once the individual files are opened, the corrupted ones are then repaired. Data restoration involves moving of the retrieved data to a new storage location and finally, it is given back to the owner (client).

A Typical Data Recovery Process


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Data Recovery techniques


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Storage media physical damages are caused by various failures. The dye layer or metallic substrate of DVD/CDs usually get scratched thus causing a physical damage. Failed motors and head crashes cause mechanical failures to hard disks. Breakage of tapes is another type of mechanical failure. These mechanical damages not only lead to data losses but also destruction of the file system logical structures. Data or file recovery cannot take place until all logical damages are fixed. End users are not in a position to handle mechanical damages to storage devices because they do not have the required technical expertise and the disk can be exposed to data which is very harmful.

Mechanical/Physical Data Damages


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Dust causes crashes of the read/write heads and platter (which are very sensitive) of hard disks which can lead to further damages that could render data recovery process futile. There are several techniques of obtaining data from a hardware that is physically damaged. The damaged parts of the hard disk are replaced in order for the disk to be used again but since there also logical data failures in the disk, they have to be repaired as well. Disk imaging is used to obtain all data that is readable from the disk surface and the image stored on a new storage media. Afterwards, it is analyzed for any logical data damages to enable the reconstruction of the original file system before it was damaged.



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Procedures of data recovery on damaged media may include replacement of a PCB (printed circuit board) that is damaged with one that is new or working, swapping of live PCB in which a donor drive is used, assembling of read/write heads with compatible working drives and removal and installation of hard disk platters of a damaged drive to one that is in good working condition. A combination of these procedures can also be implemented in a single data recovery process. Most of these procedures require technical expertise and hence cannot be used by end users.The nicks and scratches on optical disks such as CDs and DVDs using repair products that can be purchased from computer shops. The nicks and scratches are filled with the product and then the surface is sealed. When done successfully, previously inaccessible data can then be read.



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In case of raid configuration errors such as RAID 0, it is split over two physical drives that are different to recreate the RAID array in order to salvage data on the each of the drives. They are later merged to create the original data.



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These kinds of damages can be repaired by end users unless the extent of damages is so serious that it would need the attention of an expert. Corrupt partition tables, damaged file systems and media errors can render data unreadable. Deleted data or files are never completely lost because they usually leave footprints through which they can be tracked. Specialized software for data recovery can be used to repair these damaged and corrupted partition tables, file systems and errors on the storage media hence recovery of all or portions of original data before the damage occurred. Testdisk is an example of such specialized software. Imaging of media irrespective of the logical errors discussed above can be performed by software known as dd_rescue. Data carving which is salvaging of damaged files using their file structures can also be used in data recovery.

Logical Data Damages


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There are also simple tools and methods that can be used in data recovery that do not require any knowledge and experience in using them hence can be used by end users. Magnetic force microscope can be used to recover overwritten data theoretically though practically it has not been proven. Hence it is difficult if not impossible to recover overwritten data. Overwritten data on SSD (solid-state drives) is easier to salvage than those on HDD (hard disk drives). Data on SSDs are stores in blocks and pages of flash memory that use LBA (logical block addresses) for referencing. FTL (flash translation layer) is used to manage these logical block addresses used for referencing. New data is written to another logical block address by the flash translation layer and updates mapped to reflect the changes. This ensures that the pre-modified data remains intact and can be obtained by specialized data recovery software.



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Unlike physical damages to storage media, logical damages can be recovered from a remote location using remote access software such a Team view and windows remote desktop connection among others. All that is required is a stable connection with adequate bandwidth between the two locations connected either through the internet or any other network connection.



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Deletion of filesCommercial software, proprietary software and HEX editors are used to retrieve deleted files from hard disk drives. Before sending a hard drive that contains the deleted files for restoration to a data recovery company you can use the commercial data recovery software to try restore the data.

Electronic DamageElectronic damage is usually repaired using PCB swaps as well as tools used to repair the hard disk’s firmware.

Failure of HeadsHard disks always become inaccessible when its read/write head fails to function. The failed heads are either repaired or replaced. The hard drive platters are usually swapped to a working hard disk to retrieve the data it contains.

The Most Common Hard Disk Drive Problems


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Head stack assemblies can also be swapped and in case the platters are not damage, a full and successful data recovery can take place. Head swaps must always be done in a clean 100 room.

Spindle lock upRemoval or repairs of platters are usually done when spindles lock up. Removal and swapping of platters is done using special tools. This type of head transfer requires a high level of skill and not just anybody can do it.



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There are certain data losses that cannot be recovered no matter what. These types of losses can be said to be irreversible. Extreme electronic damage, damaged platters and overwritten information (overwritten several times) or data on hard disk drives cannot be repaired for data recovery. This simply means that data loss due to these scenarios is impossible to recover.



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In case of data loss, note down the last installed software, the last upgrades and the last application that was run. Do not alter anything on the drive where the data is saved or on the data itself.

Do not attempt to open the drive to try and repair as the condition of the environment can cause irreversible damages to it.

Do research for a good data recovery company which should be among the best in the industry if not the best.

If you need to continue working on something else, create a mirror and use a different drive so that you do not affect the drive with lost data.

The Do’s and Don’ts In Case of Data Loss


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Cover up the hard drive with a thick layer of shock absorbent material because it is sensitive to any knocks.

Remember that the faster you solve the problem the better and vice versa.

The Do’s and Don’ts In Case of Data Loss


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The data recovery process ranges from simple to complex processes that are very detailed and exhaustive.

EvaluationEvaluate the damaged storage media to determine the potential of recovering the lost data, the kind of work that will be involved to salvage the data and the extent of damage to the media.

EstimationEstimate the steps that will be taken to recover the data, amount of data that can be recovered, amount of work that will be involved and ultimately the amount of money it will cost to recover the lost data.

The Process of Data Recovery


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MirroringIf the storage media can still function physically, mirror all accessible data to a new location as this will ensure that the original storage media is preserved just in case future access to it will be needed. Chances of a full data recovery are also greatly improved.

RepairAll physical and electrical damages that prevent the storage media from accessing data must be repaired.



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Logical Data RecoveryThe raw data on the storage media (drive or disk) is recovered logically using specialized data recovery software.

Data AnalysisTo ensure that the recovered data from the damaged media is intact and can be used, it has to be analyzed. A report containing information such as the kind of recovered data and what could have possibly brought about the data loss among others, is written and provided to the client.

Storage and ReturnThe salvaged data is then stored on any type of storage media and returned or given to the owner.



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The importance of data recovery sorely depends on the importance of the data that has been lost. If the lost data is very critical to you or to the business in that you risk losing a lot of money time, then data recovery becomes very important and must be considered as soon as possible before more damage occurs to the data or the storage media containing it. It could lead permanent loss of the data.

It prevents loss of critical data when the data is backed up from the damaged storage media.

It is the most economical and effective way of salvaging important files and data.

Importance of Data Recovery


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It ensures recovery of lost emails, fails, tasks and data comprehensively.

Specialized data recovery techniques that improve the chances of a successful full data recovery are used.

Information on data protection can be provided by data recovery companies.

Importance of Data Recovery


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CHAPTER 2


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Data recovery softwares are specialized programs that are mainly used in obtaining lost data from a storage media. They are very efficient and effective in repairing as well recovering lost data, storage media, databases and corrupt file partitions. They help to obtain data and files safely without errors or further damage to the storage media before the lost data is obtained. Some of the software used are open source (free to be downloaded from the internet) while others have to be purchased from the vendors. They can be bought online from the vendor’s website.

Data recovery is not done on an operating system that is running but a live or bootable CD, disk or USB.

Data Recovery Software


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Examples of these types of programs are BartPE, Knoppix, BackTrack, SpinRite, WinPE, SystemRescueCD, Hiren’s BootCD, Ultimate Boot CD for Windows, Trinity Rescue Kit and Lazesoft Recovery Suite Home Edition among others. The programs used to check for consistency are Disk Utility, Disk First Aid, CHKDSK and fsck among others. Data recovery software programs used in the process of obtaining or salvaging data are Foremost, Norton Utilities, Recuva, TotalRecovery, TestDisk, TuneUp Utilities, FileSalvage, IsoBuster, CDRoller, dvdisaster, DataLifeSaver, PhotoRec, PC Tools File Recover, GetDataBack and Disk Drill Basic among others. Program imaging tools that are used in the data recovery process are ddrescue, StoreGrid BMR and CopyCatX among several others.

Data Recovery Software


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These are professional data recovery companies that specialize in salvaging of lost data from storage media at a fee. These companies have highly trained data recovery technicians and engineers with expertise and experience that are required for a successful data recovery to take place. The companies also own laboratories that are well equipped will all the required tools and equipment needed for data recovery. They charge fees for the services offered to their clients. Fees charged depend on the extent of damage to the media and the expected turnaround time by the client with cheaper services taking up to two weeks. There are small data recovery companies that deal with minor data loss issues and big companies that deal with more serious issues that the smaller companies cannot handle. Though not all data can be recovered, data recovery companies can salvage quite a percentage of lost data.

Data Recovery Companies


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A good data recovery company must be licensed to operate the business by relevant authorities and accredited with Quality Assurance standards ISO9001-2000 by the right standardized body as well as certification to ISO BE EN 14644. The data recovery company should also have relevant experience in handling data losses.

Data Recovery Companies


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Turnaround TimeTurnaround time is the time between submission of a damaged media and return of recovered data to a client. Data recovery companies never guarantee a fast turnaround time hence it is important to contact the company before the end of the scheduled time to find out if everything is going on fine.

PricingData recovery companies have been known to quote prices that are extremely high. Unless it is promotion that is special, do not accept offers from companies for flat rate fees as they might be scams. A good company should evaluate a damaged disk before quoting a price. A good company should provide a price range and not flat rate fees.

Disadvantages of Data Recovery Companies


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Partial Data RecoveriesPartial data recovery is when a full data recovery is not successful and only a portion or part of the original data is salvaged from the damaged media. Some data recovery companies tend to get the cost of money worth a full data recovery when they just performed a partial recovery. You should agree with the data recovery company that you will only pay for recovered data and if no data is recovered no payment will be made.

Disadvantages of Data Recovery Companies


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There are so many scams and imposters in this industry thus it is very important to choose the best data recovery company that is genuine. There are things that you can look for in your search for a reliable company to recover your lost data and be very cautious and careful in your search.

Clean Environment for RecoveryHard drives are storage devices that are very sensitive thus should be handled and opened in very clean rooms without dirt. If dirt gets in contact with hard disk platters, they can be damaged so badly beyond repair. A good data recovery company should therefore have clean rooms of class 100 with clean flow benches.

Choosing/Selecting the Best Data Recovery Company


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100 mean that there are 100 micro particles in every cubic foot of air.

Previous Clients/CustomersFind data recovery companies that are highly rated by their past clients and they should also have testimonials from the clients who were happy with their services. The more repeat customers they have the better because that is a sign that they offer great services. You can also look for customer reviews in the data recovery company’s website to get to know what past customers feel about the company.



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Safe Methods/TechniquesA good data recovery company is one that uses safe methods or techniques that are not destructive to obtain lost data in hard drives. Merely running recovery software on the damaged storage media can lead to further loss of data hence should be avoided. Hard drive companies will always refer you to a reputable company that offers data recovery services and has been investigated to prove so.

CostDepending on the extent of the problem with the damaged media, the recovery process can cost between $800 and $1500. You should not spend an amount that is either too high or too low as compared to the price range.



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Most evaluation services used to determine causes of data loss are offered free of charge by most of the data recovery companies.

Flat feesFlat fees should be charged on SD cards but not hard disk drives as this can greatly lower the chances for a successful data recovery. A company that offers flat fees on data recovery services from hard disks could just be scams so be wary of them. Most companies quote prices after an evaluation of the damaged storage media. A good company should not charge for data they have not been able to recover.



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Chance of a Successful Data RecoveryThis is measured in terms of percentages and most companies have a chance of recovery between 80% and 90%. Request for the company’s rate of having successful recoveries and how they get to that figure. It should be rated entirely based on complete recoveries and not partial or unrecoverable hard drives.Very few data recovery companies meet these criteria so ensure that the one selected does meet them.

Speed of Service LevelsService levels include RAID array, expedited, flash media, hard drive, emergency and slow services. You should find out a data recovery company’s turnaround time and pricing for all the services levels.



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A good data recovery company is one that works at great speeds yet still offers quality services. Compare the prices from different companies to determine the best that suits your needs and fits your budget.

TechnologyTechnology is always changing day in day out and so are the software and hardware components in the market. It is good to keep pace with technological changes. Choose a company that implements the latest technology in their recovery processes. All firmware repair tools must also be the latest and up to date.



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ExperienceLook for a data recovery company that has several years of experience in offering the services. The expert engineers and technicians must have hands on experience in recovering data from damaged storage media. A good data recovery company with experience will not only guarantee a good service but also increase the chances of a successful recovery.



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CHAPTER 3


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Nothing can guarantee the prevention of data loss but a good where to ensure maximum data loss prevention is by putting in place a policy that combines protection of power failures using backup batteries, generators and several power circuits; RAID storage and journaling file system, regular backup of data, network firewalls and antivirus protection, up to date security fixes and system patches and ultimately, education of the end users on data loss prevention

Prevention of Data Loss


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Even when the recycle bin has been shredded, it should be possible to recover deleted files.

Even after a malicious attack, files should be unrecoverable.

Files should be recovered from a failed and reformatted hard disks or even a crashed system.

All file types should be recovered. Data from all kinds of storage media should be recovered. Files should be recovered not just easily but also

successfully. Data backup must be created of file systems that are

critical to the business.

Qualities/ Attributes of good data recovery software


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Prevention is always better than cure. Backup is making copies of data or information and keeping in different storage media in a different location from the original file. It is stored so that it can be used in case the original file is lost when data loss occurs due to one of the several reasons that cause it. Data backup is performed mainly for two reasons: for later computer system restoration after a fatal disaster and for data recovery. Backup is the most important way of dealing with data loss hence the more important stored data is the greater the necessity to backup it up. This means that the importance of data is directly proportional to the importance of backup. When the data importance increases so does the backup necessity increases.

Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan


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The company or business size is also directly proportional to backup necessity. Backup will enhance a fast and successful data recovery to get the business up and running as it was previously before the disaster occurred.Having a disaster recovery plan in place and regular backup of data can be of great importance in case of data losses or when a disaster strikes. The created backups must be stored in a separate location from where the systems and should be tested for functionality and ability to restore damaged systems to back to normal working conditions. End users can schedule regular data backup operations in their computers without seeking professional help. Computer restoration can help retrieve minor data losses and system changes by restoring it to an earlier date.



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Backup systems should be reliable to guarantee data recovery in case of disasters and damages to hard drives. The hard drives should also be kept away from extreme temperatures that can damage them thus causing data loss. It should also be protected from damages that can occur from the surrounding environment. You can also use surge protectors to protect your computers from electricity fluctuations that usually cause short circuiting.For backups done on the same computer, they should be stored in drives that are different from the one the system’s operating system is running on.



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Full backupThis involves backing up of all selected files. The file archive attributes are deleted and later set when the file is changed to show that back up is needed. It is also known as normal backup.

Differential backupIt creates copies of files that have been modified since the last full backup and backs them up. Files with archive attributes need backup but the attribute is not changed to allow for other backup types in the future.

Copy backupDespite the state of the archive attribute all selected files are backed up. Files with archive attributes are backed up but not changed to allow for other backup types in the future.

Types of Backups


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Daily backupThe file’s modification date is used for backup. Changes to files and their backup takes place on the same day. File archive attributes are not modified.

Incremental backupBacks up only the latest changes to files since the last full or incremental backup. Files with archive attributes are backed up and the attribute deleted afterwards. The attribute is set when files are modified to show that back up is needed.

Types of Backups


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Should be reliable to perform when needed. Should have a high capacity to store more data. Should be very extensible. Should be of high backup and recovery speed The cost should fit into your established budget.

Qualities of a Good Backup device


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The types of backup solutions available in the market are removable disks, DAT (Digital audio tapes) drives, Tape drives, Magnetic optical drives, Disk drives, Tape juke boxes and Auto-loader tape systems.

Types of Backup Devices/Solutions


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Backup Tips


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Tips#1 Data Backup Plan Think of the place where your data backup is kept. Do not keep backups in basements if you live in an area that flood. In case of a natural disaster like earthquake, is it possible to get

your data? An online or offsite backup could just work for you. To protect against theft, fire and other disasters, store a full data

backup in a separate location. Quarterly and yearly backups are essential for critical data.

Tip#2 Start a Backup Routine Schedule daily data backups Do backups yourself Backup your critical data

Good Backup Strategy Tips


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Tip#3 Customize data backup strategy to meet your needs

Determine the frequency of your data change in order to determine a backup schedule. Data that changes every hour should be scheduled for a several backups in a day whereas those that change every week require daily backups.

Have at least three separate data backups. Supplement full data backups with incremental backups

which are quicker and also only backs up changed files since a full backup was last done.



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Tip#4 Test Backup RegularlyIn order to ensure that backups will work well in case of a disaster or data loss, it needs to be tested periodically. You can also attempt restoration of backup to a different location to test whether it works and can protect you. You will be able to determine any corrupt data or any flaws and fix them in time. You can also use backup reports and logs to determine any files that have been skipped, errors or any problems that might have occurred.Tip#5 Two Separate Backup LocationsFor total protection of your data, you should have three copies of your data: the original copy, a backup that is easy to access and another protected backup. An online data backup service can be used to keep the protected backup copy.



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PreparationPreparing in advance for a disaster can facilitate data recovery process in case of one. The use of computers increase daily hence the risk associated with storage system failure and data loss. A disaster recovery policy should incorporate data losses such as malicious or accidental deletion of data, power failure, corruption of data, fire outbreaks, theft, viruses, failure of hard disk and natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods among others. A disaster contingency plan should incorporate business processes that are critical to the organization.

Disaster Recovery Procedure development


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You should also consider general disaster risk assessment to involve customer, monetary, regulatory and legal exposures and dependencies interdepartmental level. For a full-scale backup restore operation that ensures the objectives of recovery time, a disaster recovery plan should also incorporate data freshness window and recovery.I/O and network topology technology does not keep pace with set data sizes and CPU performances technology that doubles every eighteen months. The main objective of disaster recovery implementation architecture is to decrease the capacity of data to be transmitted while the overall data rate is improved.



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Need determination Depending on your system architecture and the operating

system running on your systems, consider the following questions.

What failure scenarios are likely to occur? What data should I consider critical? How frequent should backup be scheduled to take place? When should a full, incremental or differential backup be

scheduled to take place? Will backup be scheduled to take place automatically or

manually? How is a successful backup verified?



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How are useful backups determined? How long will the backup be saved before the medium is

reused? How long will last backup restoration take?

Where will the backup storage media be kept? Will authorized personnel be allowed to access backup

storage media for restorations? In the absence of the system administrator, what will be the

source of backup procedures and system password acquisition and in case performing restoration is necessary?

Is there a disaster recovery policy in place that can incorporate the above?



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Practices That are Recommended When developing a disaster recovery plan, you should

consider the following: Backup and restoration procedures should be developed

using the appropriate personnel and resources. To ensure that data can be recovered in a timely manner,

you need to test the procedures. To avoid catastrophic failures, you need to back up the

whole system volume. To prevent security information and user accounting from

loss, backup the active directory.



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For faster granular file restorations, all available logs should be backed up.

Keep three backup copies in storage media with one kept in an environment that is controlled at an off-site location.

Verify if backups are proper and successful by performing trial restorations periodically.

Put precautions in place to ensure that nobody else restores data to the wrong servers.

Detailed system component descriptions should be maintained to help in case of hardware failures that are very severe that calls for system replacement or rebuild.



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The descriptions should contain system components like tape drive, drives, IRQ, Network card configuration, memory, CPU, Video mode settings, SCSI configuration, DMA and I/O among other components.

A list of current patches that are installed on every system environment should be maintained and OEM specific drivers, patches, Net Vault and O/S media used for distribution should be readily available.

Maintain each system configuration profile that is up to date and should include machine names, network settings (TCP/IP configurations), account and domain information, layouts of disk partitions, sizes of partitions, disk configurations, installed O/S patches and partition system file format type.



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System Crash Restoration You should first determine the cause of data loss in case of

system failure and repair it before restoration takes place. In case of a disaster, system rebuilds or repair is done. Restoration of a repaired system that was damaged should include the following steps:

The O/S is re-installed. OEM drivers are installed. O/S patches are installed. Net Vault Client is installed. Net vault patches are installed. Data is restored.



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Restoration of Net Vault Server The O/S is re-installed. OEM drivers are installed. O/S patches are installed. Net Vault Server is installed. Net Vault patches are installed. Net Vault devices are configured. Net Vault database is scanned in the tape that contains it. Net vault database restoration. Data restoration.



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A data recovery plan should be created by the whole organization or company and not just an IT department or data centre to make it a corporate-wide plan. It is a long term project that should include logbooks, operating procedures that are standardized, a scheduled tape backup rotation that is reliable, problem isolation procedures and data flow diagrams. It will facilitate the isolation of application bugs, lessen support personnel and requirements, lessen mistakes made during operations as well as a general system and application that are easier to maintain. Net Vault software for network backup and restore provides a data insurance policy that is the simplest and fastest.Data recovery can be done either manually or scheduled to take place at a designated time and day.

Conclusion


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The Author of this eBook is a prominent and a leading private Investigator Singapore and worldwide. He has worked in this industry for so many years and earned himself a lot of respect, experience and a good reputation. Though he is knowledgeable in investigative cases, he also has skills and knowledge in data recovery. He took his time to write this eBook because data loss is something that occurs on a daily basis without giving warning signs hence inevitable. Individuals and companies lose millions of dollars everyday due to data losses hence it is important to invest in a backup and data recovery procedure and management plan. Many people are looking for information from someone with hands on experience in data recovery. The eBook basically covers everything one might want to know about data loss, data recovery and preventive measures to avoid data loss.

About The Author

a leading private investigator singapore & worldwide explains data recovery

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