Data loss is a common problem that everyone can face. Whether you’re a business owner, a homemaker, or just an ordinary user, losing data can have a major impact on your life. Data loss occurs when you lose data whether from a failure, accident, or act of nature. It can also be caused by an ineffective backup routine or simply human error. Regardless of the cause of data loss, the end result is the same: you lose data.
Recovering data after a data loss is not as difficult as it sounds. The truth is that almost everyone makes the same common data recovery mistake. Use this list of data recovery mistakes to avoid them in the future and get your data back.
Not Enough Planning
The first mistake many people make when it comes to recovery data is not planning for potential data loss. You should always have a backup routine in place so that you can recover from a data loss on short notice. You don’t need to be overly cautious, but at the very least you should back up your most important files and create an off-site backup of your entire hard drive. This way, if something does happen, there is a good chance that you will be able to recover at least some of the lost data.
Lack of a Backup Plan
One of the most common data recovery mistakes is a lack of a backup plan. A backup plan will ensure that you never lose data again because you’ll always have a copy of your files.
And it doesn’t need to be difficult to make one: all you need to do is keep an external hard drive close by or store files in the cloud. When there’s a power outage or other event that could lead to data loss, you won’t have to worry about losing any files because they’re all backed up.
Hacking is More Common Than You Think
One of the most common data recovery mistakes is leaving your computer unattended. People often leave their computers on the desk while they get a drink or go to the bathroom, but this can make it easy for hackers to break in and steal your data.
The next time you leave your computer, remember to lock it. Keep in mind that some people are sneaky and will look for passwords on your desk instead of just breaking into your computer.
Backing Up Is Overrated
If you think that backing up is overrated, then you’re not alone. A recent study found that data recovery is the third-most common mistake people make when it comes to their digital data. However, this isn’t true for everyone.
When a person doesn’t back up their digital data, it has one of two effects. The first effect is that the person loses all of their data at once if a large system failure occurs. The second effect is that the person slowly loses their data as files are deleted and replaced with new ones as time passes by; over time, your hard drive will eventually run out of space and you will lose your files too.
The best way to avoid these effects is by frequently backing up your digital data on an external device like a flash drive or an online backup service like MozyPro. If a failure happens, your backed-up files can save your computer from being wiped clean. If file deletion becomes an issue due to low drive space, you can always delete old files until there are enough free spaces left to store more files!
Hard-Drive Failure
The most common data recovery mistake is when a hard drive fails and you don’t have a backup. In some cases, the data can be recovered from the failed drive. There are three types of hard-drive failures: hardware, software, and firmware. If you’ve just experienced a hardware failure, your data can likely be recovered from a backup. A software failure is caused by programs not running properly or malware infesting your system and corrupting the data on your hard drive.
Hardware failure sounds pretty serious and seems like it would be an easy fix, but if you experience this type of error you need to immediately stop using the device or risk making the problem worse.
A firmware failure is rarer but potentially more devastating than a software or hardware failure. This type of error occurs when there is an error with your computer’s BIOS or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). If this happens to you, you’ll need to get in contact with tech support as soon as possible to prevent any further damage to your system.
Dealing with a Fire
One of the most common data loss scenarios is a fire. Fires can be one of the hardest types of data loss to think about because they are so unpredictable. It may be difficult to know where you need to look for your important documents or photos if your house burns down. The good news is that there are some tips that people use to recover their data after a fire. One thing you should consider doing is taking pictures of all your documents and backing them up remotely. You could also go through everything in your house and categorize it by what needs backup, what doesn’t need backup, and what does need backup but isn’t on any device (namely paper copies). These are just two examples of how you can begin the process of recovering from a fire-related data loss.
Theft of Data
Many people don’t realize that the most common data recovery mistake is also the least likely to happen. Data theft is a huge risk for all businesses, but it’s one you can easily avoid. Always use physical security measures, like two-factor authentication and encryption, to protect your data from cybercriminals. Be sure to keep backups in a safe place and not keep them on your computer or server.