Data Recovery

- While this may have been closer to the truth at one time - like everything, off-site data recovery has become a much more cost effective service.
Because the world of electronics has found a place in all parts of our everyday lives, most of the gadgets we use have some type of storage media incorporated in them such as hard drives, flash memory, etc. in order to record all of the data we create.
It is for this reason that most off-site data recovery companies have changed direction and are now focusing on the home market. A higher demand for offsite data recovery creates a more competitive, cost efficient service for everyone.

- True, to a point.

..and the scariest part is that the Off-Site Data Recovery industry is unregulated. You'd think because of the privacy concerns associated with sending personal data away to a company who you do not know there would be a "governing body" that regulates general guidelines and who manages the accreditation of companies who wish to offer data recovery services. Unfortunately, No.
The upside is that most every company providing off-site data recovery services are there to stay and remain in business and would not last very long if they did not employ their own strict policies when it came to handling client data.
This does not mean that "due diligence" shouldn't be practised.
Things like trade & client references, online presence as well as a comprehensive communications system such as job ticketing and tracking system should all be considered when choosing an off-site data recovery service.
All of these things will not only help to validate that companies presence but will also give you the ways & means to better communicate and receive updates during your time with them.

- Probably not, No.
Although most labs take precautionary measures when working inside a hard drive, most only use the fact that they utilize a clean-room together with clean-suites to bolster their image.
Theres no doubt that a clean-room has it's place but the chance that your hard drive will see the inside of one is slim.
Again, there are some facilities that pride themselves on the fact that they have a class 1000 clean-room at their disposale merely to justify the thousands of doallars they charge for their services.

While most established professional off-site data recovery facilities will base themselves out of 1 or 2 main locations, it is likely they will advertise and draw in their business from many other regions outside of their own.
This is perfectly acceptable as some facilities have certain requirements that are either too specialized or too expensive to set up in every region they offer their services.

Data recovery facilities offering service and collection in your area can be misleading. Services advertised in your area may offer a local collection point but may actually mean that your media is being forwarded to another location in another region where the actual work may be performed.

*Because of this you need to know and should ask where your data/media will actually end up...
- so ask: "Where is my data traveling to?"

A lab worthy of your business should also have a well designed online presence including job service form and ticketing system that will allow you to evaluate a few key things:
ease of communication and navigation,
effective job tracking and progress updates,
and finally, lab location - where the work will be performed.

Thoughts of "Risk" associated with things like Privacy(where is my data being kept), Liability(whos responsible) and Cost of Service are all front and center when making the initial decision weather or not to send your media away for recovery.

The fact that some of the most sensitive data we keep is stored on our hard drives is cause enough for concern. It is for that reason you need to feel comfortable with the company you've chosen.

Success Rate, Pricing and Timeline...

These are 3 of the most commonly miss-communicated variables amongst off-site data recovery labs today.
Success rate, timeline and pricing are all ultimately determined by the size and scope of the recovery job, and without being able to evaluate a job hands-on the only thing any lab can do is give you a "best case scenario" during your initial phone consult.

The problem is; you're not guaranteed best case scenario so its in your best interest to ask what the most accurate case scenario would be for a job of your type.
*Remember - each of the 3 variables below are determined by the type of failure: Physical or Logical.

SUCCESS RATE - most of what you see advertised online are "best case scenario" statistics. The standard 85-95% success rate can be misleading as those stats advertised are usually associated with Logical type recoveries. So, best to enquire what that labs stats cover and what their average success rate is on recovery for each of the failure types (physical/Logical).
Average recovery rate on physical recovery is generally less (55-65%) when compared to Logical.
In a nutshell, a Logical type recovery relates to a software/firmware failure - where Physical type recoveries relate to a part or component needing to be repaired or replaced within the drive or device itself, which in turn may or may not require a clean-room.

PRICING - again, generally what you see online and what any Lab will pass along is their "best case scenario" pricing. This usually relates to Logical type recoveries as they fall on the lower end of the pricing spectrum.
Ask the Lab to provide you "ballpark" pricing on their full spectrum price structure.

- Pricing levels on both Logical & Physical type recovery attempts.
- Are there any upfront "evaluation/diagnostic" fees?
- Enquire on a "No data, No charge" policy?
- Are there any additional fee's or costs that aren't normally discussed during the initial consult that may be passed along during the recovery attempt such as "attempt" fee's, cost on "donor" and "target" media, etc?

TIMELINE - many labs will advertise 24-72 hours for the initial evaluation and 3 to 5 days for complete turnaround. The reality is, this is a generalization as no one knows exactly how long the evaluation period will be until the drive is received by the Lab.
Generally Logical type failures can be responded to and diagnosed within about the 3 day mark.
Physical type failures on average can take up to twice as long as Logical to diagnose, with more severe failures taking even longer.
Again, this information is largely based on what we have seen to be the "industry average". Ultimately - man power, access to proper equipment and replacement parts will determine timeline.

It is understandable that most Labs these days regard their data recovery know-how as sacred. Generally, most skilled lab technicians working in data recovery today are self taught and have accumulated a working knowledge on the varying types of storage media and their configurations through hands-on experience and years working in the field. The majority of data recovery technicians have therefore developed individualized recovery techniques and procedures which are unique to them.

While there are no recognized "data-recovery" specific courses available in mainstream educational institutions today that teach proper policy and procedure there is specialized training available mainly offered through the companies who develop and manufacture the equipment / software used by most all professional off-site data recovery labs.

Because of this off-site data recovery is far from a regulated industry, which for the consumer presents some risk as there is no generally accepted accreditation which a Lab can obtain in order to address the many concerns, one of which being liability.
When it comes to personal data and privacy there is never really the perfect assurance one can be given that their data is in safe hands, so it is up the individual lab to be able to prove this to you in order to gain your trust and earn your business.


Summary- Final Decision

- know where the company's lab is located and where your media is actually traveling to be worked on,

- full disclosure by that company as to their pricing structure including initial fee's during the evaluation period as well as any additional or incidental fee's that may crop up during their time with your media. This includes the price range their final fees cover relating to Physical and Logical recovery work,

- timeline on a complete job
(from initial evaluation to final recovery),

- client references and company history.

- Online presence and job tracking/ticketing system