The least importance, among this trio, is assigned to data recovery. We shall cross that bridge when we come to it appears to be a common thought among the masses. Worse than this is the absolute lack of thought regarding whom to consult, in case the unthinkable should occur.
Last-minute decisions and improvisations in this regard can successfully spell the doom for any data recovery efforts. Being ready for any eventuality is the key, to ride out any disaster.
Deciding on the qualities to be possessed by the data recovery company makes your task of short-listing and picking out the right data recovery company, a no-brainer.
Foremost is the requirement of a class 100 clean room facility. This infrastructure is a bare minimum. Enquire about it and, if possible, have a peek. Do they have qualified technical personnel and certified processes? If they are ISO certified and authorized with DLT / SDLT / JAZ / ZIP, the data recovery company is sure to meet your standards of a technically competent data recovery company. Ensure that these certifications are up to date (Simply have a look at the date. If recent, they are updated).
It is also in your best interests to obtain references from the data recovery company regarding their past and current clients. The reputation of the client and the actual user experience of the client can help you form an opinion regarding the data recovery companys claims of expertise or competence. Not every data recovery company can deliver results, at all times, but a reasonable strike rate of success (above 75%) is a good indicator of a would-be successful data salvage operation.
Charging you or ripping you off for a mere evaluation regarding the chances of data recovery indicates a lack of professionalism. Most of the respectable data recovery companies offer a free diagnostic evaluation regarding the chances of recovering your data.
The following also indicate their degree of professionalism.
- Maintaining the confidentiality of your data. You wouldn't want your competitor to know about your top secret Project X, would you? It is even better if this clause is in writing.
- The written agreement to undertake the work should clearly specify that there will be no charges for an unsatisfactory or nil data recovery. Paying for gibberish or for an incomplete recovery is a waste of good money.
- Recovering your data satisfactorily, within 48 hours, is the hallmark of a professional.
Though well equipped and having trained personnel, start-up companies can be avoided until they have gathered a reasonable period of their existence. Start-up data recovery companies can get stuck inextricably, for various reasons.
Rescuing your trapped data, in one piece, is the prime task, but not at the cost of your hard disk or storage device. The best data recovery companies use non-destructive methods of recovering your priceless data. So, the manufacturers warranty on your hard disk continues to be honoured even after the job has been done, for the remaining period of the warranty. Fair enough.
Flexibility of service can also be a decisive criterion for deciding upon the professional. A range of services to suit the needs of various customers or data recovery needs can save you a lot of time and energy, when these services are available under a single roof.
Just because your data is critical and you have to necessarily avail the services of an expert, you should not be held to ransom, as reflected by their service charges. Enquire about the pricing beforehand, preferably at the time of evaluation, to avoid the wrangling later. Most of the professionals charge you, after the work is done and according to the results.
The little things also count, at times. Manually cleaning the externally dirty storage device, giving you the salvaged data on DVDs or CDs, proper documentation of the process undertaken by them and the figures to indicate the extent of damage / retrieval and the gray areas, follow-up and tips on preventive maintenance -- all go a long way in giving you the much required confidence that your choice of data recovery company was absolutely justified.
Data recovery is serious business. Getting the right person to do it can spell the difference between seeing your data alive again or trashing it. Do not take chances with your storage device or your data recovery company.
