Data Recovery Tools Come in All Shapes and Sizes
A Backup Article Contributed by Melissa Larose
Data Recovery Tools Come in All Shapes and Sizes
When we talk about data recovery tools we're not talking wrenches and power tools. Although a set of "lets open this box up and take a look at what we've got" tools are not a bad idea to have around. No the data recovery tools we are discussing here can assist with that ulcer that acts up about the time the hard drive ate your database. It's called planning.
Do You Need Data Recovery Tools or Just Good Planning?
Most data recovery tools have more to do with smart planning than purchasing a tool at the last minute. Purchasing anything to restore data loss when the data has just been lost, except assistance from an expert, is not going to be beneficial in any way. Good planning and a thorough risk analysis are always better than rushing out a buying the latest equipment without evaluation.
Backup is Your Best Data Recovery Tool
The best data recovery tool around is proper backup procedures and storage. There are numerous ways to backup data for recovery. The most important place to start is by evaluating your needs. What system or systems are you using? How critical is the data you collect? Where do you keep the data? Who has access to the data? Who should not have access to the data? Are you storing data the client needs access to? As you can see, the questions to proper evaluation are numerous. The point is, know your needs. It will help you make decisions about how to backup your data.
Options for Data Recovery and Backup Data
Here are some simple tools to consider when creating your data backup plan. The Windows operating system has versions that include backup utilities within the system itself. These are not utilities specifically designed for backup but in most cases they are adequate for the job. Just make sure you've located a copy of your data in a far off universe so that a crash, or a virus does not affect it, in the main system.
Consider full backup software that allows you to pick and choose the files you want to backup. Or better yet, if you have your systems software on installation disk and all the software loaded on your system on installation disk then only backup unique data files. Compression-based backup software can save space and offer a better way to archive data.
Make sure you store data on removable media. It should be obvious that it's not a great plan to save copies on the same drives the original data lives on. Periodically check that backup media to make sure it is still readable. Tapes can demagnetized over time and hard drives, if left idle over long periods of time, can become dysfunctional.
Research all your options when creating a backup plan. Only you know what your data recovery needs are. Remember the bigger that hard drive is the bigger the data recovery needs you will have. After all, why have a 120GB hard drive if you aren't going to fill it up, right?
